What does Jesus mean when he says, ‘my joy’? These words are found in Jesus’ prayer in John 17:13:
That they may have the full measure of my joy within them.
Jesus doesn’t just mean the joy that he can give in contrast to the joy of the world or the pleasures of sin. He is referring to his own experience of joy. Imagine that you were at my wedding. I turned to my brother, who was my best man, and said, ‘I’m so happy today! I hope that one day you will know this happiness.’ Years later, my brother did get married and he then knew the happiness that I felt. In this sense Jesus, so satisfied in his deep joy, prays to the Father that we might also experience the joy that he then feels.
What makes these words so strange is the time that Jesus said them. It wasn’t at the marriage in Cana, nor on the Mount of Transfiguration, but as he faced up to the Garden of Gethsemane and the cross. In the ordinary sense of the word, Jesus wasn’t happy at that time. Nevertheless, he did know a deep and satisfying joy that upheld and delighted him even as he faced the cross. That is the joy that he wants us, as his disciples, to experience.
Having considered for some time, I have come to the conclusion that Jesus had four main things that gave him this deep joy in the face of the cross.
He rejoiced in God’s people
Though Jesus would suffer the anger of God on the cross, he knew that in doing so he was purchasing the everlasting salvation of all his people. Imagine that you are buying something incredibly expensive. It is really sacrificial to pay the price but then you rejoice that the object is finally yours after years of saving. Before time began, God the Father gave to Jesus a people to be especially his, joined with him eternally. On the cross, Jesus finally and eternally bought them as his own. Facing the cross, Jesus rejoiced in the fact that he was purchasing his people. Therefore, if we want to know his joy, we must befriend, commit and give ourselves wholeheartedly and self-sacrificially for the good of God’s people. That’s the first way to experience his joy.
He rejoiced in doing God’s will
Jesus rejoiced to do God’s will: it was his food and drink, and his delight. Though the cross was horrible to bear, he knew that he was doing what was right and pleasing to his Father. We see this so clearly in Gethsemane:
My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done (Matt. 26:42).
In Gethsemane, Jesus’ deepest desire was that he would do God’s will. Therefore, if we would experience his joy, we must try to be more obedient, even in difficult and hurting situations. Is there a special joy in difficult obedience?
He rejoiced in his relationship with the Father.
Though the passing material joys of this earth would soon be taken away, Jesus still rejoiced in his relationship with the Father. This was the glory that he speaks of later in the prayer in John 17. This was the joy beyond all joys, that he is one with the Father. It is an amazing thought that for three hours of darkness on the cross, Jesus lost his enjoyment of that glorious joy so we might be brought in to rejoice in being one with God. Therefore, if we would experience Jesus’ joy, let us make much of our relationship with the Father, reconciled, adopted and eternally one with the Father in Christ.
He rejoiced in the hope of heaven.
Hebrews 12:2 tells us that Jesus ‘for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.’ He could speak of joy in facing the cross because he knew where he was going, and in the assured expectant hope of heaven he was able to face the cross. So too we must remember that our present troubles are not worth comparing with the glories that are before us. Therefore, if we would know his joy, let us consider what the Bible teaches us of heaven and set our heart and hope there. The joyful hope of heaven can carry us through all sorts of difficulties.
This earth can offer us all sorts of joy and they are mostly very good in their place. They are things that both believers and unbelievers can experience. Yet this joy – Jesus’ joy – can only be experienced by a believer and it is of a deeper, more profound and lasting quality than anything this earth can offer. It helped Jesus so much facing the cross that he prays to the Father that we, his followers, might experience this joy of his. Therefore, believer, if you would know his joy, give yourself to God’s people, be as obedient as you can to your heavenly Father, delight in your glorious relationship with the Father and set your heart on heaven. Then you’ll begin to experience his joy.
