Our Joy in Christ

I was feeling pretty good at about the 20-mile mark of the Columbus Marathon. It was invigorating to have just run through a part of the “shoe,” The Ohio State football stadium which is shaped like a horseshoe. As I continued on the course, I saw a man sitting beside the road who seemed to be “out of it.” When I stopped to help him, I noticed a scripture reference on his headband: Hebrews 12:1,2.

Hebrews 12:1,2:
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 

Our Greatest Example of Joy

These two verses are amazing in their encouragement. They tell us that, after seeing the great examples of believers in Hebrews 11, we should put off any weight or challenge that is holding us back, and run with patient endurance our race in life.

We have the greatest example of all time to follow—Jesus Christ. He was the “author and finisher” of our faith. The Greek word translated “author” means “the starter.” It was Jesus Christ who initiated and completed our faith.

How was he able to do this? How could he put up with forty hours of torture and the most horrendous and shameful death possible? How could he say, “It is finished” and give up his life for us? It was the JOY that was set before him. Jesus Christ had the future hope of sitting down at the right hand of the throne of his Father. And that brought great joy.

One thing about joy is that it is inspiring and encouraging, even when conditions around us aren’t the best. The runner at the side of the road needed my loving comfort and encouragement. After I shared with him about the significance of the two verses he was wearing, his mind became clearer and he was able to continue the marathon. His conditions were still challenging, but he had the hope of finishing an earthly race—and that joy kept him going. It also inspired me to finish stronger.

Our Joy in Christ: His First Coming

The saving Messiah was anticipated by people ever since God first promised Adam and Eve that there would be a “seed” of the woman who would defeat the Devil (Genesis 3:15).

Abraham, David, Hezekiah and others looked forward to Christ’s first coming. Daniel had been in charge of the Magi in Babylon, and he taught them the significance of stars and planets in relation to God’s promises. They looked forward to the coming of the Messiah, and their descendants continued to faithfully chart the skies for hundreds of years. Finally, the proper signs appeared in the night sky, and the Magi of that time journeyed to Israel to seek the promised king.

After meeting in Jerusalem with King Herod, the Magi headed to Bethlehem, where Jesus had been born over a year before. As they headed south toward that city, they saw the same heavenly sign overhead that they had followed from their home. And they rejoiced that they would soon meet the promised Messiah. This wasn’t just any joy, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy!

Matthew 2:9,10:
When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. 
When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

There was also great joy surrounding the actual birth of the Messiah. In the fullness of time, God created life in a wonderful young woman named Mary. Shortly after conceiving the Messiah, Mary went to visit her cousin, Elisabeth, who was also pregnant. After Mary greeted her, Elisabeth spoke forth words of truth.

Luke 1:42-45:
And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. 
And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 
For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. 
And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord. 

Even the unborn child within her leaped at Elisabeth’s great joy in seeing Mary. Her young cousin was indeed “blessed among women,” for Mary was to bear the Christ. With great humility, Mary joyfully thanked God her Savior for this great privilege.

Luke 1:46,47:
And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, 
And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. 

Mary returned home and then journeyed with her husband, Joseph, to Bethlehem to fulfill a Roman registration. While there, she gave birth in a feeding shed for animals beside an inn that was too full to house her and her husband. God made sure that this birth was not unnoticed. He told some meek shepherds about this great event.

Luke 2:8-11:
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 
And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 

The shepherds were not to be afraid of God’s great majesty and power as seen in the angels. Instead, they were to hear tidings of great joy. These joyous tidings are still to all people today—for Jesus Christ, the savior of the world, was born!

Our Joy in Christ: Withstanding Tribulation

When we face trials in life, we can have the same mindset that Jesus Christ had. Our hope and joy of future rewards and eternal life with the Father keep us going in this present evil world. When we stand for Jesus Christ, we will face adversity. But that is a reason to rejoice.

Luke 6:22,23:
Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake. 
Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets. 

Our heavenly Father’s gift of holy spirit gives us His power in Christ. When Jesus sent out seventy disciples, they saw God’s power in operation. This brought them great joy. Yet, Jesus put things in their true perspective. Overcoming evil is important, but the greatest joy comes in knowing that we have eternal life.

Luke 10:17-20:
And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. 
And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. 
Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 
Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven. 

Our Joy in Christ: Finding the Lost

One day, Jesus was helping tax collectors and those who humbly wanted and needed his help. Some religious leaders began to complain about Jesus’ choice of company, so he taught them a parable.

Luke 15:1-9:
Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. 
And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them. 
And he spake this parable unto them, saying, 
What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? 
And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 
And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. 
I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. 

There is great joy in heaven when one sinner repents so that they receive eternal life. When we confess Jesus as lord and believe God raised him from the dead, we are saved (Romans 10:9,10). That is what brings God, His Son, and the angels in heaven great joy.

Our Joy in Christ: For His Earthly Ministry

The shepherds had great joy when they heard the Messiah had been born in their city. Years later, those who saw Jesus’ earthly ministry rejoiced that the true Messiah had come. They had the amazing privilege of seeing the King, who came in the name of the Lord.

Luke 19:35-38:
And they brought him to Jesus: and they cast their garments upon the colt, and they set Jesus thereon. 
And as he went, they spread their clothes in the way. 
And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen; 
Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest. 

Our Joy in Christ: For Our Risen Lord

After being raised from the dead, Jesus appeared to his disciples. The joy at seeing him was almost “too good to be true.”

Luke 24:40,41:
And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet. 
And while they yet believed not for joy….

Jesus spent forty days on earth in his resurrected body and was seen of many people. At his ascension, he told his apostles to wait for the “promise of the Father,” the gift of holy spirit. The anticipation of receiving God’s powerful gift gave them great joy.

Luke 24:50-52:
And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. 
And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. 
And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. 

Our Joy in Christ: Abiding in His Love

We can have “fullness of joy” as we experience the love of God that is in Christ Jesus, our lord. When we obey our Father, we will walk in love and our joy will remain.

John 15:9-11:
As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. 
If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. 
These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. 

Jesus’ disciples were sad that he would leave them. But he told them that this was a time of joy, a joy that could not be taken from them. Soon they could ask in the name of Jesus Christ and receive answers to their prayers.

John 16:20-24:
Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. 
A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. 
And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you. 
And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. 
Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. 

Our Joy in Christ: God’s Spiritual Power

Preaching Christ and bringing God’s deliverance takes spiritual power. Philip brought great joy to a whole city as he did the Father’s will.

Acts 8:5-8:
Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. 
And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. 
For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed. 
And there was great joy in that city. 

Paul and Barnabas did the same. And despite personal attacks against them, they continued on. As they ministered, God’s power in the gift of holy spirit filled the believers who heard them with joy.

Acts 13:49-52:
And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region. 
But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts. 
But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium. 
And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost. 

Our Joy in Christ: Enduring in Hope

We can follow Jesus Christ’s example and endure with great hope. This will cause us to rejoice because of the gift of holy spirit that gives us eternal life.

Romans 12:12:
Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer.

Romans 14:17:
For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost [holy spirit].

Romans 15:13:
Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost [holy spirit].

Our Joy in Christ: Living as One Body

God made us to be members in particular in the body of Christ, and we can produce spiritual fruit—including joy.

Galatians 5:22:
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy….

We love one another and joyfully pray for each other. Just thinking about those who have been saved causes us to joy—they are a crown to us. When Christ returns, we will be rewarded for winning others to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Philippians 1:3,4:
I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, 
Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy. 

Philippians 4:1,4:
Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved. 
Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. 

I Thessalonians 2:19,20:
For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? 
For ye are our glory and joy. 

I Thessalonians 3:9:
For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God.

Joy does not only come from future hope, it come right now as we take care of each other and fellowship with one another. We joy when any believer walks in the truth.

Philemon 1:7:
For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother. 

I John 1:3,4:
That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. 
And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. 

III John 4:
I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. 

Our Joy in Christ: Joy Unspeakable

We have seen the tremendous joy that Jesus Christ had set before him, and we know that we have great joy before us at the return of Christ. Until then, we face each day with courage and resolve, knowing that our Father will care for us.

I Peter 1:6-9:
Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

Even though none of us has seen Jesus Christ in person, we believe in him and rejoice with unspeakable joy as we look to his return. Our joy is full, for we receive the end of our faith in Jesus Christ. We have salvation now that will last throughout eternity. That is our joy in Christ!