GlobalChristians

The Joy of Jesus

John 17:13 MKJV And now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world that they might
have My joy fulfilled in them.
John 17:13 ASV But now I come to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they may
have my joy made full in themselves.
John 17:13 GNB And now I am coming to you, and I say these things in the world so that they
might have my joy in their hearts in all its fullness.


Jesus is going to the Father but He wants to leave His joy behind – through His words and His
precious promises.


In this Upper Room Discourse Jesus is speaking to mourning disciples, just twelve or so hours
before the cross. And three times He says “that your joy may be made full” - John 15:11, 16:24,
17;13 – it seems an almost paramount concern. Here is the context of those statements:
John 15:10-11 MKJV If you keep My commandments, you shall abide in My love, even as I
have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. (11) I have spoken these things
to you so that My joy might remain in you and your joy might be full.


John 16:22-24 MKJV And therefore you now have sorrow. But I will see you again, and your
heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. (23) And in that day you shall ask Me
nothing. Truly, truly, I say to you, Whatever you shall ask the Father in My name, He will give
you. (24) Before now you have asked nothing in My name; ask and you shall receive, that your
joy may be full.


John 17:11-13 MKJV And now I am in the world no longer, but these are in the world, and I
come to You, Holy Father. Keep them in Your name, those whom You have given Me, so that
they may be one as We are. (12) While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name.
Those that You have given Me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition,
that the Scripture might be fulfilled. (13) And now I come to You, and these things I speak in
the world that they might have My joy fulfilled in them.


The word of God in the mouth of Christ is designed to make believers confident, prayerful and
joyful with an abiding and full joy that no one can take from them! Jesus wants His disciples to
shout Hallelujah!


The outcome of the teaching of Jesus was to be joy! Fullness of joy! “these things I speak in the
world that they might have My joy fulfilled in them.” The teaching of Jesus is joyful, celebratory,
high and holy! Even painful repentance will bring “seasons of refreshing from the Lord” (Acts
3:19)! Joyless teaching has gone wrong somewhere. The word of the Lord is there to enliven
us, quicken us and fill us with all the fruit of the Spirit – which of course includes joy!
On the other hand Satan tries to fill our mind with depressing thoughts so that we despair and
will blaspheme God. This afternoon I have had a series of puzzling technical glitches that were
really trying and seemed “devilish” in origin. There have also been mysterious bad smells in the
house. All this minor harassment is the joy-robbing activity of Satan over our lovely new flat and
home office. Satan does not want to see us happy and rejoicing in the blessings of God! But
nonetheless we shall rejoice!


Because “the joy of the Lord is our strength” when our joy is full then we are formidable
Christians! Joy gives us power, poise and victory, which is part of the reason why Jesus wanted
His disciples to have their joy made full. The other part is that every good Father wants happy,
healthy, rejoicing children. And every good pastor and discipler wants a rejoicing church or
rejoicing disciples. Jesus did not want a depressed bunch of grim super-serious apostles, rather
He wanted joyful witnesses to the gospel!


Well what does He mean then by “I have spoken these things in the world…”. Jesus living
words were spoken in Jerusalem, in an oppressed and afflicted world, so that the light might
shine in a dark place. Jesus tends to speak His most joyous words in the grimmest of times –
just as He did amid the tears at Lazarus’s tomb when he told Mary and Martha that He was “the
resurrection and the life” (it was only later that he said Lazarus come forth!). Jesus asks us to
believe His best news; at the times we are feeling the worst!


Jesus speaks “in the world” because that is precisely the place we most need to hear Him, it is
the place that robs us of our joy and so it is the place where we need our joy to be made full.
How then can we have the fullness of joy in Christ? Firstly decide that you want it! Then ask for
it (you have not because ye ask not), and then expect it! Then practice it by deciding to believe
the powerful promises of God found in the New Testament. Do not look only at your
circumstances – also look at the promises and power of God!


Joy should be the permanent abiding state of the Christian soul. Yet we live in fear, dread,
irritation, anxiety and depression. This is because we let in doubt, criticism, and the sour
grumbling words of demons and devils. What good comes from misery? What faith springs from
sourness? Who can grow in Christ who lives in perpetual dread of the future? We need to
uproot such things and focus on the promises of God!


God has designed you for joy; and joy is your destiny in heaven – so get used to it!. So why
chose misery? Let the word of Christ dwell richly in you! Rejoice in the Lord always! Again I say
rejoice!



Blessings in Jesus,


John Edmiston