The Bible tells us in Hebrews 12:2 that Jesus “who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” What does it mean that Jesus endured the cross “for the joy that was set before Him”?
Ever since focusing on the subject of joy in Paul’s letter to the Philippians, and coming to the great passage about the humility and exaltation of Jesus in Phil. 2:5-11, this verse in Hebrews has really grabbed my attention. I’ve thought about it frequently. What was it that enabled our Lord to keep joy while the crucifixion was looming ahead of him?
It may be difficult for us to consider Jesus’ life being a life of joy when we read through the gospels and see what He faced – the temptations from Satan, the rejection of people toward his teachings, the mobs who tried to kill him, religious people who treated him like an outcast, no home of his own where he could lay his head down at night, a close disciple who denied knowing him and another disciple who betrayed him into the hands of the authorities seeking to destroy him, all the other disciples running away when he was arrested, the ensuing trial, the beatings and scourgings, the humiliation of being nailed to a cross, mockery from his enemies, and dying like a common criminal. Where would joy be in living and dying like that?
What was it that enabled Jesus to endure the cross with joy? His joy was in coming to earth to do His Father’s will, which was to seek and to save the lost. Jesus never lost sight of this goal. His joy was in bringing salvation to everyone who believed in Him. Jesus never quit. The goal had to be achieved. He had to do His Father’s will. Sure, he ran his race facing hatred, rejection, opposition, and misunderstanding. But for Jesus, the joy was in what would happen when He finished His race: redemption for all who come to Him by faith and repentance, reclaiming the glory He had with the Father in heaven, Satan defeated, sin and death destroyed, eternal riches in heaven for all believers. So much was waiting at the other side of the cross that Jesus was able to look past the cross, despise its shame, and see the joy set for him and for all who believe in Him. Jesus knew the outcome. And his joy becomes our joy. Jesus said in John 15:11, “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”
May we come to the place where we are able to endure the circumstances of life and see the joy that can be ours when we serve other people. If the mind of Christ in us is real, then our heart would be to live for the glory of God and the good of others no matter what the sacrifice. God calls us to humility, to lower ourselves in order to minister and meet the needs of other people, whether fellow believers or the pagans in the world. You can have joy because God uses you as His servant to reach people for Jesus with the love of Jesus.
