Jesus Joyful?

If I were to ask you to list the top three characteristics of Jesus that come to your mind, I don’t imagine that joy would be in that list. We might answer “kind, compassionate, serious, or even stern,” but probably not joyful. If that is the case for you, I would like to ask you to reconsider your image of Jesus.

The statement by Jesus that has re-shaped my own thinking about this question is this: “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete” (John 15:11). His promise to his disciples is that my joy will be in you. So, Jesus must have joy himself that he is eager to share with them and us, not just a little joy, but complete or full joy. Just as Jesus passed on his love and his peace to his disciples, so he also gives them his joy.

But do we view Jesus as joyful? Think about his encounters with people, lots of people. And almost everyone who encountered Jesus went away joyful, those he healed, those he delivered from bondage, those who heard his teaching. Think of Mary Magdalene who was delivered of seven demons, or the blind man who received his sight, or Zacchaeus the tax collector who heard his teaching and changed his whole life. These are people who would testify, “He gave me back my life, he gave me back my smile.” Even those who he confronted, like the Samaritan woman at the well went from him ecstatic and transformed (John 4). One after another, people met him and found joy. Everyone, that is, except the religious rulers who could only see in Jesus a threat to their system and dogma, and they missed out on the joy and new life that he offered. When you read the account of the Pharisees, they hardly seem like a joyful bunch.

And there was that time, back when I was 18 years old, that I encountered Jesus, and embraced him as my Lord and Savior. I couldn’t stop singing his praises and telling others about him. He gave me back my life, and I have joyfully, gratefully followed him ever since.

Jesus’ whole ministry and teaching was liberating and life-giving and joyful. He went around healing all who were open to his message, mingling with peoples happiness at the wedding of Cana, supplying more wine when it had run out, interrupting funerals with his rude resurrections, and generally throwing life into disarray. This was his joyful ministry and his teaching about the joyful kingdom of heaven, an invitation for people to live, really live, not just exist. To live life to the hilt, a flourishing life of joy.

People were drawn to him, children were drawn to him, his smile, his laughter. But the suspicious, narrow-thinking Pharisees could not endure this sunny heartedness. He seemed to break all the rules, and he hung out with sinners and tax collectors and prostitutes. But he “did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Of course, this is tongue in cheek statement, by which he meant those who knew they were sinners and knew they needed forgiveness and new life. The religious rulers did not.

And it was for joy that Jesus even endured the cross (Hebrews 12:20), joy at the thought of all the liberated, forgiven, reborn people, like you and me. Just as a woman in labor endures her pains with joy because of the new life that is coming forth. The cross was his joy because of the new life and deliverance from death that it provides to those who believe.

I need his forgiveness and new life every day. I need the comfort and healing that only he can give, as I grieve the loss of my dear wife. And his gift of joy shines through the tears each day.

How are you doing? Are you grieving, lonely, feeling empty, lost? Maybe your faith has grown dull and cold. Maybe you have lost the joy you once had. When I feel this way, I know I need to return to Jesus who stands with arms outstretched saying:

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. (Matthew 11:28-29)