The Joy of Jesus – He Delights in His Father!
The Joy of Jesus – He Delights in the Father:
Luke 10:21 Luke 10 records that the group of 72 disciples go out for an amazing ministry trip and return to tell Jesus about what they preached, who got headed and who got delivered. Then you see the most wonderful thing: Jesus is “full of joy” (NIV) and delights in the Father’s wisdom out loud in front of them all. He openly praises His Father and delights in how He [God] does things. Jesus deeply enjoys the Father’s ‘way’ that reveals profound power and truth to those who “trust and obey” rather than the worlds system that excludes many on the basis of gifting, study or learning.
I think this is a profound passage where you see some of the “inner dialogue” between the Father and the Son. There is delight that passes back and forth between them. They enjoy each other! The Middle Ages have painted Jesus, typically, as dour, sad, heavy or melancholy. I don’t think that is the case at all. During His suffering these may be more appropriate but certainly not in His daily life.
Peter, in Acts 2:25, quotes Psalms 16:8-11 and says that this refers, not to David, but to Jesus. In the Psalm, therefore Jesus is saying, “I [Jesus] saw the Lord [the Father] always before me. Because He is at My right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices…” Jesus is described by David as One who has a “glad heart” and who tongue is “full of joy!” For more development of Acts 2/Ps 16 seem my blog at http://godisjustlikejesus.blogspot.com/
Foundation Verse: “… Christ, who is the image of God….” (2 Corinthians 4:4) Since Jesus had a “glad heart” so does God. This doesn’t mean God is not angry at evil or sinful choices that harm others. But at the core of His being, there is joy! Can you image God rejoicing?
Additional Comments:
Peter, in Acts 2:25, identifes that Psalms 16:8-11 is talking about Jesus Not David. The main crux of Peter’s argument is found in Acts 2:29-32. Peter essentially says – “this passage in Psalms 16 must be talking about Jesus Not David, because David died and his body did “decay.” The speaker of Psalms 16:27 says that you, God, will not permit “my” body to decay. The only person’s body who has not decayed or rotted in a tomb is Jesus.” Therefore Peter tells all Israel that this passage is referring to Jesus and not David.
A side point of this prophetic insight is that Jesus, therefore, is also the one who has a “glad heart” and a “rejoicing tongue.” This is often a new “image” of Jesus or God for us. To think that God, at the core of His being, is glad, joyful maybe even happy! It is almos too much for us to imagine – but that is only because we are influenced by “the world.” Many encounters you have with God reinforce the knowledge of His joy. Often He gives, or provides or protects. We pray and over time we discern the answers to prayer. If we remember them and journal them – we find a history with God as He provides for our existence. Yes, some encounters with God “convict” us of the need to change or grow (repent). But often, if we remember, He provides for us time and time again. A prayer journal is critical to record these answers to prayer. He is “glad” and “joyful” to provide for His children. What good father would not be?
Consider also Hebrews 1:6-9 says that Psalms 45 is actually talking about Jesus. And Psalms 45:7 says that Jesus is anointed with the oil of joy beyond all His companions! He is a person who is filled with joy in the core of His being. Couple this with a “glad hard” and a “rejoicing tongue” and you have an amazing person who is quite different than we image!
Consider also that Jesus says essentially, “I want my joy to be in you!” (John 15:11) “.. but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of My joy within them.” (John 17:13) Remember that the Father, the Angels and all Heaven is filled with joy when even 1 person “realigns” with God (repents) – see Luke 15:7,10. In Isaiah 56:7 God says that He will give “joy” to those who come into His house of prayer! I Chronicles 16:27 says there is “… joy in His [God’s] dwelling place…” Joy fills the throne room of God. In Psalms 16:11 Jesus concludes by saying that there is “joy in your presence” and “eternal pleasures at Your [God’s] right hand.”
Is life hard? Are there sufferings that we must pass through. Unfourtunately, yes. However when you KNOW that God is different than the world, His person is filled with joy and therefore different than the world – you are strenthened to have hope and be encouraged in life… no matter what the news or politicians say. You can “overcome the world” in Christ!