Pure Joy

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.(Hebrews 12:2)

What is this pure joy that enabled Jesus to withstand the pressure, humiliation, and excruciating death that he endured? It seems unthinkable to look at this picture and have the word joy in the same context. Let's look at this verse...Who is Jesus to us? Paul calls Him the author of our faith, an author is someone who creates stories and pictures in our minds, he brings a message, he writes it down to be read over and over. What was the message Jesus came to bring? His life was a message of hope, showing us the way to eternal life. He is the son of God who by example showed us The Fathers love, He yielded his will to His Fathers by going to the cross. He showed us how to live. Next it says He is the perfecter of our faith. It is through Jesus that we have faith. Hebrews 11:1 says - "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." Jesus had the greatest faith in His father, trusting His every command. He showed us how to have faith by putting our hope in the Fathers promise of eternal life. God came through for Jesus and He will come through for us. Now the next part is the toughest to understand, "who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning it's shame." Death on the cross was the most humiliating way to die back in that day, it was painful and shameful, and it was a slow death. What was this joy set before Jesus? Jesus knew that He was to be the sacrifice for our sin in the place of us. He knew that by dieing We would have the chance to live. He trusted His father's word when He said he would rise from death and be glorified with Him again in Heaven. This is Gods love. This is where Jesus drew His strength to endure...His love for His father and for us. He counted it joy to be the sacrifice for you and for me. WOW...so when we go through life's trials let us fix our eyes on Jesus, and remember for whom we live and serve. This is the joy of the Lord. The joy of knowing that one day we too will be seated at the wedding feast and celebrating with God for eternity! Thank You Jesus!

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