JOY: JESUS’ JOY
“…THAT “MY
JOY” MIGHT REMAIN IN YOU…”
(JOHN 15:11 KJV).
*
What EXACTLY was Jesus’
JOY? Jesus’ JOY was BEING the author of eternal SALVATION that bought lost
sinners into a covenant relationship with God, his father. “…Because of the JOY awaiting him, [Jesus]… endured the cross, disregarding its shame…”
(Hebrews 12:2 NLT).
Jesus was God’s JOY. “…You are my dearly loved Son, and you
bring me great joy….”
(Mark 1:11 KJV). God knew “…when he (Jesus) … [saw] … all that … [was] … accomplished by his
anguish, he … [would] … be
satisfied. And because of his experience, [God’s] … righteous
servant (Jesus)
will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their
sins…” (Isaiah 53:11 NLT).
The Father and Son
found JOY in God’s PLAN of SALVATION that would call undeserving sinners to a
holy life. “…For God
saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not
because we DESERVED it, but because that was his plan from
before the beginning of time—to
show us his GRACE through Christ
Jesus…” (2 Timothy 1:9 NLT).
Back in the Garden of Eden, God said, “….LET US MAKE man in our image, after our
likeness…” (Genesis 1:26 KJV). “…..GOD CREATED MAN in his own image…..male and female created he them…” (Genesis 1:27
KJV).
“…And
the LORD God formed man [of] the dust of the ground (body), and breathed into his
nostrils the breath of life (spirit); and man became a living soul (soul)…”
(GENESIS 2:7 KJV).
When Eve ate the apple God
asked an important question: “…God asked the woman, “What have you
done?” (Genesis 3:7-13 NLT).
What had she done? “…separated [herself
and Adam]… from the LIFE of God…” (Ephesians 4:18 NIV). AND“…through one man SIN
entered into the world, and DEATH
THROUGH SIN, and so DEATH passed to all men—“(Romans 5:12 KJV). “…It’s YOUR SINS that have cut you off from God…”
(Isaiah 59:2 NLT).
Therefore, every person
is deserving of death. “…the wages of sin is death…” (Romans 6:23 KJV).
Every human being on earth is guilty of sin. “…For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God…” (Romans 3:23 KJV).
Further, God’s creation
became spiritually “DEAD” and “…separated from the LIFE of God…” (Ephesians
4:18 NIV). “…It is the SPIRIT who gives LIFE…”
(John 6:63 NASB). Before ANYONE is SAVED “…
[They are] …
DEAD in … [their] … transgressions and sins…” (Ephesians 2:1
NIV). “…YOU
were dead in your sins and ...
[NOW]…God made you ALIVE with Christ. He forgave [you]… all [your]…
sins…” (Colossians 2:13 NIV).
The PLAN of SALVATION
became a SHARED and UNIFIED work of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
“…THERE ARE
THREE that bear record in
heaven, the
Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and THESE THREE ARE ONE.…” (1 JOHN
5:6-8 KJV).
“…THERE IS NO GOD, BUT ONE…”
(1 CORINTHIANS 8:4 KJV). “…the Father, the Word,
and the Holy Ghost: and THESE THREE ARE ONE.…” (1 JOHN 5:6-8 KJV).
“…God SO LOVED the
world that he gave his only begotten (created) Son, that whosoever believeth in him, should
not perish, but have everlasting life…” (John 3:16 KJV),
BELIEVEth WHAT?
In Jesus; God’s plan of SALVATION and
GIFT of eternal LIFE. “…The GIFT of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ ….”
(Romans 6:23 KJV). God wants you to “… believe that
… [he] … hast sent [jesus]…”
(John 11:41-42 KJV).
GOD sent JESUS, the
WORD; his WORD. “…
[This] …was his plan from before the beginning of
time—to
show us his GRACE through Christ
Jesus…” (2 Timothy 1:9 NLT). Therefore, “…This is the work of God, that ye believe
on Him whom he hath sent…” (John 6:28-29 KJV). “… [It is God who]…sent His Son (Jesus)...” (1
John 4:10 KJV).
God sent his SON, but who
EXACTLY was his Son? “…the WORD…
[was] … made flesh,
and dwelt among us, we beheld his glory, glory of the ONLY begotten (created)…
[SON]… of the Father, full of grace and truth… [which]… came through Jesus Christ…”
(John 1:14, 17 KJV).
“…THERE ARE THREE that bear record in heaven, the Father (God), the Word (Jesus), and the Holy Ghost (Spirit):
and THESE THREE
ARE ONE.…” (1 JOHN 5:6-8 KJV). God commands. Jesus speaks. The
Holy Spirit does.
In
other words, God commands; Jesus “SPEAKS” what God commands; the Holy Spirit
“DOES” what Jesus SPEAKS and God commands. “…The
Father (God), the Word (Jesus), and the Holy Ghost (Spirit)…” (1
JOHN 5:6-8 KJV).
God
is the Father. Jesus is the Word of the Father. The Holy Spirit is the Power of
the Father. “…THESE THREE ARE ONE.…” (1 JOHN 5:6-8 KJV).
THINK.
SPEAK. DO.
The FATHER’s (God, the thinker) WORD (Jesus, the speaker) is POWER (Holy Spirit, the doer) and they are ONE. “…THERE ARE THREE that bear record in heaven, the Father (GOD), the Word (JESUS), and the Holy Ghost
(POWER): and THESE THREE ARE ONE.…” (1 JOHN 5:6-8 KJV).
HERE IS AN EXAMPLE: “…Then God
SAID, “Let there be light”; AND THERE WAS LIGHT…” (Genesis 1:3 NASB). “…Then God SAID (God,
the Father commanded), “Let
there be light” (Jesus, the Word spoke his
command); AND THERE WAS LIGHT (The Holy Spirit, the Power,
did what was spoken and commanded) …”
(Genesis 1:3 NASB).
“…In
the beginning was the Word, and the Word
was with God,
and the Word was God. He was in the beginning
with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart
from Him nothing came into being that has come into being
… (John 1:1-4 NASB).
The FATHER’s (God) WORD (Jesus) is POWER
(Holy Spirit) and they are ONE. “…THERE ARE THREE that bear record in heaven, the Father (GOD), the Word (JESUS), and the Holy Ghost
(POWER): and THESE THREE ARE ONE.…” (1 JOHN 5:6-8 KJV).
Jesus,
the WORD, speaks God, the Father’s command regarding JOY. “…These
things have I “spoken”….” (John 15:11 KJV). “… THat …”my joy” might remain in you….” (John 11:15 KJV). “…[Jesus is
His]… dearly loved Son, and …
bring[s him] … great joy….”
(Mark 1:11 KJV). “… HE …sent His Son (His JOY)...” (1
John 4:10 KJV). “…the WORD (joy)…
made flesh…” (John 1:14, 17 KJV). AND
“…full of grace and truth… [which]… came through Jesus
Christ (the word, joy)…”
(John 1:14, 17 KJV). “…That ye believe
on
Him whom he hath sent…” (John 6:28-29 KJV).
“…as my
Father hath sent
me…” (JOHN 20:19-21 KJV). “… [the]…Father which hath sent
me...”
(John 6:38 KJV). “ … he
hath sent me
to heal the brokenhearted, to PREACH deliverance to the captives, and
recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised…”
(John 4:16-21 KJV). “… HE …sent His Son...”
(1 John 4:10 KJV). “…He sent
out his word and healed them…”
(Psalms 107:20 NIV). “… my
word …
that goeth forth out of my mouth: …it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent
it…” (Isaiah 55:11 KJV). “…full of grace
and truth…
[which]… came through Jesus Christ…”
(John 1:14, 17 KJV). “…These
things have I “spoken”….” (John 15:11 KJV). “… THat …”my joy” (my word, jesus) might remain in
you….” (John 11:15 KJV).
God’s MOTIVE for sending Jesus, the WORD
was his LOVING plan of SALVATION. “… [This] …was his plan from
before the beginning of time—to
show us his GRACE through Christ
Jesus…” (2 Timothy 1:9 NLT).
The WORD (Jesus) emanates straight from
the bosom (most intimate) of God, the Father’s HEART. “…The only begotten Son, which is in
the bosom (secret place) of the Father, he hath declared (explained) him…”
(John 1:18 KJV). “… Herein is love, not that we loved God, but
that he loved us and SENT His Son….”
(1 John 4:10 KJV). “…The … SON (the WORD), which
is in the BOSOM (most intimate) of the
Father…” (John 1:18 KJV).
God commands and Jesus
SPEAKS from God’s most intimate place. “…These
things have I “spoken”….” (John 15:11 KJV). “… THat …”my joy” (my word) might remain in you….” (John 11:15 KJV). “… [His]… word (Jesus, god’s joy) … that goeth forth out of [his]… mouth … it
shall accomplish that
which [Pleases God] … and it shall prosper in the thing where to [God]… sent it…”
(Isaiah 55:11 KJV). “…Not one of the good promises which the Lord had made
… failed; all came to pass…” (Joshua 21:45 NASB). God is “…watching over [his[… word to perform it…”
(Jeremiah 1:12 NASB). “… THat …”my joy” might
remain in you….” (John 11:15 KJV).
Jesus,
God’s JOY, the LIVING Word is God, the Father’s salvation plan. Jesus is the ONLY REASON the sinner can come
to God and become ALIVE again. God “…
[God] …made [you]… ALIVE with Christ …when [you]… were DEAD in transgressions…”
(Ephesians 2:5 NIV). Like the prodigal son, “… [YOU
were]…. DEAD and [you have
been made]… ALIVE AGAIN; [you were]…
lost and [have been]… found…” (Luke 15:24 NIV).
Jesus NEVER lost sight
of his purpose or why he had been SENT. “…Because of the JOY awaiting him, [Jesus]… endured the cross…”
(Hebrews 12:2 NLT).
Jesus Christ was CLEAR about his mission
on earth. “….The Son of Man came not to be
served but to serve others and TO
GIVE his life as a ransom for many"
(Matthew 20:28 NIV).
Jesus SPOKE God’s command to bring sinners
to HIM. He was also a LIVING witness. “…Christ …died for
sins ONCE for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God…” (1 Peter 3:18 NASB).
Sin had separated man from God. “… [your] … iniquities (sin) …separated
[YOU]… from God… …” (Isaiah 59:2
KJV).
God had a plan of redemption in Jesus
Christ. “… [This] …was his plan from before the beginning of
time—to
show us his GRACE through Christ
Jesus…” (2 Timothy 1:9 NLT).
God planned to establish a new covenant
relationship with his people that would last forever. Therefore,
“…he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him…” (Hebrew 5:7-8-9 KJV). “….the [FREE]… gift of God is
eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord…” (Romans 6:23 KJV).
As you may know, in the Old Testament
animal sacrifices provided a temporary covering for sins. “…almost all things are by the law purged with
blood; and without shedding of blood is
no remission” (Hebrews 9:22 KJV).
The shedding of blood
was commanded by God as an atoning sacrifice for the forgiveness of sins.
This atoning sacrifice,
though temporary and limited, satisfied God for the offenses of sins committed
by his people. The animal, representing the atoning sacrifice of the day, was
temporary. The animal’s shed blood, temporarily covered the sins of the people
and freed them from the consequences of their sin.
This is not complicated
and it is a very small synopsis of this vast topic. Animal sacrifices took
place thousands of years ago and was simply a method God used as the atoning
sacrifice for the forgiveness of sin.
Animal sacrifices, of
course, have LONG stopped. “For
the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the
altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul…”
(Leviticus 17:11 KJV).
Thus, during ancient times
certain animals died to serve as temporary substitutes for the people’s sin. It
was a temporary substitute only and since it was temporary the animal
sacrifices had to be repeated over and over every year. The animal sacrifices,
therefore, were a small tedious sample of the ultimate and permanent sacrifice
God PLANNED in Jesus Christ, who was to come!!!
“For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the very form of things, can never, by the same
sacrifices which they offer continually year by year, make perfect those who
draw near. Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered,
because the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have had
consciousness of sins? But in those sacrifices
there is a reminder of sins year by year. For it is
impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins…”
(Hebrews 10:1-4 NASB).
Sin, continually,
separated God from his people. “… [Their] … iniquities (sin)
…separated
[them]… from … God… …”
(Isaiah 59:2 KJV). Jesus Christ became the atoning sacrifice in order to bring
God’s people to Him.
The relationship with God through Christ
is a blood covenant between God and the believer. This covenant relationship is
witnessed between Jesus and God. “… I and my Father are ONE…” (John
10:30 KJV).
A blood covenant is usually between two
parties however, one or both of those parties can be a representative for an entire family or a group of people.
If one of the parties of the blood
covenant is a representative of a group of people, he totally represents every
single person, equally, in the group.
The representative also is the guarantee
that every responsibility or binding agreement of the covenant will be kept by
those he represents.
The representative, therefore, acts on behalf
of everyone in the entire group. The representative is considered the “voice”
and the “guarantee” for each individual member of the group.
In other words, each individual member of
the group is represented “IN” him.
For instance, when the representative
walked through the bloodied bodies in the Old Testament, he “sealed” the blood
covenant for every single member of the entire group. This
is a very basic explanation of a blood covenant.
However, in the New Testament,
Jesus is both YOUR representative and atoning sacrifice in the covenant
relationship with God.
Jesus is the slain, Lamb of
God, that was killed in your place and therefore the atoning sacrifice for your
sins. “…Behold the Lamb of God,
which taketh away the sin of the world”
(John 1:29 KJV).
Jesus’ sacrificial death was
the atoning sacrifice for your sins. “He
is the atoning
sacrifice for our sins…” (1 John 2:2 NIV). You can NOW enter freely into the new blood covenant relationship
with God THROUGH Christ. “…This cup is the new covenant in my blood …which is poured out for you…” (Luke 22:20 ASV).
Jesus’ death was like the
death of the slain animal sacrifices in the Old Testament blood covenants. His
blood is now the blood of the new covenant, which is an everlasting covenant
(Ezekiel 37:26). “This is my blood of
the covenant, which is poured out for many for
the forgiveness of sins” (Matthew 26:28 KJV).
Jesus is our permanent and
once-for-all substitute for sin. His sacrificial death allows you to enter into
an everlasting covenant relationship with God through your representative,
JESUS CHRIST. “For Christ also died
for sins ONCE for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death
in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;” (1 Peter 3:18
NASB).
Jesus is both your atoning
sacrifice and your representative in the covenant relationship with God. “For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just
for the unjust, so that He might bring
us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;” (1
Peter 3:18 NASB).
Jesus enters the relationship
with God as your representative. We, who are “IN” Christ and are represented by
Him, enter the relationship too. “For Christ also died for sins
once for all, the just for the unjust…”
(1 Peter 3:18 NASB).
Now, through Christ, we are
able to keep the obligations and responsibilities of the covenant. “For
it is God who
worketh in you, both to will and to do of His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13 KJV). “…I can do
all things through Christ
which strengtheneth me…” (Philippians 4:13 KJV). SHOUT!!!
In addition, Jesus became the “guarantee”
that the covenant with God is kept. “…Jesus has become the guarantor of a
better covenant…” (Hebrews 7:22 NIV).
We can now enjoy the same
“oneness” covenant relationship with God THROUGH Christ. Jesus
said, "I and my Father are ONE." (John 10:30 KJV). You can
too.
The bible says, “…that they may ALL BE ONE; even as You, Father, are
in Me and I in You, that they also may BE IN US, so that the world may believe that
You sent Me…” (John 17:21-23 NASB).
Jesus Christ was SENT specifically to
become a ransom for many by his sacrificial death. He is also the atoning
sacrifice for YOUR sin.
How did the human, SENT-on-purpose Jesus
Christ become the atoning sacrifice for your sins? “…Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him.
And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a
purple robe. And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote him with
their hands….Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and
the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man! When the chief
priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him,
crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Take ye him, and crucify him:
for I find no fault in him. But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him.
Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered,
We have no king but Caesar. Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be
crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away…” (John 19:1-16 KJV),
“…And he bearing his cross
went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the
Hebrew Golgotha: Where they crucified him…” (John 19: 17-18 KJV).
“..After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that
the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. Now there was set a vessel
full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop,
and put it to his mouth. When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he
said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost…”
(John 19:28-30 KJV).
“…The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies
should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was
an high day,) besought Pilate that their
legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. Then came the
soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified
with him. But when they came to Jesus,
and saw that he was dead already, they
brake not his legs: But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side,
and forthwith came there out blood and water. And he that saw it bare record,
and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might
believe. For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A
bone of him shall not be broken. And again another scripture saith, They shall look on
him whom they pierced…” (John 19:31-37 KJV).
“…And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but
secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body
of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus. And
there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and
brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight. Then took they the
body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of
the Jews is to bury. Now in the place where he was
crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never
man yet laid. There
laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews' preparation day; for
the sepulchre was nigh at hand…” (John 19:38-42 KJV).
“…Then
the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were
shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and
stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. And when he had so said, he shewed unto
them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw
the Lord. Then
said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so
send I you…” (JOHN 20:19-21 KJV).
What motivated Jesus
Christ to die on the cross for YOU? “…Because of the JOY awaiting him, [Jesus]… endured the cross, disregarding its shame…”
(Hebrews 12:2 NLT).
And Jesus LOVED the
sinner just like his Father taught him, commanded him, and ALSO loved him. “…as the FATHER
has loved me, so have I
LOVEd you…” (John 15:9 KJV). “…There is no greater LOVE than to lay down one’s life…”
(John 15:13 NLT). “Herein is LOVE, not that we loved God, but that HE LOVED US
and sent His Son...”
(1 John 4:10 KJV). “…Christ
came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would
not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be
willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his
great LOVE FOR US by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners”
(Romans 5:6-8 NLT). “…God SO LOVED the
world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him, should not perish, but have
everlasting life” (John 3:16 KJV).
Jesus SPOKE about God’s LOVE and he
demonstrated that LOVE. “…God showed his
great LOVE FOR US by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners…” (Romans 5:6-8 NLT). “…Christ died for [your] SINS
according to the scriptures; And
…he was buried, and … rose again the third day according to the scriptures:”
(1 Corinthians 15:3-4 KJV).
He is the LIVING Word of God, so you can
hear AND see that LOVE in ACTION. “…as the FATHER has loved me,
so have I LOVEd you…” (John
15:9 KJV). "… Whatever the Father does, these things the Son
also does in like manner…” (John 5:19 NASB). “…I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me…”
(John 8:28 KJV). “…the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works…”
(John 14:10 KJV).
Jesus’ death was a demonstration of the
MOST intimate love EVER. “…There is no greater
LOVE than to lay down one’s life…” (John 15:13 NLT).
The love he’d ALWAYS known with his Father
is the EXACT same LOVE he showed to mankind. “…as the FATHER has loved me, so have I LOVEd you…” (John
15:9 KJV). “… Herein is LOVE, not that we loved God, but that HE LOVED US
and sent His Son...”
(1 John 4:10 KJV).
Therefore, his JOY over providing you with
the GIFT of SALVATION was greater than any pain he would or could endure. “…Keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who
initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the JOY awaiting him, he endured the cross,
disregarding its shame…” (Hebrews 12:2 NLT).
How many people would
GIVE someone, they deeply loved, one of their kidneys IF it would SAVE their
life? The surgery would be RISKY and “could” cost them their life. Jesus KNEW it
“would” cost him his life, but he DID it anyway.
The experience of the
cross was a shameful, but temporary part of Jesus’ journey. The JOY awaiting
him and the intimate love driving him was the glorious, but eternal part of his
journey.
The eternal JOY and
most intimate love held a greater weight for Jesus than the temporary shame of
the cross. “…What we do see is Jesus, who for a little while was given a position “a
little lower than the angels”; and because he suffered death for us, he is now “crowned with
glory and honor.” Yes, by God’s grace, Jesus tasted death for
everyone…” (Hebrews 2:9 NLT). “…Therefore, God
elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name
above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every
knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the
earth…” (Philippians 2:9-10 NLT).
The JOY of bringing the
GIFT of SALVATION to sinners and the most intimate, heartfelt love far
outweighed anything else or any other agenda as far as Jesus was concerned.
Jesus was AWARE and
MINDFUL of the intimate love he held for mankind and shared with his father. Therefore,
Jesus looked forward to what was AHEAD. Yes, “…He [would be]…“crowned with glory and honor.” …” (Hebrews 2:9 NLT). “… [He would be]…elevated …to the place of highest honor …” (Philippians 2:9-10
NLT). BUT, more important, one day God would say to the saved: “…Enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
…” (Matthew 25:21 KJV). “… Enter thou into the
joy of thy lord…” (Matthew 25:23 KJV).
God knew “…When he (Jesus saw) all that … [was] …
accomplished by his anguish, he
will be satisfied. And because of his experience
… [God’s] … righteous servant (Jesus) will make it possible for many
to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins…” (Isaiah 53:11 NLT).
In addition, “…The
master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good
and faithful servant. You
have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you
many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’” (Matthew 25:21
NLT). “…At
that same time Jesus
was filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit….”
(Luke 10:21-22 NLT).
While on earth, Jesus was
faced with deep grieves and sorrows, but his Father’s plan incited his JOY in
spite of his trials and tribulations. “…Because of the JOY awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding
its shame…” (Hebrews 12:2 NLT).
It demonstrates how believers
can also experience inexpressible joy while also dealing with the sorrows and
griefs of life.
The KEY is to remember Jesus’
JOY was drawn from within and his SORROWS from without.
Jesus became the RANSOM for
many, the ATONING SACRIFICE for SIN, the COVENANT KEEPER, the GIFT of
SALVATION, ETERNAL LIFE, the INDWELLING SPIRIT, and the GREAT, EVERLASTING
LOVE. “…There is no greater
LOVE than to lay down one’s life…” (John 15:13 NLT).
“…Christ died for [your] SINS
according to the scriptures; And
…he was buried, and … rose again the third day according to the scriptures:”
(1 Corinthians 15:3-4 KJV). “…SIN IS the
transgression of the law….” (1 John 3:4 KJV). “…ALL HAVE SINNED …” (Romans 3:23). “…the wages of sin is death…” (Romans 6:23 KJV).
Because of Jesus, ANYONE can, “… REPENT and TURN
TO God …” (Acts 26: 20 NASB). “…REPENT ye therefore, and BE CONVERTED, that your sins may be blotted out…” (Acts 3:19 KJV). “…Whosoever believeth in him SHOULD NOT PERISH,
but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
“…SALVATION
is found in no one else,
for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be
saved…” (Acts 4:12 NIV). “…How shall we escape,
if we neglect SO GREAT SALVATION?” (Hebrews 2:3-5 KJV). God
WANTS to say to you one day: “…enter thou into the joy of thy lord…” (Matthew 25:21 KJV). “… Enter thou into the joy of thy lord…” (Matthew 25:23 KJV).
As I said before, Jesus SPOKE about God’s
LOVE and he demonstrated that LOVE. “…These
things have I “spoken”….” (John 15:11 KJV). “… THat …”my joy” might remain in you….” (John 11:15 KJV).
He is the LIVING Word of God, so you can hear
AND see that LOVE in ACTION. Love in Action was
witnessed in the relationship between Jesus and his Father. “…I
and my Father are…ONE…"
(John 10:30 KJV).
The SAME relationship Jesus and the Father invites the believer to
share with them also. “…That they all may BE
ONE; as thou, Father, art in
me, and I in thee, that they
also may be ONE IN US: …” (John 17:21 KJV). ). “…He that is joined unto the LORD is ONE SPIRIT…”
(1 Corinthians 6:17 KJV).
The additional JOY that
Jesus “HAD” FLOWED from God, the Father’s personal and direct LOVE toward him. “…The Father loveth the son… …” (John 3:35 KJV).
“…The
Father loves the son…” (John 5:20 NASB). "…This
is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well
pleased…" (Matthew 3:17 NIV).
“…Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten (called into being,
created) thee? And again, I will be to him a Father,
and he shall be to me
a Son?” (Hebrews 1:5 KJV).
Jesus was totally AWARE
and absolutely CERTAIN of God, the Father’s LOVE for him as well as his
relationship with him. “…‘You are my
Son. Today
I have become your Father.’…” (Acts 13:33 NLT). “….As the Father hath loved me… ”
(John 17:9 KJV). "…This
is my Son, whom I love…" (Matthew 3:17 NIV). “…Therefore
doth my Father love
me …”
(John 10:17 KJV). “… [Jesus] …was chosen
by God, who said to him,
“You
are my Son. Today I have become your
Father…”
(Hebrews 5:5 NLT).
Jesus was totally AWARE and absolutely
CERTAIN of his OWN relationship and love for God, his Father. “…I love the Father … [so]…I do exactly as the Father commanded Me…” (John 15:31
NASB). “…I honor My Father…”
(John 8:49 NASB). “…I know the Father…” (John 10:15
NASB). “…I …abide in his love…” (John
15:10 KJV). “…I am in the Father…”
(John 14:9 KJV). "… I and my Father are one…" (John
10:30 KJV). “…I lay it (my life) down of myself…”
(John 10:18 KJV).
If you noticed Jesus called God, Father,
which demonstrates he saw God in a more personal, relational, and intimate
light. "… my
Father …" (John
10:30 KJV).
Jesus demonstrated his relationship with
his Father to show believers HOW to be in a relationship with the Father too. “…
“Father, thank you
for hearing me. You always hear me, but I
said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here …”
(John 11:41-42 NLT). “…I have not spoken of
myself; but the Father which sent me,
he gave me a commandment, what I should say,
and what I should speak…” (John 12:49 KJV).
The Father and Jesus had a LOVING
relationship and BOND that was intimately spiritual. “…I am in the Father,
and the Father in me…”
(John 14:9 KJV). “…The Father knows Me and I know the
Father…” (John 10:15 NASB). “…No one truly knows the Son except
the Father, and no one truly knows the Father except the
Son …” (Matthew 11:27 NASB).
Jesus and his Father were so spiritually
intimate Jesus’ identified with his Father’s identity. "… I and my Father are one…" (John 10:30 KJV)."… Whatever
the Father does, these things the Son also does in
like manner…” (John 5:19 NASB). “…Anyone
who welcomes me also welcomes my Father who sent me…”
(Luke 9:48 NLT). “…I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath
taught me, I
speak these things…” (John 8:28 KJV). “…the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth
in me, he doeth the works…”
(John 14:10 KJV). “…All
things that I have heard of my Father I
have made known unto you…” (John 15:15 KJV).
Jesus and his Father were so spiritually
intimate Jesus’ confidently KNEW what was rightfully his because of his
relationship with God. “…My Father has entrusted everything to me. …”
(Matthew 11:27 NASB). “…All mine
are thine, and THINE ARE MINE…”
(John 17:10 KJV). “..Don’t
you realize that I could ask my Father for thousands of
angels to protect us, and he would send
them instantly?” (Matthew 26:53 NLT). “…The Father gave
me these works to accomplish, and they
prove that he sent me…” (John 5:36 NLT). “…My judgment would be correct in every respect
because I am not alone. The Father who sent me is with me…”
(John 8:16 NLT). “…it is my Father that
honoureth me…” (John 8:54 KJV).
Jesus and his Father was so intimate he SPOKE
confidently about being his Father’s gift of salvation, his mouthpiece and his
conduit for miraculous works. “…it is my Father’s
will that
all who see his Son and believe in him
should have eternal life…”
(Luke 6:40 NLT). “..The word which ye hear is not mine, but
the Father's which
sent me…” (John 14:24 KJV). “…The works that I do in my
Father's name, they bear witness of me…”
(John 10:25 KJV). “…Many good works have I shewed you from my Father…” (John 10:32 KJV). “…the Father that sent me beareth witness of me…”
(John 8:18 KJV). “…Don’t believe me unless I carry
out my Father’s work…”
(John 10:37 NLT).
Jesus always looked for ways to spent time
with God, his Father while on earth. “…Jesus often withdrew
to lonely places and prayed…” (Luke 5:16
NIV). “…In the early morning, while it
was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was
praying there...” (Mark 1:46 NASB). “…He
went off to the mountain to pray, and He spent the whole night in prayer to God…”
(Luke 6:12 NASB). “…He went
up on the mountain by Himself to pray...” (Matthew 15:23 NASB).
Jesus and his Father were so close when
you looked at Jesus, you SAW his Father. “…Jesus saith unto him … he that hath seen me hath seen the Father …”
(John 14:9 KJV). “…The Son is the
radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of
his being…”
(Hebrews 1:3 KJV).
Jesus demonstrated absolute and totally
dependence and trust in his Father for EVERYTHING. “…He entrusted himself to him who judges justly…” (1 Peter
2:19-23 NIV). “…Jesus
had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into
thy hands I
commend my spirit…”
(Luke 23:46 KJV).
Jesus demonstrated absolute and totally
obedience to his Father’s EVERY instruction. Jesus,"… humbled himself, and became obedient
unto death, even the death of the cross...” (Philippians 2:8 KJV). “…So that the world may know that I love the
Father, I do exactly as the Father commanded Me…” (John 15:31
NASB).
Jesus exemplified absolute
and totally commitment to the plan his Father sent him to execute. “…
I came down from
heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that
sent me” (John 6:38 KJV). “….the
Son of Man came
not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many…" (Matthew 20:28). “…The
works which the
Father has given Me to finish, the same works that I
do…”
(John 5:36 KJV). “…I must
be about my Father's business?”
(Luke 2:49 KJV). “…Then
Jesus explained: "My nourishment
comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from
finishing his work...” (John 4:34 NLT). “…I desire to do your will, my God…” (Psalms
40:8 KJV). “…Here I am--it is
written about me in the scroll-- I have
come to do your will, my God…'"
(Hebrews 10:7, 9 KJV).
Jesus was absolutely and totally certain
he would be BACK with his Father again soon. "…I came forth from the Father and have come
into the world; I am leaving the world again and going to the Father..."
(John 16:28 NASB). “…I go to the Father…”
(John 14:28 NASB). “…I go to my Father…” (John 16:10). “…I am not yet ascended to my
Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and
your Father; and to my God, and your God…”
(John 20:16 KJV).
The Father found JOY in
Jesus. “..This is my
dearly loved Son, who
brings me great joy…” (2 Peter 1:17 NLT). “…You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring
me great
joy….”
(Mark 1:11 KJV).
Jesus found JOY in the Father. “…GOD IS SPIRIT…”
(John 4:24 KJV). “…Jesus, full of joy
through the Holy Spirit, said,
"I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth…”
(Luke 10:21 KJV).
The Father and Jesus
found JOY, together, in bringing SALVATION to lost sinners. “…Because of the JOY awaiting him, [Jesus]… endured the cross, disregarding its shame…”
(Hebrews 12:2 NLT). God knew “… my righteous
servant (Jesus)
will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their
sins…” (Isaiah 53:11 NLT).
God SENT Jesus as the
GIFT of Salvation to sinners and to SPEAK his commands or his WORD that brings
ABIDING JOY. “…These THINGS have I SPOKEN unto you that my JOY might
REMAIN in you, and that your JOY
might be full…” (John 15:11 NIV). “…I have told you this
so that my JOY
may be in you and that your JOY may
be complete…” (John 15:11 NIV).
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