Why Jesus?…

In his own words (part 10)

Jesus has just finished telling his disciples to stay attached to him by believing he loves them and always will, and by sticking to his teachings, John 15:7. And then he says in verse 11, “I have told you this, so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.” 

But then, just a few verses later, he tells them: “If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also,” verse 20. And in verses 18 and 19, that because they didn’t “belong to the world,” don’t be surprised if people hated them. They’d hated him (18), and because they were his disciples they’d be treated the same way (21).

So how could Jesus promise them joy if they were about to be hated too? Especially when hatred makes people say and do some awful things, and for no reason as well (25). So it must have puzzled the disciples, because how can you have joy when you’re being accused falsely of things you never said or did? Or when you lose your job, or get thrown in jail for years without justice being done, because of someone who lied about you, and for no legitimate reason – just hate.  

But the Father set things up this way to attach us to his Son. And it would certainly attach us to his Son if we discovered Jesus had the power to pull joy out of the hat for us even when we’re suffering. And if we stick to Jesus like a branch to a tree (15:5), then no matter what happens to us, or what people do to us, he said he will fill us with his joy. 

That’s the promise. But let’s get real: Did Jesus have joy when he suffered, and he was hated for no legitimate reason? The author of Hebrews answers that for us, in Hebrews 12:2, because it was “for the joy set before him that Jesus endured the cross, scorning its shame.” 

Jesus knew that in his Father’s master plan, joy would result from his suffering. So for his disciples it would be exactly the same. So let the world hate them, because what would come of that hate? Some real hurt and suffering, yes, but Jesus would live the joy he experienced in his hurt and suffering in them. So they too could “scorn its shame.”

That was his promise, that being attached to him guaranteed…(continues Wednesday)