What possible promise of joy could inspire Jesus to endure the public humiliation and painful suffering of crucifixion? Was it the joy of receiving a place of honour at God’s right hand as the author of Hebrews describes? Was it the joy of divine exaltation to a position of universal authority over all of creation, proclaimed in Paul’s letter to the Philippians (2:6-11)? Or was it the joy of assembled saints and angels singing his praises in the unending hymn of Revelation (5:11-14)?
The answer is, “None of the above.” Jesus already possessed all these joys in God’s eternal presence before creating and coming into the world. Sacred scripture teaches that God’s only begotten Son sacrificed all privileges of infinite power, divine glory and eternal honour for the ultimate joy set before him on the way of the cross. But what might the substance of that promised joy have been? In a word, us!
The joy Jesus eternally anticipates, and for which he historically endured the cross, is the joy of knowing us fully, loving us intimately, and living in joyful companionship with us in God’s holy communion of saints, now and forever.
Lord Jesus, for the sake of the joy set before us within your risen life, inspire us in joyful worship and service throughout our mortal life. Amen. — PL