Joy is the Normal State
By Dudley Hall
But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. John 17:13 (ESV)
Several times in this last discourse Jesus mentions the joy that is offered to the disciples who live in this precious relationship with the Father. He has already told them that he is going to the Father for the purpose of making a place for them in the Father that is like his place. They will have access and authority. They will be his representatives on earth when he ascends. So while he is still on earth, he tells them of heavenly truths that will elevate them above the mundane and sometimes painful circumstances of their journey.
He repeatedly reminds them that it is his joy they will be getting. It was nothing less than the joy that he experienced as the beloved Son of God. He was joyful because he was always conscious of the Father's pleasure. He was sure that the Father's word was stronger than all the ideas put forth by mere men. He was confident that the Father's will would be done on time and that even traitors like Judas could not stop the plan. For him to offer a level of joy below his would be to deny the whole reality that he was describing for them.
They were not getting a portion of his inheritance. They were joint-heirs. They were not getting a preferred pass to God's presence. They were getting the access of a son. They would get his joy or no joy at all.
Would that we could believe his word. We dare not settle for "improvement" when son-ship is available. We cannot settle for better circumstances and more stuff. We have been given the same privileges the Son enjoyed. We will need them. We are taking his role as earthly representatives of a heavenly kingdom and the world will not be any kinder to us than to him.
What is your joy quotient? His joy is yours. You'll have to believe his word to experience it.
