The Unparalleled Joy Of Your Master
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[SLIDE 1] Introduction
If you have your Bible, then I invite you to turn to John 15:11. (READ)
[SLIDE 2] Illustration
Let me begin by asking you questions, “When you hear the word, ‘Christmas,’ what emotions do you feel? What thoughts or memories does that word trigger?”
Biblical Theology - Joy
as Christians, Christmas should fill our heart with a deep sense of joy because we get to celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We sing the Christmas hymns with beautiful lyrics…such as...
Rejoice Rejoice O Emmanuel.
Joy To The World The Lord Is Come.
Repeat The Sounding Joy.
We listen and read the Bible verses pertaining to the first advent of Christ.
[SLIDE 3] We recall the angel announcing to the shepherds: “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:10-11)
Yet, those statements and lyrics may be all too familiar to you to the point that they may lose all their luster.
You may try to make sense of joy in connection with the Christmas season in this postmodern and individualistic society that attempts to find satisfaction in this world.
You may ask question about the Christian faith: Jesus came to bring “Good news of great joy?” What is this? Is it denial? Wishful thinking? Christian escapism? A bunch of hocus pocus?
Or is it something else?
Today is the 3rd Sunday of Advent. We are reminded of the theme on joy. I want to look at this topic from a unique angle.
If you were to ask Christ this question, “What brings you joy during this Christmas season, how would He answer that question?”
If you knew Christ’s answer to that question, I think that may unlock the key to experiencing a true and satisfying joy.
If God does exist - and I assert that He does - He became flesh, He was born of the virgin Mary, then the joy that Christ has/possesses SHOULD be unparalleled.
It is the kind of joy that has no equal to the earthly joy and happiness that the world offers you.
It is the kind of joy that is heavenly and divine.
It is the kind of joy that can empower believers to triumph over trials and tribulations in the midsts of suffering.
With that said, let me show you how to discover and receive that deep joy from the Scriptures.
Context
[SLIDE 4] Our text this morning is found in John 15:11.
In the wider context, Jesus was giving a farewell speech to His disciples. This was known as the Upper Room Discourse.
It was a long discourse that stretches from John 13-16.
Jesus was preparing His disciples for His departure from the world and His impending death on the cross.
He was encouraging and comforting them.
He was giving them further instructions and promises for their future ministry after He ascended back to His Father.
It is important to know the immediate context that preceded from this verse.
Jesus was teaching His disciples that He is the True Vine and they are the branches.
I will reference what we have read later in the message because the context is filled with treasures of truth pertaining to our relationship with Christ.
But the focus will be on verse 11 because that is where our keyword is found.
“These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”
Exposition
[SLIDE 5] 1. Joy Begins By Knowing The Joy Of Christ
Jesus says “that my joy may be in you.” I think it is worth pausing to meditate upon this important line.
What does this mean?
Is Jesus saying that He will rejoice when His disciples are obeying what He said? Certainly that may imply.
But my explanation is likened to the 20th century New Testament scholar, Leon Morris. He articulated it really well:
“[Jesus] had the joy of living the completely fruitful life and he wants the joy that he already has to be in them too as they live fruitfully.”
A Scottish theologian by the name of Donald Macleod said that “Jesus experienced deep, habitual joy.”
The question is, “Why was Christ joyful?”
Apart from the gospels and the New Testament, we get a sneak little peak into the nature of Christ’s deep joy in the Old Testament. [SLIDE 6]
Proverbs 8:30–31 (ESV)
30 then I was beside him, like a master workman, and I was daily his delight, rejoicing before him always, 31 rejoicing in his inhabited world and delighting in the children of man.
This chapter of Proverbs speaks about Wisdom as being a part of the creation of the world.
Theologians have discussed whether this “Wisdom” actually personifies an actual person, who is Jesus.
If that’s the case, then Jesus, as the Divine Son, co-equal in essence and nature with the Father, was infinitely happy for all of eternity in this perfect union of the Godhead.
The Father takes delight in His Son, and the Son rejoices before His Father.
Additionally, to expand upon the nature of Christ’s joy, we’ll look at three more texts from the Psalms.
[SLIDE 7]
Psalm 45:7 (ESV)
7 you have loved righteousness and hated wickedness. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions;
In Hebrews 1:9, this is referring to Jesus.
[SLIDE 8]
Psalm 21:5–6 (ESV)
5 His glory is great through your salvation; splendor and majesty you bestow on him. 6 For you make him most blessed forever; you make him glad with the joy of your presence.
King David wrote about the joy that his great descendant - namely Jesus - would experience before the presence of the Father.
[SLIDE 9]
Psalm 16:11 (ESV)
11 You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
The Apostle Peter in Acts 2 that David wrote about Christ. And Christ experienced the fullness of joy by being in the presence of His Father.
If you’re paying attention to the verses that I read, you should notice the pattern.
[SLIDE 10]
The nature of Christ's joy was rooted in His intimate relationship with His Father BEFORE and AFTER creation…AND…BEFORE and AFTER His incarnation.
The joy of Christ is greatly contrasted from earthly joy.
Experiencing earthly joy is not a bad thing. Having a delicious meal with friends and family members bring us joy. Hanging out and having fun with them can also be a joyful experience.
Working hard and seeing the results or achievements of your labour can also give you a dose of satisfaction.
Based on Ecclesiastes 9:7, I see that as God’s common grace.
That means that God blesses all people - believers and unbelievers - with His kindness and grace to enjoy His creation and live a productive life.
BUT the biggest contrast is that earthly joy is conditioned by circumstances. And earthly joy can be taken away from you.
Steven J. Cole commented this: “The world can only offer joy when things are going well. It’s relatively easy to be full of joy when you have a happy marriage, beautiful children, a satisfying, well-paying job, and good health.”
However, what makes the joy of Christ unparalleled than the world is that His joy wasn’t something cheap that depended on His circumstances.
The joy of Christ is deeply rooted in His intimate relationship with the Triune God before the creation of the world.
After God the Son came into the world 2000 years ago as a baby, His relationship with His Father never ceased.
Let me be clear that Christ had both the divine nature and human nature. He’s truly God and truly Man.
Yet, while His relationship with the Father was indeed perfect, in His human nature, He needed to grow deeper in His relationship with God as He was growing up.
52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.
[SLIDE 11] Did you know that Jesus needed to learn and study God’s Word?
In Isaiah 50:4-5, it describes this individual known as the suffering Servant. And Christ Jesus ultimately fulfills this passage in Isaiah.
Isaiah 50:4–5 (ESV)
4 The Lord God has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with a word him who is weary. Morning by morning he awakens; he awakens my ear to hear as those who are taught. 5 The Lord God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious; I turned not backward.
What Isaiah was saying is that Jesus listened to the Word of God morning by morning. But not only did He listen, He also responded and obeyed God’s Word.
[SLIDE 12] Now, what does that have to do with the joy of Christ?
Psalm 1:1–2 (ESV)
1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.
Jesus took much delight in His Father by living out Psalm 1.
When Jesus was on earth, His aim and mission was to joyfully do the will of His Father.
Perhaps a great paradox about this teaching is that Jesus was a man of unparalleled joy and a man of unparalleled sorrow.
To keep it rather simple...
Christ knew that He would be forsaken by His Father on the cross by being our sin-bearer.
Yet at the same time, He rejoiced in accomplishing His mission on earth that His Father assigned to Him with this exclamation, “It is finished.”
[SLIDE 13]
Hebrews 12:2 (ESV)
2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
What I have said and expounded regarding the nature of Christ’s joy is not separated from our sermon text. Take a look at the previous verses. [SLIDE 14]
John 15:9–11 (ESV)
9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
Christ’s joy is connected by keeping His Father’s commandments and abiding in His love.
This is His joy that He shares with His followers.
The challenge for you is that you are to ground your joy in the joy of Christ.
This is the second lesson:
[SLIDE 15] 2. Joy Comes By Being Grounded In The Joy Of Christ
Many who have adopted the postmodern or subjective mindset may say something along these lines:
“If Christianity makes you happy, then good for you, but it’s not for me. I find my joy and happines elsewhere. That’s your truth and there’s my truth.”
Imagine the postmodernist say this to Jesus, “Well, Jesus, I’m glad that you’re joyful in obeying your Father and being in an intimate relationship with Him, but that’s not my joy.”
If you think you can find joy other than a relationship with God, then I appeal to you to reconsider that mindset.
If it is true that joy can be found in pursuit of love for the world, then that makes Jesus look really dumb. Why do I say that?
If the world is able to fill you with deep satisfying joy, then Jesus essentially wasted His time on earth.
When He was tempted in the wilderness, He should have listened to Satan and worshipped him so that He can get all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.
But Christ’s joy is unique and exceptional. There is no equal to His joy. His joy transcends time and space and creation precisely because of His relationship with the Father.
When God created you, He created you with a purpose.
That’s summarized by the 1st question given in the Westminster Shorter Catechism.
[SLIDE 16] What is the chief end of man? What is the ultimate purpose of humanity?
Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him for ever.
I argue that it is an objective joy that can be experienced for all people who place their hope and trust in Christ.
But if you remain unconvinced that true joy can be found in Christ, then go. Go to the world and find your so-called happiness. Chase after money. Chase after success. Chase after popularity. Chase after security. Before you do so, hear this story...
[SLIDE 17] There was a man by the name of Tony Hsieh.
He was a successful business leader and author. He took over a company called Zappos. And he transformed Zappos from a struggling company to a successful online retailer, which was eventually sold to Amazon for $1.2 billion in 2009.
He wanted to promote happiness and world peace. So, he became known for his book, "Delivering Happiness: A Path to Profits, Passion and Purpose." He became a workplace-happiness guru.
Ironically, this happiness guru never found his own happiness.
Hsieh stepped down as CEO of Zappos in 2020 and moved to Utah with plans to create a utopia by attracting intellectuals and artists.
However, he struggled with mental health issues. He was dealing with social anxiety, and alcohol and substance abuse.
Later, he developed a fascination with fire.
Sadly, he died in a house fire at the age of 46 on November 27th, 2020.
The story of Tony Hsieh is not unique. I can list out several more famous and successful businessman or businesswomen or YouTubers (for the younger folks here) who tried to find happiness in this world, but was experiencing depression and anxiety and unfulfillment.
[SLIDE 18] But Jesus speaks the truth by offering this to you: “my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” In other words, Christ’s unparalleled joy becomes my joy and your joy.
This only assumes that His disciples are genuinely abiding in Christ as the context suggests.
Abiding in Christ leads to joy.
Failing to abide in Christ does not lead to true joy.
D.A. Carson explains it really well: “As Jesus’ supreme joy is in this relationship of obedience to the Father, so the Christian’s supreme joy lies in his relationship of obedience to the Son.”
Our intimacy with Jesus in abiding in Him is paralleled to His intimacy with His Father in abiding in Him.
10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.
Jesus’ deep and satisfying JOY is like a fountain or a deep well that is abundantly full.
Therefore, He invites you to drink deeply of His joy. By doing so, your joy may be full, complete.
You’ll experience full joy. Complete joy. Abundant joy. Unparalleled joy. It’s a joy that no one can take away from you because of your relationship with God.
[SLIDE 19] And you can exclaim just like Asaph in Psalm 73:25-26
Psalm 73:25–26 (ESV)
25 Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. 26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
And to practically experience this joy, you are to walk in obedience to Him.
[SLIDE 20] 3. Joy Comes By Obeying The Word Of Christ
Just Christ obeyed the word of His Father, so Christians are to obey the word of His Son. Look at verse 11 again...
“THESE THINGS I HAVE SPOKEN TO YOU..that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”
All that Jesus has spoken are meant to produce joy in His people. But what were the words that Jesus has spoken? They’re found in this chapter and in the entire Scripture. I’ll summarize the features of Christ’s words in five ways with scriptural references.
Christ’s words are words of truth.
Jesus says John 15:1, “I am the true vine.”
Every single word that Jesus spoke was true.
Jesus teaches us so that we may know the truth - objective truth - and the truth will set us free. When we are free, we may have joy in the LORD.
Christ’s words are words of warning
These warnings are found in John 15:2
2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.
It may seem that these verses aren’t comforting. They seem to be threats instead of encouragement.
How do these warning verses produce joy in believers?
Think of cancer. If you do not deal with it, you will die. That’s the warning. But if you go through surgery - while it may not be pleasant - and if it gets treated well, oh how joyful the occasion it would be.
In a similar yet different way, believers should examine themselves with this sobering question: “Am I bearing good fruit for the LORD?”
Charles Spurgeon has a helpful exposition and application for believers’ reflection:
“Well, brethren and sisters, but such heart-searching as that is eminently beneficial, and tends to deepen in us true joy. Christ would not have us rejoice with the false joy of presumption, so he takes the sharp knife, and cuts that joy away. Joy on a false basis would prevent us from having true joy; and, therefore, the Master gives us the sharp and cutting word that we may be sound in the faith, that we may be sound in the life of God, and that so the joy we may get may be worth having...”
Jesus says that every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit, good fruit. Fruit of unparalleled joy.
Christ’s words are words of humiliation.
Let me clarify.
What I mean by humiliation is not embarassing someone and putting out someone’s dignity and respect.
What I mean by humiliation is humbling someone in lowering their pride. In other words, they are words that humble us.
Jesus says in John 15:4-5
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
The branch cannot bear fruit unless it abides in the vine, which is Jesus Christ.
Believers cannot do anything apart from Jesus.
Christ’s words are words of encouraging promises.
This chapter is filled with promises from our LORD.
It is balanced with warning, instruction, and promises.
Jesus spoke of encouraging promises of abiding in Him.
7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.
An abiding relationship with the Triune God is the abiding in His love.
His words of encouraging promises are meant to bring you joy.
Finally, Christ’s words are words of precept.
Jesus obeyed His Father’s commandments and abided in His love.
Christ’s love for the Father reveals His joy in Him because it gives Christ the pleasure to please Him. Also, it is because Jesus knows that His Father loves Him.
Just as Christ obeyed His Father, so we are to obey Christ. Our LORD Jesus has given believers precepts (commandments) to follow.
John 15:12 commands believers to love one another just as Jesus have loved them.
John 15:4 commands believers to abide in Jesus.
And Jesus indicates that whoever keeps His commandents are the ones who truly love Him. And He promises believers that whoever loves Him, the Father will be pleased with them (John 14:21, 23).
When God gives you commandments to obey, it is for your joy.
8 the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes;
Those are the words of Christ that He has spoken to you so that His joy may in you and that your joy may be full to the point that you’ll never forget about it.
[SLIDE 21] Application
To summarize, here are the three lessons regarding joy.
1. Joy Begins By Knowing The Joy Of Christ
2. Joy Comes From Being Grounded In The Joy Of Christ
3. Joy Comes By Obeying The Word Of Christ
What’s beautiful and glorious about the unparalleled joy of Christ is that the joy that He gives you CAN SUSTAIN YOU in the midst of intense suffering.
[SLIDE 22]
That’s why the Apostle Paul can say this in 2 Corinthians 6:10 and Romans 5:3
2 Corinthians 6:10 (ESV)
10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.
Romans 5:3 (ESV)
3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,
When the Apostles were persecuted by the religious leaders, they responded in this way...[SLIDE 23]
Acts 5:40–41 (ESV)
40 and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name.
[SLIDE 24] The Apostle Peter spoke of these words to the Christians being persecuted under a tyrant ruler:
1 Peter 1:8–9 (ESV)
8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
[SLIDE 25] Why is it that you as a follower of Christ can be joyful while suffering? (assuming that you’re consistently by the grace of God abiding in Christ)
It is because of your relationship with Christ and the salvation that you’ve experienced when God caused you to be born again.
He has transformed you from being spiritually dead and to being spiritually alive.
And what Christ has done to save you can never be undone by the ways of this world.
And there is nothing in this world that can separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
He is all that you have. He is your treasure and pearl. He is your fountain of satisfying joy.
When you stand before Jesus face to face, you look forward to hearing these words from Him, “Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your Master.”
Conclusion
Brothers and sisters, may this message be a reminder for you to find your satisfaction and joy in Christ.
If you have never thought about the nature of Christ’s joy, and now you know what made Him joyful, He calls you to Himself and to receive that joy by being in an abiding relationship with Him and obeying His word.
If you already knew, then keep persevering and don’t lose sight.
If your love and joy for Christ has grown lukewarm or callous, then here are my instructions for you.
Recall the time when you were joyful in Christ, but you don’t experience it presently maybe because you have walked away from Him.
Focus and remember the nature of Christ’s joy.
Make His joy your joy.
Make it a daily priority to let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.
Make it your aim not to live for yourself, but to live to glorify the Father by bearing much fruit and prove to be a disciple of Jesus.
Elisabeth Elliot once said, “The fact is, as believers, it is not about us. It is not about my happiness, my joy, my wellbeing. It is about the glory of God and the kingdom of Christ. The only means to real joy and contentment is to make His glory the supreme objective in my life.”
Brothers and sisters, will you do that this morning?
If you don’t have a relationship with Christ, you can begin by coming to the cross as a repentant sinner and believing in His death and resurrection for you.
He came to save sinners like you so that you can enjoy a relationship with God. That’s why it’s good news of great joy.
If you truly experience the joy of Christ even for several minutes, it’ll be better than a million years earthly delight.
PRAY
NEW MEMBERS
At this time, I would like to invite all the new members to please forward at the front.
By way of introduction: Jenine, Jane, Keon, Carmen, Edward, Leo, Jesse.
These folks attended membership classes. They were interviewed by two elders or deacons to hear their testimony of faith and baptism. They understand thei responsibility as members.
And they were voted into membership of OBC.
So we are very grateful to God that they are committing themselves to this church family.
Now, we’re going to do what’s called the “Right-Hand Of Fellowship” as a way to officially welcome them into the membership of OBC as part of the church family.