The Happiness of Christ

What makes Jesus happy?

Thomas Goodwin wrote that “Christ’s own joy, comfort, happiness, and glory are increased by…?”

His disciples forsaking all to follow Him (Mark 10:21–23 “And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!””).

Believers’ faithfulness in a little preparing them to be faithful over much (Matthew 25:21–23 “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’”).

While we intuitively know it pleases Christ when we trust and obey, what if there was something missing from our understanding of Christ’s own joy?

Goodwin finished his quote by saying Christ’s joy, etc. is “increased and enlarged by His showing grace and mercy, in pardoning, relieving, and comforting His members here on earth.”

Consider a doctor who travels deep in to the jungle with life-saving medicines for the natives. At first, the natives refuse His care, believing they have the answer for what ails them. Finally, a few brave people come forward and receive life-saving medical attention. What would this doctor feel? JOY! It’s the entire reason he came!!!

So it is with Christ. He doesn’t get flustered, frustrated, exasperated and worn out when we come again for new mercies…renewed pardon. He came to heal us, to forgive us, to show us grace and redeem us. But, consider why Jesus would do it in the first place — because He is? (Gentle and lowly!)

Here’s what Goodwin wrote in Heart of Christ:

[The] glory and happiness of Christ [are] enlarged and increased still, as His members come to have the purchase of His death more and more laid forth upon them; so as when their sins are pardoned, their hearts more sanctified, and their spirits comforted, then comes He to see the fruit of His labor, and is comforted thereby, for He is the more glorified by it, yea, He is much more pleased and rejoiced in this than themselves can be. And this keeps up in His heart His care and love unto His children here below, to water and refresh them every moment.

State not in 1600’s Puritan English, “When you come to Christ for mercy and love and help in your anguish and perplexity and sinfulness, you are going with the flow of His own deepest wishes, not against them.” He is not drained because we constantly turn to Him for grace and refreshment. Rather, It brings Him joy.

Is this the Jesus you currently follow?

Turn to Hebrews 12:1–2 (“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 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 joy was waiting for Jesus on the other side of the cross? The joy of seeing His people forgiven. Remember that Hebrews as a whole paints the picture of a Great High Priest who puts an end to all other high priests. There ar eno more atoning sacrifices because He Himself IS the final atoning sacrifice. He completely covers over our sins, once-and-for-all. Our sins are provided for to the uttermost (Hebrews 7:25 “Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.”) Think about how explicit Jesus’ final sacrifice is, particularly in the Book of Hebrews, when multiple times the Scripture states He is seated at God’s right hand (Heb.1:3; 8:1; 10:12).

The joy of presenting His people as “invincibly clean” sent Christ through His entire passion — death, burial, and resurrection. Why would we think Christ would have any other reaction than utter embrace…a joyful heart…when we come to Him? Does this not also connect with similar texts in Scripture?

Luke 15:7 “Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.”

John 15:11 “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”

John 17:13 “But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves.”

But, it’s deeper than just wanting to see us forgive…it’s actually wanting to be WITH us (see John 17:24 “Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.”)

But wait…is it presumptuous audacity to draw on the mercy of Christ in such an unfiltered way?

Maybe it’s because we focus on the illustrative nature of Ephesian 5 rather than on what Paul is saying about Jesus. Yes, the illustration applies to marriage, but the truth it uses is about Christ. Jesus “nourishes and cherishes” His body. He doesn’t hate it. Rather, “because we are members of His body,” He loves us. How would you care for your wounded body? Wouldn’t you bandage it and nurse it and protect it and give it time to heal? So it is with Christ. We, as part of His body, aren’t just close friends…we are a part of Him.

Ortlund’s final words of the chapter are this: “Jesus Christ is comforted when you draw form the riches of His atoning work, because His own body is getting healed.”