THE JOY OF JESUS

Introduction

As we open our study of our advent word, JOY, let’s do some audience participation:

If any of you ladies or girls are named Joy, please raise your hand.

Now, raise your hand if you have a family member—a daughter, mother, grandmother, sibling or niece named Joy.

Names are significant generally we choose them carefully. Often times we pick names for our kids that honor or represent another person or reflect a virtuous characteristic.

A short internet search revealed that the name “Joy” began to be used as a name by the seventeenth century Puritans.

It was tied to the idea of "being joyful in the Lord."

It came into more general use in the late nineteenth century as part of the revival of virtue names. Other virtue type names we recognize are “faith”, “hope”, “Irene” (which is derived from eirene (er-ree-na) meaning “peace”, and “charity.”

Joy rose to its most popular level in 1974, when it reached Number 109 on the popular names charts.

Now it ranks in the 400s on the charts of popular names.

We can’t read too much into our limited data here today or the decline in the popularity of a name, but I wonder if the decline in the popularity of that name may reflect a society who may have lost some of its sense of joy and a society that no longer has any concept of living in the joy of Jesus that we will look at today.

Joy Defined

Let’s begin with defining “joy.”

Webster

defines it as a noun and a verb. As a noun, it is a state of happiness, bliss or delight. As a verb, it is defined as experiencing pleasure or delight.

Biblical Definition of Joy

So, how does our cultural definition today compare with the biblical definition in the OT and NT?

In the first testament, the Hebrew word most often translated as “joy” is simha (seem ha). It appears 94 times and means gladness, pleasure or delight.

In the Theological Workbook of the Old Testament, Bruce K. Waltke writes that the root ś-m-ḥ denotes being glad or joyful with the whole disposition as indicated by its association with the heart .

Exodus 4:14 (NASB95)

14 Then the anger of the Lord burned against Moses, and He said, “Is there not your brother Aaron the Levite? I know that he speaks fluently. And moreover, behold, he is coming out to meet you; when he sees you, he will be glad (s-m-h) in his heart.

In the NT the Greek word that is translated into English as “joy” is chara (khar ah). It means joy, gladness, rejoicing. Look more at its NT use in a moment.

One observation we can make from Scripture about joy is that it comes or it is based on relationship.

OT Uses of Simha

I want us to see some OT and NT uses of the word that will give us more understanding of the meaning. Then, we will look at the source of joy and we will conclude today with direction from Jesus on how we are to have His joy.

First biblical reference to simha is Gen 31.27. At that point in Genesis, Jacob has spent 20 years with Laban and he decided to leave secretly with his wives, children and possessions. When Laban went after him and caught up to him, Laban, a master of deception and of spinning the facts his way, protested that if Jacob had told him he was leaving, he could have sent him away with joy and celebration. Here is what Laban said.

Genesis 31:27 (NASB95)

27 “Why did you flee secretly and deceive me, and did not tell me so that I might have sent you away with joy (simha) and with songs, with timbrel and with lyre;

Simha also appears in connection with certain celebrations ordained by the LORD. In Nu 10.10 the LORD told Moses the various occasions when he was to blow the trumpets--

Numbers 10:10 (NASB95)

10 “Also in the day of your gladness (simha) and in your appointed feasts, and on the first days of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; and they shall be as a reminder of you before your God. I am the Lord your God.”

Coming before the LORD with offerings were to be times of gladness, times of joy.

In Deut 28, the section dealing with curses due to disobedience, God stressed the importance of the heart attitude His people had--

Deuteronomy 28:47 (NASB95)

47 “Because you did not serve the Lord your God with joy (simha) and a glad heart, for the abundance of all things;

The curses would come to fruition when they were out of fellowship with the Father.

Another OT reference I like is Neh 8.10. The setting is after the wall had been reconstructed. It was finished. The people gathered together and Ezra read the Law to them and the Levites explained it so they could understand its provisions. The people began to weep but Nehemiah said to them:

Nehemiah 8:9–10 (NASB95)

9 Then Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep.” For all the people were weeping when they heard the words of the law.

10 Then he said to them, “Go, eat of the fat, drink of the sweet, and send portions to him who has nothing prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not be grieved, for the joy (hedwa) of the Lord is your strength.”

This was at the beginning of the Festival of Booths where there was great confession and the restoration of relationship with the LORD.

We will look at some other OT references to joy momentarily, but let’s first see how the Greek word for joy, chara, is used in the NT.

NT Uses of Chara

Today we celebrate the joy connected to the first advent of Jesus. When the angel appeared to Zacharias to announce the birth of John the Baptist, joy was promised to result.

Luke 1:11–14 (NASB95)

11 And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. 12 Zacharias was troubled when he saw the angel, and fear gripped him. 13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John.

14 “You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.

The presence of the angel understandably caused him to fear; it gripped him. The angel emphasized there was no need for fear; rather he would have joy and gladness as would many others over the birth of his son. The fulness of joy in our lives leaves no room for fear.

We see the same thing in another place. In this next passage it is the shepherds who are terrified by the appearance of the messenger of the Lord.

Luke 2:9–10 (NASB95)

9 And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy (chara) which will be for all the people;

Again, the fear the terrified shepherds experienced was replaced with news of great joy.

In an article written by Tim Cole, a friend of our former pastor, Jerry Smith who is now with Jesus, Tim compared the two angelic announcements. The one to Zacharias about John the Baptist said he would have “joy” at his birth. The announcement of the Savior’s birth to the shepherds said it came with “good news of great joy” The Greek word for “great” is megas.

One other NT use of joy that I love is found in Luke 15.7 as Jesus relates the parable of the 1 sheep that was lost out of the hundred and He says--

Luke 15:7 (NASB95)

7 “I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy (chara) in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

The Source of Joy

OT:

Let’s look at what David said in the Psalms about the source of his joy.

Speaking to the LORD, he said

Psalm 4:6–8 (NASB95)

6 Many are saying, “Who will show us any good?” Lift up the light of Your countenance upon us, O Lord! 7 You have put gladness (simha) in my heart, More than when their grain and new wine abound. 8 In peace I will both lie down and sleep, For You alone, O Lord, make me to dwell in safety.

YHWH is clearly identified as the one who put joy in his heart. For him the blessings of what the earth can offer do not compare with the joy he has from the LORD.

In Ps 16, listen to what David says about where he finds “fullness of joy.”

Psalm 16:11 (NASB95)

11 You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy (simha); In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.

In Ps 21, David speaks of the king of Israel. It is Messianic and may introduce the suffering Messiah in Ps 22. Speaking of that king in v. 6, he says:

Psalm 21:6 (NASB95)

6 For You make him most blessed forever; You make him joyful (hdh) with gladness (simha) in Your presence.

Joy and gladness come from being in the presence of God. Said slightly differently, God gives us joy when we are in fellowship with Him.

Ps 97 is a psalm of praise to the LORD. Listen to what is said in vv. 11-12.

Psalm 97:11–12 (NASB95)

11 Light is sown like seed for the righteous And gladness (simha) for the upright in heart. 12 Be glad (simha) in the Lord, you righteous ones, And give thanks to His holy name.

Light and joy are sown like seed in the life of the righteous and upright of heart. What happens when seed is sown? With time it grows and produces fruit. God has planted light and joy for us that will blossom as we grow in our relationship with Him.

NT:

When we look to the birth of the long awaited Messiah, we see joy among those who looked for His coming.

Unborn John the Baptist (when J the B was in the womb and he came into the presence of Jesus in Mary’s womb)

When pregnant Mary went to visit Elizabeth, we have this wonderful expression of joy from the baby in Elizabeth’s womb.

Luke 1:44–45 (NASB95)

44 “For behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy (agalliasis). 45 “And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord.”

John the Baptist

John 3:29 (NASB95)

29 “He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly (chara) because of the bridegroom’s voice. So this joy (chara) of mine has been made full.

John’s joy is made full by being in the presence of the bridegroom and hearing his voice. Like David, there is fulness of joy in His presence.

Possessing the Joy of Jesus

John 15:11 (NASB95)

11 “These things I have spoken to you so that My joy (chara) may be in you, and that your joy (chara) may be made full.

Let’s break these two parts of v. 11 down.

He has spoken these things so that His joy may be in them.

the verb “may be” is subjunctive which means it is a possibility. It is possible for them to have His joy and it is possible for their joy to be made full. The path to that place He has just spoken to them in the preceding verses.

Let’s briefly look at what He had just said to them. He encouraged them to abide in Him in order to bear fruit.

John 15:4–5 (NASB95)

4 “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. 5 “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.

What was to be their motivation to abide? Look at these next two verses.

John 15:9–10 (NASB95)

9 “Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also 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.

Jesus elaborates on abiding in Him. Applying what Travis taught last week about love, Jesus tells them He values them, considers them significant, important just like the Father loves Him. This is encouragement and confidence to remain in Him in the days ahead. By keeping His commandments they will demonstrate their love for Him in the same way He did with the Father.

Back to John 15.11

John 15:11 NASB95

11 “These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.

What is the joy of Jesus that He wants to impart to them?

I’ll suggest it is His love for them. As they show their love for Him by obeying His word, by abiding in Him, His joy will be in them and it will fill them. As they love Him and are filled with His joy, they will abide and fruit will be the result.

Make it personal!

John wrote more about joy in his epistles.

1 John 1:3–4 (NASB95)

3 what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. 4 These things we write, so that our joy (chara) may be made complete.

“our” vs. “your” joy.

Fellowship with the Father and the Son is the key to full joy.

Next step—fruit bearing that comes from abiding in His love, i.e., in fellowship:

3 John 4 NASB95

4 I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth.

Closing

As we close these advent messages with a focus on joy, I hope we leave with joy in the present and look forward to the joy of Jesus in us in the days ahead. DZ needed this study.

We know the source of joy. The Psalms we looked at made it clear. It comes from the presence of God. John the Baptist testified to that as the best man who heard the voice of the bridegroom.

We not only have His word and His love, but we also possess the Holy Spirit. He indwells each of us who has put his/her faith in Jesus.

His word as we have it directs us to walk by means of His Spirit. As we do this we won’t carry out the desires of our carnal flesh. In contrast to those things, Gal 5.22 tells the fruit of the Spirit is love, JOY, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

So, how do we experience the joy of the One who came to earth over 2000 years ago? If we walk by means of His word, the love of the Father for Jesus will be the love we experience from the Lord Jesus. And, we get to walk in the power of His presence, His Spirit within us. This is abiding in Him, this is experiencing His joy and this is how our joy will be complete.

Let me add one more word about “joy.” Living in the joy of Jesus does not exempt us from the problems of life in this fallen world. Scripture makes that clear to us. Yet, living with His joy in us is motivation to press on. Heb 12.2 gives us the example of Jesus and tells us that we are to fix our eyes on Him, the author and perfecter of our faith who, for the joy set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Let’s leave today with a sense of hope, peace, love and joy in what the first advent of our Savior brought us.

Benediction:

Romans 15:13 NASB95

13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.