God's Will and Joyful Service

Our Scripture text this evening is taken from John 15:8-13. This passage is found in the largest teaching section on John’s gospel—The Upper Room Discourse. The Upper Room Discourse begins in John 13 with Jesus washing His disciples’ feet and ends in John 17 with His “High Priestly Prayer.” John 15 begins with Jesus saying that He is the True Vine and the necessity of our “abiding in Him” in order that we might bear fruit. He then says:

John 15:8–13 ESV

By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 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. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

You have probably noticed already that the emotional tone of this Maundy Thursday service is different from most. Most Maundy Thursday services have a somber tone. This is natural considering what is about to transpire. Before the night is out, Jesus is betrayed and arrested. In the morning He will be tried, convicted and crucified. However, in His last words to His disciples Jesus wants them to know that...

It is God’s Will That You Experience the Fullness of Joy

This is found in verse 11:

John 15:11 ESV

These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

I don’t think I can stress this truth enough. The world has the idea (and sadly many Christians do as well) that the Christian life is one that diminishes joy. This is why in many peoples’ minds Christianity is so unattractive. According to this view the Christian is missing out on the “fullness of joy.” But reality is much different:

The World Can Only Offer Incomplete Joy

There is no point in denying that the world offers joy. When a person experiences joy there is a release of a powerful hormone called oxytocin. It is often called “the love hormone.” It is primarily released in social interaction and reproductive activities. It gives a person a sense of well-being and joy. Consequently, the social interactions we experience in the world do produce joy. Moreover, other activities and certain drugs can produce similar effects. There is a reason people enjoy “partying” so much.

However,...

The Fullness of Joy Can Only Be Experienced in a Relationship With God

Listen again to verses 8-11:

John 15:8–11 ESV

By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 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. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

As the Westminister Catechism teaches us, we are created “to glorify God and enjoy him forever.” The relationships of this world were designed by God to point us to the greatest relationship. If you are not in a relationship with God, you are only experiencing the appetizer rather than the feast! After a lifetime of experiencing the pleasures of this world, Saint Augustine observed:

You made us for yourself, and our heart is restless, until it rests in you.

Christ is the True Vine and apart from Him we are like broken off branches—in the end we will dry up and wither!

John 15:6–7 ESV

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. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

The world is filled with withered up people. Open your eyes, you see them all around you. They fill their lives with people, things, activities and laughter, but if you look into their eyes you see the truth. They are broken off branches that are slowly whithering away!

The first step to experiencing the fullness of joy is a relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ.

The second step to the fullness of joy is by following Christ’s example of loving service.

The Fullness of Joy is Experiences as We Follow Christ’s Example of Loving Service

Again look at verse 11:

John 15:11 ESV

These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

What are “these things”? They are found in verse 10:

John 15:10 ESV

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.

What is His commandment? If is found in verses 12-13:

John 15:12–13 ESV

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

Jesus is referring to His crucifixion that will take place in a few hours. This of course was the darkest three hours the world has ever experienced, but in the midst of that darkness the author of Hebrews gives us glimpses of the emotional life of Christ during those dark hours:

Hebrews 12:2 ESV

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.

Jesus was able to look beyond the pain of the cross to His relationship with God the Father and His relationship with all those He redeemed.

This is why loving service is the path to experiencing the fullness of joy—giving ourselves for others brings us in relationship with other people and with God! Such a life is a fruitful life and a fruitful life is a life that glorifies God! This is what you were made for—to glorify God and enjoy Him forever!