Chapter Three: The Happiness of Christ

When you think of Jesus, what do you think brings Him joy? What makes Him happy?

We think of many things that make Christ happy. When we do what He commands, certainly that brings joy. When a sinner repents there is a joyful celebration in heaven. God the Father receiving glory surely brings Christ joy (Luke 15:7).

Have you ever considered Christ receiving joy at saving and sanctifying sinners?

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.”

Our Triune God planned our redemption before the foundation of the world (cf. Eph. 1:4, Rev. 13:8). This plan involved God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. God the Son would procure our salvation through His perfect life, horrific death, depressing burial, and glorious resurrection. It was the purpose for which He came to earth (Luke 19:10). It was His joy. Christ loves to save.

Ortlund quotes a Puritan pastor, Thomas Goodwin, “Christ’s own joy comfort, happiness, and glory are increased and enlarged by His showing grace and mercy, in pardoning, relieving, and comforting his members here on earth.” (36)

Have you thought this about Jesus? Have these thoughts ever crossed your mind, about you and your sin?

Ortlund tells a story about a doctor who travels to a remote jungle in an effort to help the natives. He brings medication that will help them overcome an illness, but the natives do not want to take the medicine. They want to provide their own help and healing. The doctor does not have an ulterior motive. He simply wants to help.

Finally, a villager walks up and receives the medication. The doctor experiences joy. True joy!

Ortlund writes, “So with us, and so with Christ. He does not get flustered and frustrated when we come to him for fresh forgiveness, for renewed pardon, with distress and need and emptiness. That’s the whole point. It’s what he came to heal.”

Hebrews is a wonderful book for many reasons, but one of the main reasons is the beauty with which it pictures Christ. Hebrews 4:14-16 is one of my favorite passages of Scripture. Hebrews 4:14-16 “Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

That is Christ’s joy, dispensing His mercy and bestowing His grace in time of need. Now, notice the context. After a call to rest in God, the author of Hebrews remarks on God’s Word. It is a precise tool of a master surgeon, “piercing to the division of soul and of spirit.” All our thoughts are not hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed to God (4:13). We will give account to Him. This is a terrifying thought.

It is followed by Hebrews 4:14-16. That glorious encouragement for us to draw near to God through our High Priest, Jesus. What is the result? We find grace and mercy. That is amazing.

Ortlund helps us see this, “We tend to think that when we approach Jesus for help in our need and mercy amid our sins, we somehow detract from him, lessen him, impoverish him.” (38) That is what I think of so many times. God is disappointed and exasperated when I come to Him for renewed forgiveness and fellowship. But Christ is gentle and lowly.

Rather than irritating Him, it pleases Him. “Christ’s heart is not drained by our coming to Him; his heart is filled up all the more by our coming to Him,” writes Ortlund. (38)

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.”

Hebrews 1:3 “He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,”

Hebrews 8:1 “Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven,”

Hebrews 10:12 “But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God,”

Jesus is our high priest. As high priest, He is eager, joyfully eager to minister to us when we need it. The problem is, far too often we neglect the grace offered to us. We picture (or, I picture) Christ as a disappointed Brother who tires of us coming to Him. Scripture paints a completely different picture. It is a joy to Christ when we come.

Ortlund offers a word picture that I want to end with:

“Our unbelieving hearts tread cautiously here. Is it not presumptuous audacity to draw on the mercy of Christ in an unfiltered way? Shouldn’t we be measured and reasonable, careful not to pull too much on him?

Would a father with a suffocating child want his child to draw on the oxygen in a measured, reasonable way?

Our trouble is that we do not take the Scripture seriously when it speaks of us as Christ’s body.”

Ortlund cites Ephesians 5:29 “For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church,” It is Christ’s joy, His happiness.

This view of Jesus, this gentle and lowly in heart Jesus, enjoys happiness when His children come to Him. Will you come to Him?