Where’s the Greater Beef Joy?!

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

What About the Greater Joy?
As mentioned in Part I, the common term for joy means cheerfulness and calm delight. But, if there is a greater joy than that, in addition to Chairete (happy), adjectives are added such as great, increasing, exceeding, or abundant. There are 13 verses reflecting this enhanced joy.
It seems that those scriptures describing heightened joy are split among 3 reasons for experiencing the greater joy:

1. The realization of salvation/that our Savior is alive, or
2. The reward of seeing the fruit of our Jesus ministering through us – 3 John 4, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.”, or
3. When we have matured to the level of sharing in Christ’s suffering.
   2 Corinthians 7:4, “Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my boasting on your behalf. I am filled with comfort. I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation.”

Reminder: These trials are not a consequence of our sin and bad actions. These are trials brought about because we are living lives that reflect Jesus and display His true character.

The Spiritual Maturity Process
Of course, none of this process is all that linear. Maturity and growth in Christ occur at different speeds and at varying levels, depending on our desire and the purposes of the Holy Spirit. Christians in persecuted places may experience the power and reality of God to meet their specific and immediate needs. We should all rely upon and cling to our eternal hope, but perhaps some desperately need to more immediately than others.
In our contemporary Western culture, we know very little about the tribulations of the first century or those of the church today in many other parts of the world. Recently, 49 Christians who were part of a night vigil praying for peace were hacked to death in the Democratic Republic of Congo by Islamist terrorists. (Many people refer to the terrible war in Gaza as a genocide, but what is going on in the DRC is by definition a true genocide by Muslims determined to wipe out Christians.)
Was there joy in the midst of that particular night of terror? It is hard to imagine. But for those Christians, as they worshipped their God and prayed for peace, they knew the danger, were willing to take the risk, and saw beyond the pain to the glory that lay on the other side. Who knows how God will use this horror to answer their prayers for peace?
Pastor Jamie Winship, in his book Living Fearless, describes a young Christian whom he worked with in a Muslim country who was imprisoned and tortured for his faith. With each pain inflicted upon him, he cried out in joyful glory at experiencing a closeness with Jesus. His captors were confused, and when faced with killing him, decided they would only be giving in to his desire to be with Jesus and let him go.
Captain John Underhill, who led the civil defense of the Massachusetts Puritans in the mid-1600s, describes 2 Christian women who had been abducted and tortured by the Pequot Natives. I dramatized his account from the perspective of the young boy, James Sands, captivated by Underhill’s words in the following excerpt from my historical novel, 1661:

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It was Captain Underhill. All quieted and turned their eyes to him. James looked over at Thomas, and both boys’ eyes widened as they smiled. James thought, Ahhh, this was what I had hoped for.
Underhill spoke, “In this Indian war just concluded, I have seen great loss, great bravery, and brilliant heroics. But the story that is most stirring to my soul is that of two Maidens whom we rescued from the Natives. Once in safety, they shared their ordeal—the horrible offenses and torture.”
James slid a confused look over at Thomas. A story of maidens? Really?
Underhill thoughtfully circled the top of his tankard with his index finger as he continued. “Yet in these poor, captive children, God instilled a great measure of sweet comfort and consolation. These fair women joyfully testified that God’s loving kindness is better than life. Better, they said, to be in the lions’ den and still with Christ.”
By now, the room was utterly still. James glanced around the table. Every eye was fixed on the Captain.
“I recall that sweet, affectionate prince and soldier from the Bible, King David. He knew well the relish of God’s comforting presence in the midst of all the distresses, trials, and temptations that fell upon him.”
Underhill looked over at William Hutchinson and then at Simon Ray. “Brothers, the Lord deals with us in the same way. The harsher the captivity of His servants, the clearer God’s presence shines among His true saints. God plucks them out of the flood to bear them up, as he did the apostle Peter above the water, that they sink not.”
The Captain slowly drew his dagger from its sheath. “And know that Christ cannot be had without a cross.” He jabbed the dagger into the thick, rough-hewn wood table; he gestured at the cross formed by the weapon’s grip and blade, intersected by the quillion. “They are inseparable: Christ cannot rule in your life without acceptance of His cross.
“And therefore, why do you stand surprised at New England that there should be contentions and differences here for the truth of Christ? Have not troubles and contentions followed the purest churches since the beginning of the world to this day?”
James saw Reverend Wheelwright nodding slowly. Mistress Hutchinson’s eyes were downcast, her face in an expression of deep study.
“Our God ever brings light out of darkness, good out of evil,” Underhill said. “Surely, the greater the afflictions and troubles of God’s people, the more eminent is His grace in the souls of His servants.”
A rumbling of “Amen!” rose up from around the table.
Underhill smiled. “Would not more men venture to sea if they knew they would never meet a storm?” There was a smattering of laughter, and several men thumped the table with their tankards. Underhill tugged the dagger from the table. He held it in front of him and studied it as he said, “Yet, he is the most courageous soldier who sees the battle pitched, the drums beat an alarm, and trumpets sound a charge, and yet fearlessly joins in the battle.”
The Captain sheathed the dagger and said, “Though afflictions for the present are grievous, as doubtless it was with those two captive maidens, yet God issues his sweet, comforting and joyful Spirit to his saints. They rejoiced, and so, we press on.”

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What Afflictions?
While the afflictions I have experienced over the years are truly of the light variety, many Saints know of serious pain and suffering and likely know all too well 2 Corinthians 4:17-18, “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”
I am challenged to truly believe this – that the exceeding, abundant, head-over-heels joy described in the Biblical record is often tied to having the spiritual depth of vision to see beyond the temporary pain and turmoil to glory forevermore.
And that even the pain in suffering for His sake, is an experience we share with Christ, brings the reality of him to bear in this realm while it is producing for us a perpetual greater honor and glory.
Sorry to say, but I wonder if this kind of joy may be reserved for those who are sacrificially all-in Followers of their Lord and Savior? Hebrews 12:2 says, “looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
The Joy that is set before us is there because we know the victory at the end. Trials are for a moment, but joy is for eternity. Joy for the guaranteed future glory.
While I have never been “called” as an Apostle or found myself in the position to suffer dramatically for Christ, I have felt rejection and endured negative consequences for being an open Follower of Jesus. There are endless opportunities to sacrificially love those in the world around us. Still, I am challenged to realize that one day I may very well be called out to follow Jesus into the fire. Am I a true Follower joyfully willing to go wherever He leads? Have I grown in my maturity to “count it all joy?” To be willing to share in His suffering and rejoice in the glory beyond the suffering?

What Am I Afraid Of?
I have to admit that I actually find this study and its results a bit unsettling – fearful that I can’t answer the above questions with confidence. But, as I prayerfully lay that fear and anxiety before God, I rejoice as He reminds me with the truth in Psalm 118:6, “The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” and John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
Reminded of the reality of God in my life – I can count it Joy! In the freedom of my initial salvation, in discovering the truth and power of God’s word, in experiencing the reality of God, His presence and being an active part of His Body, in discovering and living out my purpose being used by God, and being reminded of that which I have endured and stayed faithful through trials I grow in the certainty of the eternal glory that awaits. I rejoice!
May we as Believers, Disciples and Followers mature to the level described in Ephesians 4:13, “until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” That we would count it all joy in all that we would be as a Follower who rejoices always!

Philippians 4:4-7, “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Notice that the gentleness, unanxiousness, thanksgiving, and peace all begin with joyfully rejoicing!

Is There Anything I Can Do To Acquire and Maintain This Perpetual Joy?

I’m not sure I know the answer. At least I have not experienced that constant overflow of joy in my life. I can guess why. It is likely because I continually revert to finding joy in temporal things (money, possessions, applause—even family). If my joy is in temporal things and the things that won’t last, then my joy will surely fade. The more I find my joy in Christ and that which is eternal, the greater and more permanent my joy will be.

Plethora of Joy
Jesus implores His Disciples in John 15:11, “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.” This speaks of a full joy or a joy that is crammed into every part of their life. The Greek word for full is Plērōthē – to make replete, to cram in, level up. This is where we get the word Plethora, meaning abundance or profusion. Plethoric was the original English word taken from the Greek to describe a bodily medical condition characterized by an excess of blood swelling up in the body. The body is so engorged with blood that the skin turns beet red.

So, what were the things Jesus had just spoken to His Apostles that would lead to this plethora of joy and abundance? Basically, in John 15, Jesus had just spoken to them about how critical it is for them to abide/remain in Him. Without that, their efforts would be so useless that they could just be thrown into a fiery trash pit. Abiding means that His very living words and love swell up in them as they follow what He has prescribed for them to do. “Abiding joy” refers to being in a state of persistent, deep-seated contentment that is not dependent on external circumstances but is rooted in our faith and purpose in Christ.

Okay, but what about the things from our past that continue to haunt us? Memories and painful wounds that make us cringe, which scream at us that we are unworthy? Is there anything tangible we can do to defeat this voice?

The One Thing

The ideal for every Christian and Christian Community is to grow to fully abide in Christ, and to be filled with a plethora of joy, no matter what the circumstances. The focus is on abiding in Christ to be filled to overflowing with the Fruit of the Spirit, and giving little credence to our past sinful state. The apostle Paul wrote that “our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with” (Romans 6:6). He also talked about putting “to death your members which are on the earth” (Colossians 3:5). But, how does one go about facilitating this?

We may find a key to what we can do in Paul’s letter to the Philippians, chapter 3, where Paul writes of his rejoicing at suffering the loss of all things for the growing knowledge of Christ, even experiencing the fellowship of Christ’s sufferings. How could Paul heal the wounds of his sin against God, including the persecution of God’s church? Paul writes what he does in Philippians 3:13-14, “Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

I write more on this “One Thing” in my post of January 1st, 2021, Remember to Forget. Basically, what Paul writes is about two simultaneous motions: while he is reaching forward, he is forgetting what’s behind. They are part of the same thing, like the motions comprised of swimming. As you propel yourself forward, you are pushing things behind. Our focus is on the joy in gaining the prize of Jesus Christ while leaving our old cruddy selves behind.

Paul is saying that there comes a point where he doesn’t understand all the circumstances surrounding his life and how God is working, or why God would choose him. At that point, we propel ourselves forward while pushing our old selves behind to reach for the calling of God on our lives. We do not dwell on past sin but rejoice as we press forward as a new creation for the prize God has for us.

So shall we abide with Jesus, forgetting what is behind while pressing forward to what God has called us to, always and repeatedly rejoicing.

Join Me! Together, let’s enter and dwell in the fullness of the Joy of our Lord!

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A Bit of Bible Trivia: When people ask what the shortest verse in the Bible is, most people know it to be John 11:35, “Jesus wept.” That is true in the English translation, but I believe the shortest verse in the original Greek is 1 Thessalonians 5:16, “Rejoice always.” – Commit that one to memory!