Eternity Daily Bible Study - No. 309
Series: St. John=s Passion - Gospel of John chapters 12-21
Today=s verses: John 17:13
Today=s Topic: The Joy of Jesus
Date: 27th July 2004
Write To The Author: John Edmiston – johned@aibi.ph   

Last Friday we jumped ahead to verses 14-18 and completely forgot verse 13! So we will spend the whole of today’s study on this one verse! Here it is in three different translations!

John 17:13 MKJV  And now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world that they might have My joy fulfilled in them.

John 17:13 ASV  But now I come to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy made full in themselves.

John 17:13 GNB  And now I am coming to you, and I say these things in the world so that they might have my joy in their hearts in all its fullness.

Jesus is going to the Father but He wants to leave His joy behind – through His words and His precious promises.

In this Upper Room Discourse Jesus is speaking to mourning disciples, just twelve or so hours before the cross. And three times He says “that your joy may be made full” - John 15:11, 16:24, 17;13 – it seems an almost paramount concern.  Here is the context of those statements:

John 15:10-11 MKJV  If you keep My commandments, you shall abide in My love, even as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love.  (11)  I have spoken these things to you so that My joy might remain in you and your joy might be full.

John 16:22-24 MKJV  And therefore you now have sorrow. But I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.  (23)  And in that day you shall ask Me nothing. Truly, truly, I say to you, Whatever you shall ask the Father in My name, He will give you.  (24)  Before now you have asked nothing in My name; ask and you shall receive, that your joy may be full.

John 17:11-13 MKJV  And now I am in the world no longer, but these are in the world, and I come to You, Holy Father. Keep them in Your name, those whom You have given Me, so that they may be one as We are.  (12)  While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those that You have given Me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.  (13)  And now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world that they might have My joy fulfilled in them.

The word of God in the mouth of Christ is designed to make believers confident, prayerful and joyful with an abiding and full joy that no one can take from them! Jesus wants His disciples to shout Hallelujah!

The outcome of the teaching of Jesus was to be joy! Fullness of joy! “these things I speak in the world that they might have My joy fulfilled in them.” The teaching of Jesus is joyful, celebratory, high and holy! Even painful repentance will bring “seasons of refreshing from the Lord” (Acts 3:19)! Joyless teaching has gone wrong somewhere. The word of the Lord is there to enliven us, quicken us and fill us with all the fruit of the Spirit – which of course includes joy!

On the other hand Satan tries to fill our mind with depressing thoughts so that we despair and will blaspheme God. This afternoon I have had a series of puzzling technical glitches that were really trying and seemed “devilish” in origin. There have also been mysterious bad smells in the house. All this minor harassment is the joy-robbing activity of Satan over our lovely new flat and home office. Satan does not want to see us happy and rejoicing in the blessings of God! But nonetheless we shall rejoice!

Because “the joy of the Lord is our strength” when our joy is full then we are formidable Christians! Joy gives us power, poise and victory, which is part of the reason why Jesus wanted His disciples to have their joy made full. The other part is that every good Father wants happy, healthy, rejoicing children. And every good pastor and discipler wants a rejoicing church or rejoicing disciples. Jesus did not want a depressed bunch of grim super-serious apostles, rather He wanted joyful witnesses to the gospel!

Well what does He mean then by “I have spoken these things in the world…”. Jesus living words were spoken in Jerusalem, in an oppressed and afflicted world, so that the light might shine in a dark place. Jesus tends to speak His most joyous words in the grimmest of times – just as He did amid the tears at Lazarus’s tomb when he told Mary and Martha that He was “the resurrection and the life” (it was only later that he said Lazarus come forth!). Jesus asks us to believe His best news; at the times we are feeling the worst! 

Jesus speaks “in the world” because that is precisely the place we most need to hear Him, it is the place that robs us of our joy and so it is the place where we need our joy to be made full.

How then can we have the fullness of joy in Christ? Firstly decide that you want it! Then ask for it (you have not because ye ask not), and then expect it! Then practice it by deciding to believe the powerful promises of God found in the New Testament. Do not look only at your circumstances – also look at the promises and power of God!

Joy should be the permanent abiding state of the Christian soul. Yet we live in fear, dread, irritation, anxiety and depression. This is because we let in doubt, criticism, and the sour grumbling words of demons and devils. What good comes from misery? What faith springs from sourness? Who can grow in Christ who lives in perpetual dread of the future? We need to uproot such things and focus on the promises of God! 

God has designed you for joy; and joy is your destiny in heaven – so get used to it!. So why chose misery? Let the word of Christ dwell richly in you! Rejoice in the Lord always! Again I say rejoice!

Blessings,

John Edmiston

Eternity DBS web-site: http://www.aibi.ph/eternity
To subscribe - send a blank email to: eternity-dbs-subscribe@strategicnetwork.org
To unsubscribe - send a blank email to: eternity-dbs-unsubscribe@strategicnetwork.org 

The Asian Internet Bible Institute offers free non-formal bible and ministry training and has many articles and resources. You can find it online at: http://www.aibi.ph/

To support John & Minda Edmiston and their missionary work in Asia go to: http://www.aibi.ph/aibi/donate.htm