The joy that was set before Him

Have you ever stopped and really considered this? Whatever the Lord Jesus passed through in this world, He always had this thought in mind.

Let's look at the setting in Hebrews 12:1-3 where we find the saying.

(1) "Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

(2) 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.

(3) For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls."

Life is like a marathon race; it will take endurance, stamina and courage to run the race and finish it. Verse 2 encourages us to keep looking to Jesus as our supreme example of endurance and patience.

Four things in verse 2 stand out

1. The joy that was set before Him.

2. He endured the cross.

3. He despised the shame of being crucified.

4. He sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

What was the basis for this joy; the joy that was set before Him? It is like the crown the victor knows he will get when he wins the race. With the Lord Jesus there was a present joy and a future joy. The present joy was His because he delighted to do His Father's will, and all that entailed.

His future joy would come as a result of enduring the cross at Calvary. What is His future joy? Surely it is redeemed, blood bought sinners saved as a result of His sacrifice at Calvary for them. It has been said, "The fields of redemption will yield a far greater harvest than the fields of creation." He will spend eternity with all His redeemed people from Old and New Testament times. What a joy is His!

This blessed, perfect man whom the world hated and crucified, "...endured the cross, despising the shame..." The end result was He sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. As God the Son the throne was already His. As the Son of Man He acquired this exalted position as His right; because of what he endured, and because of His great victory over sin, death, hell and Satan

Are you part of His joy? If not, why not?

Jon Peasey

Biblical Perspectives blog www.jon-peasey.blogspot.com

Ebooks author page https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/JRPeasey

[All Scriptures quoted are from the New King James version; unless otherwise noted. Words enclosed in [ ] are inserted for clarity. Words in bold type emphasise a point]

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