The Glory of God and Joy
- Jerry Witham
- Feb 9, 2010
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I have been joining a couple of men in our church in reading the book of John together. It has been a joy to read this gospel again. I have seen over the last week the inseparableness of the glory of God and joy, especially in chapters 12-17.
First, the glory of God. In John 12.28 Jesus says, Father, glorify Your name. This was Jesus’ desire and end in all things. It is the end of the hour to which He has come to, which is mentioned here in chapter 12, but also in 17.1 as we saw this past Sunday when Jesus says, Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son, that the Son may glorify You. Jesus also says in 17.4, I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do. The hour Christ has come to and the accomplished work speaks to the cross. Jesus came to die. He came to die a criminal’s death on a cross (Philippians 2.8). The glory of God is the end to which Christ died. In this Jesus is glorified and likewise the Father.
As we learned Sunday, God is committed first and foremost to His glory. As the Lord says in Isaiah 42.8, I am the Lord, that is My name; I will not give My glory to another, nor My praise to graven images. His glory is what He is most passionate about. God is the center of His own affections above all else. If this was not the case then God would commit idolatry. God knows who He is. He knows that He is the greatest of goods and the highest of treasures above anything else. For Him to be consumed and committed to His own glory is right. What is awesome about this is that God lovingly invites us to join Him in making much of Him. This is the end to which He created us. It is the end to which the church exists. We, just as God is, should be passionate about the glory of God. As the apostle Paul says, Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10.31).
Next, our joy. One of the things I love about the gospel of John, are the purpose statements that say, so that and the emphasis on joy as a motivating force and goal. Here are four occasions in which I find joyful motivation and happiness as the goal:
First, in John 13.17 Jesus says, If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them. The word blessed means happy. What is the emphasis here? What are the things that we are to know and do that Jesus has mentioned? I believe it is to humbly serve as Jesus did. We are to follow the example that Jesus has set in washing the disciples’ feet and serve others. In doing this, we will find true joy and happiness.
Second, in John 15.11 Jesus says, These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full. What has Jesus just spoken about to the disciples? He has just commanded the disciples to abide, remain and continue in Him and His love. Connected to this is the disciples’ bearing of much fruit. They are also told to obey Jesus’ commandments. We will experience the joy of Jesus and have such fullness of joy when we abide in Jesus and His love, when we live fruitful lives and when we obey Christ’s commands.
Third, in John 16.24 Jesus says, Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full. Jesus says here that prayer brings joy to our soul. The fullness of joy is ours when we are prayerful no matter what the situation is. The asking in Jesus’ name brings joy. The receiving of God’s sovereign will brings joy.
Fourth, in John 17.13 Jesus says, But now I come to You; and these things I speak in the world so that they may have My joy made full in themselves. God is not a kill-joy God. No, He wants you to be filled with joy just as He is. Here in this chapter Jesus has put the focus on the glorifying of Himself and the Father. Our joy is full when we live for the glory of God. When you have the greatest of all treasures you should be most happy. When you live for that, which is of greatest purpose you should be most joyful.
I believe when one lives their life for the glory of God they will be happy. It doesn’t matter what they face, their joy will be full because they have the richest of fare as theirs. So, I believe that what we do in life should have as its motivation both the glory of God and our joy. Likewise the end to which we live should be for the glory of God and our joy. They are inseparable.
Enjoying God with you,
