Cheerfuly Giving
(It may be Friday, but Sunday’s coming)
I. Christ was Set on Joy even through Suffering
Hebrews 12:2
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 is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
2 puestos los ojos en Jesús, el autor y consumador de la fe, el cual, por el gozo puesto delante de Él sufrió la cruz, menospreciando la vergüenza, y se sentó a la diestra del trono de Dios.
No one is saying that this was a fun event for our Saviour. It was painful and torturous. How could Jesus talk about having joy while going to the cross of Calvary?
II. The Day that Death Died.
Rev. 1:18
18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. (KJV)
18 y el que vivo, y estuve muerto; y he aquí que vivo para siempre, amén. Y tengo las llaves de la muerte y del infierno. (RVG04)
Death had been a terrible enemy for some 4,000 years. Ever since Adam and Eve committed that first sin. Now God was about to get victory over that dreadful monster. He had no doubt that death would only be a temporary struggle for Him. He welcomed it, so that He could conquer it all the sooner.
Eph. 4:8-10
8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (KJV)
8 Por lo cual dice: Subiendo a las alturas, llevó cautiva la cautividad; Y dio dones a los hombres. (RVG04)
9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? (KJV)
9 (Ahora, que Él subió, ¿qué es, sino que también había descendido primero a las partes más bajas de la tierra? (RVG04)
10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) (KJV)
10 El que descendió, es el mismo que también subió sobre todos los cielos para llenar todas las cosas.) (RVG04)
I believe that Jesus did not waste any time. When His last breath left the human shell, He went to Hell to snatch the keys of death away from Satan. It was not a long, drawn out battle. Christ conquered the devil with great authority. Then before you know it, He was back at the tomb to take temporary residence for a little longer in that earthly vessel. When He burst forth, alive from the grave, every demon in hell already knew that they had suffered a mighty setback. That is one reason that Jesus looked ahead with joy from the agony of the cross.
No wonder that Paul spoke so boldly against the element of death.
1 Co. 15:55-57
55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? (KJV)
55 ¿Dónde está, oh muerte, tu aguijón? ¿Dónde, oh sepulcro, tu victoria? (RVG04)
56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. (KJV)
56 El aguijón de la muerte es el pecado, y el poder del pecado, la ley. (RVG04)
57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (KJV)
57 Mas gracias sean dadas a Dios, que nos da la victoria por medio de nuestro Señor Jesucristo. (RVG04)
III. Joy for the Salvation Purchased for Repentant Sinners
Luke 15:7
7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. (KJV)
7 Os digo, que así habrá más gozo en el cielo por un pecador que se arrepiente, que por noventa y nueve justos, que no necesitan arrepentimiento. (RVG04)
It gave Jesus great joy to know that He was paying the ransom for many a lost soul. Even while going to the cross, He looked into the future and smiled, as He saw men, women, boys, and girls who would confess His name to be saved.
Romans 10:9
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (KJV)
9 Que si confesares con tu boca al Señor Jesús, y creyeres en tu corazón que Dios le resucitó de los muertos, serás salvo. (RVG04)
IV. Joy for the Holy Ghost that was to Come
Romans 14:17
17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. (KJV)
17 Porque el reino de Dios no es comida ni bebida; sino justicia, y paz, y gozo en el Espíritu Santo. (RVG04)
Truly there is joy for the believer that receives the power of the Holy Ghost. I also believe that it gave Jesus great joy to know that by His own death, and then after His resurrection, the Holy Spirit would be sent to fill and dwell the hearts of many believers. It thrilled Christ to know that the effect of the Godhead ministry would be multiplied many times over. This, also, made it possible for Him to have joy at Calvarys’ hill.
V. Exceeding Joy for Those Who Endure to the End
Jude 1:24
24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, (KJV)
24 Y a Aquél que es poderoso para guardaros sin caída, y presentaros sin mancha delante de su gloria con gran alegría, (RVG04)
Because Jesus gave us an example of victory through suffering, it gives him exceeding joy to look even farther in the future and see a group of faithful saints who make it all the way to heaven. Those that fought the good fight of faith and finished the race with victory.
VI. Everlasting Joy
Isa. 51:11
11 Therefore the redeemed of the LORD shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away. (KJV)
11 Ciertamente volverán los redimidos de Jehová, volverán a Sión cantando, y gozo perpetuo habrá sobre sus cabezas; tendrán gozo y alegría, y el dolor y el gemido huirán. (RVG04)
Jesus knows that man is an emotional yo-yo. One day he will be full of joy and the next, it has all but evaded him. Jesus understood that His suffering was only temporal. As He looked off even farther into eternity, He was full of glee, recognizing that His sacrifice on the cross was paving the way for His followers to be joyful, not just from time to time; but when they take on immortality, their joy will be non-stop; a continous exhuberance with Christ in glory.
We rejoice on Resurrection morning, celebrating life in Jesus. Jesus started rejoicing ahead of us. For us, the empty tomb is the tangible evidence that revives our joy and hope.
The EMPTY tomb gives us FULL joy.
John 15:11
11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. (KJV)
11 Estas cosas os he hablado, para que mi gozo esté en vosotros, y vuestro gozo sea cumplido. (RVG04)
