Jesus Was Filled With Joy

Scripture: Luke 10:17-24

17 When the seventy-two disciples returned, they joyfully reported to him, “Lord, even the demons obey us when we use your name!” 18 “Yes,” he told them, “I saw Satan fall from heaven like lightning! 19 Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you. 20 But don’t rejoice because evil spirits obey you; rejoice because your names are registered in heaven.” 21 At that same time Jesus was filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit, and he said, “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike. Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way.”  (Luke 10:17-21 NLT)

Jesus wasn’t ruled by his emotions, but he certainly experienced the full range of human emotions, just as we do. Jesus wept, Jesus was angry, Jesus was moved with compassion, Jesus was filled with joy and he rejoiced. I was caught by a couple of things in this verse about Jesus’ rejoicing.

Jesus was filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit! Jesus was filled with a joy that was not dependent on his circumstances. He was fully aware that what awaited him soon in Jerusalem was going to be incredibly painful, humiliating, and would take him to the cross. This doesn’t minimize the value of circumstantial joy, it simply shows us that there’s joy that’s beyond our present circumstances!

Jesus’ rejoicing encompassed his whole being. He was exuberant in his expression of joy and his praise to his Father. Just as his sorrow at Lazarus’ tomb was expressed in weeping, I believe his joy at the disciples’ report was expressed loudly, with exuberance! I want to be freer in the Holy Spirit to be exuberant!

Jesus rejoiced that his followers were sharing in his ministry concerns and his ministry abilities. They had received his gifts of the Spirit and had used them the way he used them, to meet needs and bless others. Kingdom work was multiplied in the hands of others, and it delighted him!

I want to learn and experience the Jesus kind of joy – exuberant in the Holy Spirit. I want to think, talk, and act in such a way that it makes Jesus rejoice.

Prayer:

Father, Please help me live today in such a way that it gives Jesus a reason to rejoice. Let me use the gifts you’ve given me to bless others: to help, to heal, and to give hope. For your kingdom’s sake! Amen!