Dear friends,
The topic of joy came up in my class a few weeks ago, and one student commented, "But Christians don't have joy." As many of you know, fourteen year olds are not easily deceived, and good teaching is built upon uncompromising honesty so I replied, "You're right. There is not
much joy among the Christians I know." My student's comment has stuck with me like a fish hook snagged in my thoughts.
Summer definitely arrived this weekend, and while I was thinking back on my lifetime of pleasant summers, I realized they were filled with happiness but not necessarily joy, that deep sense of contentment, desire for celebration regardless of circumstances, and anticipation of future glory.
This summer has started off as a summer of sorrow. I'll be spending much of my time at the hospital. Perhaps this may be my last summer of pools and beaches and swimming holes with my boys? It is so hard to stop thinking about the cancer cells relentlessly divided and growing inside of me. So how can there be joy for me this summer?
Again, I look to words of Christ for my answer. I get endless insights from his teachings at the last supper (John 14-17). I often feel like I am sitting at the back of the room eavesdropping on my Savior's words. I praise God that Jesus did not break the bread, drink the cup, and then
merely throw out the terminator line at his disciples, "I'll be back." Our Savior faced the worst death in history that night. He was about to endure the physical pain and shame of the cross followed by a descent into hell as his Father poured out his wrath on Jesus. Certainly
passages from Isaiah flitted through our Lord's thoughts. Horrible mocking committed by his own creatures approached (Isaiah 50:6). He would be beaten beyond recognition (52:14); pierced and whipped and unjustly condemned (53:5). Worst of all, Jesus knew his own Father would crush him and cause him grief by turning him into an offering for sin (53:10).
Despite the horror of these thoughts, what did he patiently teach his disciples that night? What comfort did he offer them? Jesus painted a picture of lives overflowing with abundant joy despite the sorrows of life. Jesus promised to transform his disciple's sorrow into joy (John
16:20-21), and despite their many earthly trials and sorrows, they will have peace and a joy that no one could steal (John 16: 22, 33). Jesus knew the fates of these men. They would be scorned, hated, tortured, and killed, but their joy would remain forever their's. The paradoxical
result of Christ's matchless gift of salvation is an earthly life of sorrow and joy.
So where does this leave me? My prayer and my choice is to experience a summer of sorrow filled with abundant joy. To do this, I must remain firmly attached to the Vine. God is pruning and purifying me for fruitfulness (John 13:3-4), and if I remain in Jesus, I will produce much
fruit (15:5), and as I produce the fruits of the Spirit, Jesus will fill me with a joy that overflows my soul (15:11). Even as I pen these words, tears of joy fill my eyes, and the sorrow I felt at the start of this letter has been transformed into deep joy. As you pray for me and I for you, let us pray for a summer of joy despite our sorrows.
God bless,
Tim
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