RE Verse reading-Hebrews 11:1-2, 32-40; 12:1-3, 12-17 (days two) “who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right and of the throne of God.”
This passage has always been dear to me for the simple reason that I had to memorize it as a youth. It is one of the great examples of binding the Word to my heart, it has never left me. The inherent paradox of the verse above has long been fascinating. Who would ever count joy in such unimaginable pain? No one would say that Christ enjoyed the cross so what gives?
The cross was certainly in the cross hairs of what was before Him, but that is not where Jesus was focused. The joy set before Him was just beyond the cross. It did mean that the journey to joy was unbelievably harsh, but the promise of joy was so eternally greater it was worth it. Jesus clearly saw the forest in the midst of all the trees. This is why there was joy, He has sat down at the right hand of God.
This is another example of Christ saying to us, “I’ve been there, keep your head up”. Joy doesn’t mean happy and it clearly doesn’t mean easy, but using Jesus as our example, we can endure and not grow weary and lose heart. There is joy in what is beyond our sights.
