John 15:9-11: “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!” [NLT]
Notice the correlation between love and obedience. As Jesus loved the Father, we are to love. As Jesus obeyed the Father’s commands, we are to obey. As the Father loved His son, so the Father now loves us. Jesus then told those listening that there was a purpose in telling them that, it was so that His joy may be in them and that their joy may be complete.
In other parts of John, Chapters 14-17, Jesus gave His disciples a legacy of peace. Now He says that love and obedience will produce His joy in us. Joy! Joy! Joy! Jesus’ Joy! Abiding in us!
Just as the world’s system works to steal our peace, it strives to dampen our joy. It tells us that joy is the same thing as happiness. Even Miriam-Webster defines joy as happiness. But for the believer in Christ, joy and happiness are nowhere near the same thing. Happiness is based on happenings. Joy is based in love of Christ and obedience to His commands. His joy abides in us.
Notice also that this is so our joy may be complete. Joy apart from love for and obedience to the Savior is incomplete joy. It is fragmented and based not on our Rock, but on our circumstances and attitudes.
True joy, Jesus’ Joy, is completed joy. It abides in us. It is not affected by anything outside the heart of the Savior. It is untouchable joy. It manifests itself when times are good, and it manifests itself when times are bad. It can be felt even in times of deepest sorrow.
Joy! Joy! Joy! Jesus’ Joy! Abiding in us!
