Joy

Look “to Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarded the shame, and has sat down on the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2).

The Hebrew writer’s statement combines unlikely things: joy and crucifixion. He can do so because of a third factor: “the joy that was set before him.” The positive frame of mind called joy, unlike “happiness,” does not depend on what’s “happening.” It is rooted in understanding more than in feelings. Joy comes from positive personal associations—as with the Father beside Christ on the throne as well as with others that look to him as their example. The more obvious point in this text, however, is that focusing on the future fosters present faithfulness.

In this memorial to him, we enter into joy by adopting Christ’s habit of looking beyond the negatives now to the positives later. That lets the future exert influence back into the present and empower us to persevere and give us joy.