Joy Ahead - One Year of Dinner Table Devotions and Discussion Starters

Joy Ahead

Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.

Hebrews 12:2

Father, bring me into the glory we shared before the world began.

John 17:5

Most of us are willing to do unpleasant things if it means we’ll get something we want as a result. We might not like to train for a sport, but we want to be on the team. And though we might not always enjoy going to work, we enjoy getting a paycheck! The Bible says that Jesus endured the Cross—a very unpleasant thing—for the joy awaiting him. What joy was on the other side of the Cross that made it worth the suffering for Jesus?

As Jesus looked ahead, he knew that his endurance of the Cross would mean that the debt for our sin would be paid. It brought him joy that he was completing the work he was sent to do, which would mean we wouldn’t have to be separated from him because of our sin. Jesus also anticipated the joy of resurrection. He knew that the shame of the Cross would end and that the result would be the conquering of death forever!

Another joy Jesus looked forward to was the joy of reunion. Jesus had lived in perfect fellowship with the Father from before the foundation of the world, and as he headed toward the Cross, he began to anticipate the joy of being with his Father once again. Jesus also knew that the joy of rest was ahead of him. In heaven, he would sit down at the right hand of God, because his most important work was complete. (But he isn’t just resting. He is ruling!)

Jesus is not content to keep this joy to himself! His greatest joy is to share his joy with us! Because we are redeemed, we anticipate our resurrection, which will unite us with him and with the Father. We will join him in a place of rest, where we will rule and reign with him forever. This joy ahead makes the hard things here worth enduring!

DISCUSSION STARTERS

What unpleasant tasks are you willing to do for something pleasant?

Jesus was willing to endure shame. Whose shame did he endure, and what was that shame?

How can it help us endure hard things here and now if we anticipate the joy that’s ahead for us in heaven?