Enduring for Joy, Part 1

Scripture: Hebrews 12:2c-d

who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Insights: Over the past two days we have been examining our engagement with joy on this side of eternity.  Today we are going to look at HIStory past and discuss the Good Friday event and tomorrow we are going to look at HIStory present and future to understand the joy which was set before Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior.  Today’s verse tells us Jesus endured the cross and despised the shame of it.  For what reason did Jesus accept this assignment?  The answer is for the JOY set before Him.  Jesus was betrayed in the Garden by His friend and taken into captivity by the Jewish authorities.  He experienced multiple false trials between the High Priest, Pilate, and Herod.  Pilate had Jesus scourged to placate the people.  Tertullian writing about this event explained that halfway through the beating process they had to turn Jesus around because there was not enough flesh on His back to continue the process.  Many men died experiencing this brutal form of punishment.  Jesus was then ridiculed with a crown of thrones and mocked with false worship.  The Jewish officials were not satisfied with Pilate’s gesture and they stirred the crowd into a mob like frenzy and demanded for Jesus to be crucified.  Pilate succumbed to their evil cries and sentenced Jesus to death as he washed his hands in a basin stating, “I am innocent of this man’s blood.”  Jesus then began the long journey up the Via Dolorosa, the way of suffering.  Jesus was stripped naked and He willingly lay down on the crossbeam so they could nail his feet and hands to the wood beams.  He was raised and dropped into the hole which caused His body to convulse with pain.  The shame and taunts over the next few hours would penetrate deep into the heart of Jesus and our Lord responded to such brutality with “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”  Finally, Jesus cries out, “It is finished” and gave up His Spirit.  He chose to die as He took on Himself ALL the sins of the world.  Jesus did all of this for the joy set before Him.  Jesus paid it ALL for us!  Beloved, don’t you think we ought to be able to endure a little for Him!

Questions:

1. What in your life do you have to endure for the joy set before you?
2. What shame are you experiencing for the joy set before you?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, there is nothing on this earth and in my life that can even come close to comparing to the suffering and shame You experienced on the cross.  You endured these things for the joy set before You.  Open my heart to this truth and help me to know You better as a result.  Amen.