What was Jesus’ joy, and why did he want us to have it? Jesus knew the only thing that would satisfy our longing souls. He had been experiencing it since before the world began, exuded it while a human on this earth, and maintains it throughout eternity. Jesus’ joy was pure, unbroken fellowship with his Father, and he knew this joy was the only thing that would fully complete us.

I often get caught up in pleasing the people I moved thousands of miles from home to serve. I want to minister and work to win their approval and see godly results in their lives. I overanalyze ministry tactics and efforts, and sometimes, I find myself paralyzed with fear of failure. I get frustrated when my labor shows no fruit, and I crumple when others don’t acknowledge my efforts, or worse yet, consider my efforts worthless.

My mantra for the last couple of years has been Galatians 1:10, “Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant.” The joy of Jesus was that of constant communion with his Father, abiding in his love, and pleasing him in full obedience. Jesus’ obedience took him through some pretty sorrowful and downcast times. He so displeased people that they plotted time and time again to trap him, trick him, and eventually kill him. Yet, he knew joy. He depended on it and looked forward to it (Hebrews 12:2). And he wanted us to have that same joy.

Our suffering and sorrow pales in comparison to Jesus’. We will never fully know his sorrow (remember, he bore the weight of all sin of all people of all time); yet, we can know the fullness of his joy. Jesus states it so simply in John 15. Joy results from obedience and love, fellowship and abiding. When the displeasure of people starts to get me down, I must tune my heart to the Father, absorb his love, and rejoice in his presence (Psalm 16:11).