#DailyDevotion Jesus’ Joy Helps Us To Endure All Things
Heb. 12:2b For the joy that was set before Him He endured the cross, thinking nothing of its shame, and sat down at the right hand of God’s throne. 3Think of how sinners opposed Him and He endured it. It will help you not to get tired and give up.
We probably don’t think much about the shame of the cross these days. In fact, I dare say, we don’t think about shame at all. If there is any shame at all, it is for things we should not be ashamed of like general morality and biology. In our culture it’s you be you girl (not meaning to be sexist, it’s just what I mostly hear, apply it as you wish). Yet in Jesus’ day there was nothing more shameful than being crucified. Being crucified was the lowest of the low. It was utterly shameful. On top of being shameful, it was the most difficult way to die. First you were stripped and beaten. You were mocked and made fun of (think of someone being in stocks and people throwing rotten food at you). Then you were either tied to or nailed to a cross. Hanging on the cross it was difficult to breathe. You had to push up on your feet, which were nailed to the cross, in order to have your diaphragm work in order to catch a breath. You were also exposed to the elements, most likely the sun all day. You may go one for up to three days like this.
This is what Jesus did for you thinking nothing of its shame. The joy that was set before Him was this act of sacrifice would atone for the sins of the world. By this atoning sacrifice He would save you from eternal perdition, shame and suffering. By this atoning sacrifice, He would open heaven for you, make you a child of the Almighty, win for you forgiveness of sins, conquer sin and swallow up death, provide eternal life for you and raise your body to be like His glorious resurrected body at the end of time. The joy of knowing you and countless others who put their faith in Him would join Him as co-heirs of the kingdom of God made it worth doing for Him.
Having accomplished this, He sat at the right hand of God, from which He will return in glory and judge the living (believers) and the dead (unbelievers). Sitting at God’s right hand He is waiting for all His enemies to be made a footstool for His feet. Because Jesus is at the right hand of Majesty, all who put their faith in Him are seated with Him, even now, in the heavenly places (Eph. 2).
Since this is true, the author tells us to look at Jesus and how He endured it though He was opposed by sinners. He points this out so we don’t get tired and give up. Jesus is both an example and the reason to endure and not give up in the faith. Jesus had the same earthly make up we do. If He can endure it, so can we. More importantly, the joy that was set before Him is our joy as well. We are to live not for the things of this world which are perishing but for the prize of the world to come which does not perish, decay, rot, or be stolen. Everything in this world, including all relationships, politics, nationalities will be gone in the world to come. They do not last. All the riches of this world are nothing in a city whose city streets are paved with gold. So we should endure all things, all shame, all indignities, all suffering, and whatever evils may come our way for the joy that has been set before us, namely the inheritance of the children of God.
Merciful God and Father, for the joy you set before Your Son, Jesus Christ, He endured the cross and its shame. Set before us the same joy that we may with hope and faith in that joy, endure all things for the sake of the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.