“So that they may
have my joy made complete in themselves” (John 17:13)
I spent a few hours mulling it over, particularly the word “joy”.
I got four definitions from various dictionaries.
1. Joy – a feeling of
great pleasure
2. Joy – a feeling of
great happiness
3. Joy – an emotion in response to a pleasant observation or
remembrance thereof.
4. Joy – the emotion of great delight or happiness caused by
something exceptionally good or satisfying: Keen pleasure: Elation.
I even checked up the Greek to see if there was any
alternate translation for the word Charan.
There isn’t really. Charan is a
feminine noun which is consistently translated “Joy.” Strong’s concordance
reliably tells me that there are 59 occurrences in the New Testament.
So how do we deal with the concept of “joy”. The prayer of Jesus was that we would have joy
complete in us. Joy is a feeling and an emotion. We clearly do not have it all
the time. This is even recognized in other parts of the scriptures. Romans 12:15 instructs the readers to rejoice
with those who rejoice and to mourn with those who mourn.
This week has not been joy filled. Our school community has
been devastated by some awful events. It has been a week of mourning with those
who mourn. Perhaps, comforting to know that on occasion even Jesus wept.
Jesus prayed this prayer just before his final journey to the cross. Later Jesus reportedly said, “let
this cup pass from me.” (Luke 22; Matthew 26)
That doesn’t sound very joyful at all. If we wanted to, we
could talk maybe about obedience or even about submission. But we would be hard
pressed to say it was a joyful experience.
Before I go to sleep
I often read a novel, – a little lightness at the end of very busy days – it
takes a while as I usually read one page and zonk out! Last night I read the following
passage. It made me think as I was still
pondering joy. The character in the book was enjoying the scenery at the
seaside after her swim. The author describes her mind as “empty of everything
save the physical perfection of now.”
The character went on to say, that she had decided “one of the good things about being 58 was the
fact that one took time to appreciate the really marvellous moments that still came
one’s way. They weren’t happiness exactly. Years ago happiness had ceased to pounce
unawares with the reasonless ecstasy of youth. This was something better” (Rosamunde Pilcher, Voices in Summer)
I pondered, perhaps that is complete joy. An ability to
appreciate and take delight in what is around us. Not big
exciting events but everyday small scenes and happenings. Maybe it can be found
in bird song, a pretty scene, a fragrant flower, a kind word, a generous act or
a smile.
So I don’t think “joy completed in us” is that we are always to have joyful, elated or happy feelings as the various definitions explain it to us. To experience the emotion of joy continually, would make us
far from human. Maybe it would be impossible to recognize and name joy without
the conflicting emotions of sadness and fear. Perhaps when Jesus prayed this it was as a blessing. It was
a prayer wanting the very best for his friends.
Maybe, for us, joy is complete in us when we have the
ability to recognize the moments of joy in small everyday things in the midst
of the busyness, sadness and fears that make us human
