¹³ “But now I come to You; and these things I speak in the world so that they may have My joy made full in themselves.

Jesus was all about joy, which at this juncture in His tenure on earth, might sound a bit macabre. But He has actually used that word four other times in the Upper Room (see 15:11, 16:21, 22, 24). It is the same word John used to describe his experience in being the announcer, the forerunner, for the Lord’s advent, likening it to the joy that a groom’s attendant has when the groom arrives for his wedding (John 3:29). In John’s case, the coming of Christ meant a decrease in his (John’s) significance because someone more important than he has arrived. He would fade to the background, and Jesus would come into prominence. Yet John was filled with joy.

Our problem with joy is that it is usually tainted with a worldly, superficial perspective, and is closely tied to our own well-being. Those earthly kinds of joy are dependent upon circumstances and are ultimately fleeting, which in this fallen world, means joy is short lived at best, limited in scope and depth.

But Jesus, like John before Him, saw joy as transcending the brokenness of this world and of our lives. It is not dependent upon our physical well-being, or our material wealth, or our enjoyable experiences. Those, to be sure, are good experiences and the Scripture never teaches us to look for trouble, as though there is some benefit in spiritual masochism.

The joy Jesus spoke of relates to the glory of God. He had just spoken to the Father about His chosen disciples, which we know brought Jesus great joy. The Lord, when He looked at His disciples, may have had in mind the words of the prophet, “The Lord your God is in your midst … will exult over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy” (Zeph 3:17). In the Upper Room they did not at all experience that joy. But Jesus knew they were listening in on this prayer, and He desired that they would one day look back on this time with great joy. And what a joy it was going to be for the disciples, after the resurrection, when they would come to understand that joy of which Jesus spoke. And to realize that this Master whom they had left all to follow, with whom they broke bread, was the “Son of God” (Rom 1:4) who loved every minute He was with them, like a lover who gazes over the dinner candlelight at his beloved with great joy.

Jesus prayer was for you and me as well, that we would have a joy that supersedes any adverse or depressing circumstance. For He is with us always.

Lord, restore to me the joy of my salvation, that I might rejoice in You.