Jesus said that he had told us about God’s love and our
connectedness with God so that Jesus’ joy could be in us and our joy complete?
[John 15:11] The Psalm set for today, 98, encourages all people and the whole
of the earth, to praise God with much joy for his loving faithfulness. Many
Psalms talk about enjoying God and ourselves.
But “Jesus’ joy”, where does THAT idea come from? Here we
have Jesus saying that he has said these things so his joy may be in us and that
our joy may be complete. [John 15:11] Is there a hint anywhere in what we have
read or what we have been told, that Jesus enjoyed himself? Sure we know Jesus
did good, but according to the Gospels which are the only source we have, he
was continuously criticising the religious leaders and the impression we have
is of someone who took life very seriously. The way we have heard the Bible
read has never suggested any joy even when Jesus healed people or turned water
into wine. Could he have been enjoying himself, being light-hearted, when he
walked on the water? One could wonder if seriousness and joy are mutually
exclusive.
...As we come to know God more through our friendship with
Christ, may the love and joy in us so that the desire to judge will fade and
more can come to know Love and Joy in all their fullness.
Rev Julianne Parker
for full sermon see sermon's page
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