Joy That is Set Before Us

Hebrews 12:1-2 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

We are entering the Advent season, which is the celebration of the birth of Christ and the first coming of the Messiah. It is a time when many Christians take time to reflect on this miraculous time in history when God fulfilled His promise of the Anointed One.

Four hundred years before the birth of the Christ Child, the Jewish world lived in silence. No word from God was given to the prophets. The priests and peoples abandoned the sacrifices and temple and became self-centered, self-righteous, and self-indulgent.

Then God shattered the silence with the arrival of His Messiah. But the world did not know it. This revelation was given only to a few handful of people. And the joy these few people had came from their eye witness account of seeing firsthand, the Christ Child.

Little did they know that only a few 33 years later, this beautiful baby would be sent to die on a cross for the sins of the world. He was completely innocent of any crime He was accused of, yet, He endured the wrath of God's judgment.

As excruciating and horrific as it was for Jesus, and as much as the humanity of Him was so deeply troubled over what was to come, He knew that what He had to go through it for our sake, and out of love for us and His faithful obedience to His Father. Yet, He endured the cross of that "Black Friday" because the joy that set before Him was to come that following Sunday morn when He rose from the dead.

This episode of prophetic history unfolded at God's perfect timing and perfect will. God broke the silence and brought a loud trump blast with the arrival of Jesus. But there will be a day, even sooner than we might realize, when the silence of this age will be met with a much louder trumpet blast. For Christ will come again as King and Conqueror to rule and judge the world.

Are you living with the hope, love, joy and peace of Christ? As we approach Christmas time, even in this troubled world, let us not just be reminded of history, but that we also look toward joy that has been set before us in Christ.