Inexpressible Joy

(Second in a series on Joy.
For Part One, click here.)

“I will see you again,

and your heart will rejoice,

and no one takes your joy away from you.”

—Jesus, recorded in John 16:22

Yes, but some days, life is just really hard.  And we can find ourselves wondering whether it’s really true that no one can take our joy away.  Are you sometimes tempted to be suspicious that the reassurance Jesus gave might have been just for Jesus’ apostles?  That’s when I go again to read what Peter had to say about it.

To those who have received a faith like "ours"

Peter, by the way, is the one who explicitly explained, as recorded in Acts 15:7-12, that God made no distinction between the Jews and the Gentiles, cleansing both their hearts by faith, that God gave His Holy Spirit to the Gentiles, just as He did to the Jews, and that Jew and Gentile alike are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus.  That means me, too.  And that means you.  Peter is also the one who was one of Jesus’ closest friends while Jesus walked on earth, and the same one who addresses his second letter to the ones “who have received a faith of the same kind as ours…”  (II Peter 1:1)  That means me, too.  And, yes, it means you.

So this is what Peter—one of, as he says, the “eyewitnesses of His majesty”—writes to scattered Christians about hope and joy…

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the RESURRECTION of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 

In this you greatly REJOICE, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

And though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with JOY inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.” 

I Peter 1:3-9

There is no doubt that, for Peter, the living hope secured in Jesus’ resurrection meant great joy—glorious, inexpressible joy.  Great, glorious, and inexpressible joy, even in the face of various trials for a little while now.  But beyond his own powerful testimony, what grips me most is that there is also no doubt that he meant that this joy was indeed for us, too!  He specifically addresses these powerful words to those who have not seen Him, but love Him, to those who do not see Him now, but believe in Him.  That most certainly means me.  And it means this joy is meant for you, too!

Yes, it is true for us, too, that there is nothing we will ever face that the resurrection of Jesus does not put into perspective!  Nothing that can overshadow the joy of our inheritance, the inheritance that will not fade, the inheritance reserved for us, who are protected by the power of God.

Peter, who saw Him alive, was convinced that this salvation puts everything into perspective…

“…Fix your hope COMPLETELY 

on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

 … And after you have suffered for a little while, 

the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, 

will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.

 … Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  

To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity.  Amen.”  

I Peter 1:13; 5:10; II Peter 5:18

With great Joy,

Carol