WHY

 

“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; WHO FOR THE JOY THAT WAS SET BEFORE HIM DESPISING THE SHAME ENDURED THE CROSS, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Heb. 12:3

 

So, what “JOY” was set before Jesus that sustained Him during the cruel brutality, spiteful mocking and physical exposure that He suffered during  His public humiliation, as He bled and died on the Cross of Calvary for the SINS OF HIS PEOPLE?

 

Hear the Word of the Lord:

 

In bringing many sons and daughters to GLORY, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered. Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters. He says, “I will declare your name to my brothers and sisters; in the assembly I will sing your praises.”

 

Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.  For this reason he had to be made, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Heb. 2: 10-18

 

“And they sang a new song, saying:

 

‘You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.’” Rev. 5: 9-10

 

“The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

 

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us; for the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.

 

We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. Rom. 8: 16-25

 

Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, AT THE RENEWAL OF ALL THNGS, everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. Mt 27:27-29

 

“After a long time the lord of those servants came and reckoned with them.  And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, you delivered to me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.  His lord said unto him, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the JOY OF THE LORD.” Mt 25:19-21

 

Evidently the Lord felt it important to promise an abundance of material and personal rewards for those who suffer material and personal loss in this life for His name sake.

 

Just what will these rewards look like? Have you given much thought as to the experience you will experience for ALL ETERNITY?