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Jesus is the Truth

Even in adversity, I should know the joy of Jesus the Messiah. Jesus shows up. I need to be ecstatic. I need to shout out and jump up and down. I have seen the day of salvation. The joy of my Master Jesus gives me great strength.

God is good and in a good mood. God sent His Son Jesus to redeem us. He has done just that. We have seen the day, just like Abraham.

Jesus was speaking to the religious elite. They got into an argument. Jesus knows they are liars and says it to their face. At the end of this, they try to stone him. He revealed to them he is God, the great “I AM”.

They don’t rejoice like Abraham. Will I?

“If I glorify myself,” Jesus answered, “my glory is nothing. My Father—about whom you say, ‘He is our God’—he is the one who glorifies me. You do not know him, but I know him. If I were to say I don’t know him, I would be a liar like you. But I do know him, and I keep his word. Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day; he saw it and was glad.” | Christian Standard Bible. (John 8:54–56)

The disciples of Jesus are to rejoice in the salvation brought about by the Messiah’s faithful life and death, and by the power of his resurrection. The appearance of Jesus on the scene brings us so much joy. We are people of hope who exude good news.

In the New Testament, “joy” is used for victory, as shown by the disciples returning with joy since even the evil spirits listened to them. The victory starts with salvation — the presence of the Messiah, the bridegroom, gives reason for joy.

In the New Testament letters, joy is a desired attribute of the disciples. Paul expressed frequently the joy he had regarding the salvation of those he was writing to and prayed that they might be full of joy.

Now that is something. Be full of joy.