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Joy of Jesus

We seem a little reluctant to talk about the ecstatic experience. Is that for mystics and weirdo’s, I think? I don’t want to be like that. Not at all.

But then again, maybe it’s not just for kooks. Maybe there is a God thing going on I should consider. Maybe I need to be open to what the eye hasn’t seen or the ear heard.

But just as it is written, “Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, And which have not entered the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love Him.” For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. | 1 Corinthians 2:9–10 (NASB)

Hmm …

  • Doesn’t Jesus just rock my world?
  • Am I out of my mind at what Jesus is doing?
  • Am I crazy in love with Jesus?
  • Am I stunned at His beauty and brilliance?

Here are the key ideas:

  1. Ecstasy in response to Jesus the Messiah: The Greek word “ecstasy” (ἔκστασις, ekstasis) means “standing outside of” and refers to the experience of having the mind cut off from ordinary sense perceptions. These experiences are often referred to as mystical or ecstatic experiences.
  2. And so, a few more questions:
    1. Does Jesus amaze me?
    2. Am I stunned by His beauty and brilliance?
    3. Am I rejoicing greatly in the Holy Spirit?
    4. Do I experience “crazy love” for God?
  3. Paul refers to a man who “fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows … this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows—and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter” (ESV).
    1. Paul may be referring to himself in these verses in 2 Corinthians.
    2. Additionally, in 1 Corinthians 9:1 he claims to have had a vision of the risen Messiah, possibly in the heavenly throne room.
    3. Paul is no stranger to ecstatic experiences.
  4. The book of Revelation contains echoes of mysticism.
    1. Its revelations may derive from a blend of ecstatic experience and literary tradition.
    2. The author of Revelation uses his ecstatic voyage as the basis for expanding the traditional prophetic myth into a detailed description of God’s punishment and redemption of the world.

Here are the scriptures:

  • 1 Corinthians 2:9–10 (NASB) —But just as it is written, “Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, And which have not entered the heart of man, All that God has prepared for those who love Him.” For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God.
  • Isaiah 55:12 — “For you will go out with joy And be led forth with peace; The mountains and the hills will break forth into shouts of joy before you, And all the trees of the field will clap their hands.”
  • Isaiah 35:10 —And the ransomed of the Lord will return And come with joyful shouting to Zion, With everlasting joy upon their heads. They will find gladness and joy, And sorrow and sighing will flee away.”
  • Isaiah 51:11 — 11 So the ransomed of the Lord will return And come with joyful shouting to Zion, And everlasting joy will be on their heads. They will obtain gladness and joy, And sorrow and sighing will flee away.