Have you ever wondered what it felt like to be in the presence of Jesus? When he entered a room, how did the dynamics of the room change? What was it about his nature that caused people to be so attracted to him?
Hebrews 1:9 speaks to those issues in a way I don’t think I have ever heard someone teach on. A fundamental attribute of the real Jesus is joy!
“About the Son, he says, ‘therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of joy.’” –Hebrews 1:8–9
More than some generic greeting card sentiment, the word for joy used in this verse literally means exuberant or wild joy, ecstatic delight. It is the same word used when the baby in Elizabeth’s womb leaped for joy at Mary’s arrival.
The problem is, we’ve marginalized real joy out of the mainstream of the Christian life. Following Jesus is serious stuff, so we construct a faith that is somber and solemn. The issues of heaven and hell, sin and forgiveness, repentance and discipleship contain such weighty questions of eternity that joy seems a bit frivolous. We go down a rabbit hole of gymnastics to differentiate joy from happiness until we translate joy into something devoid of emotional experience.
We even joke about our struggle with joy by referring to ourselves as “God’s frozen chosen.” Or, the tongue-in-cheek saying, “if the joy of the Lord is your strength, tell your face.”
The gospel is good news. It is good news centered on the person and work of Jesus. And, fundamental to the person and work of Jesus is joy. Exuberant. Experiential. Leap in the womb joy. Joy is good news.
Jesus was hyper clear about joy:
“I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” –Jn. 15:11
“Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.” –Jn. 16:24
“I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them.” –Jn. 17:13
However, in this world suffering and hardships abound.
We need to pause and acknowledge that Jesus also said, “in this world you will have tribulations” (Jn. 16:33). We live in a world where the brokenness of this life causes pain and sorrow and grief. Jesus never avoided that hard truth either. A much larger conversation for another day is the fact that lament and joy travel together as bedfellows in this life. Both are real. Both are normal. And, in both we find our hope in Jesus, never in our own willpower. For the moment we need to remind ourselves that the same savior who was anointed with the oil of joy is our High Priest who empathizes with us in all our weaknesses because he himself was tested in every way like we are (See Heb. 4:14–16).
Let’s return to Hebrews 1:9 for an immediate take-home application for us.
1. Anointing speaks of unique empowerment and authority that not only blesses the one being anointed, but positions them to pass on that gift to others. That means, when Jesus was anointed with the oil of joy, he was uniquely entrusted with the power to anoint others with that joy.
So, what is your joy quotient these days? Is it time to ask him for a fuller measure of his joy, that your joy may be complete?
2. Oil used for anointing was usually perfumed. Therefore when it says Jesus was anointed with the oil of joy, it is saying that the fragrance of Jesus’s presence was a perfume of joy. To be near him was to “smell” or sense the undeniable presence of joy. The fragrance of a room changed when he was present.
So, what is the fragrance of your life these days? Is it time to ask him for an anointing of joy that others might sense the presence of Jesus at work in you?
In a world where terror and tragedy occupy the news everyday, what could be possible if the fullness of his joy perfumed everything we do everywhere we go?
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Gary Mayes has been a missionary with Novo since 1997, most of that time as the Director of ChurchNEXT. While he retired from a full-time role at the end of 2022, he continues to work part time coaching and consulting with ministry leaders on a broad scale. Gary and his wife, Margaret, live in the Phoenix area near their adult children and grandchildren.