John 15:11 11These things I have spoken to you, so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
The disciples had expressed their concern earlier through the various comments and questions Peter, Thomas, Philip, and Judas (not Iscariot) had asked. Jesus had told them about his leaving them. They had a sense of coming trouble but may not have fully understood the extent of this yet. Jesus has promised his disciples several things sourced from his relationship with them and their response of faith: “my peace” (14:27), “my love” (15:10), and now “my joy.”
This verse provides the answer to the disciples’ worry. Joy is a growing theme in Jesus’ final teaching before his suffering and death. He will repeat his promise in 16:20-24 and 17:13. The world is a difficult place. Most people’s lives are full of challenges, doubts, and fears. Being finite and limited in a hostile world full of war, disease, and economic uncertainty can be mentally, physically, and spiritually debilitating. People see happiness, which is often dependent on circumstances. Jesus’ promise of joy is limitless and not dependent on anything in this world because it comes from his own overflow of joy. his joy came from his relationship of love with the Father. As Jesus remained in the Father’s love, shown by complete faith and perfect obedience, he experienced the joy of being in the Father’s will. His joy extends to those who remain in the same type of relationship of faith and obedience to him, expressed by loving him in obedience guided by the Holy Spirit. Jesus’ joy is full or complete (plērōthē). Any human-sourced joy will be partial and but an anticipation of the reason we were created.
The major themes of this discourse are all united together. The basic idea is simple: believe in Jesus and obey what he said. This faith and obedience will be shown by loving him and one another. Yet, this idea is complex because it requires the commitment of ourselves in trust. Consecration is not easy because we must humble ourselves, which requires repentance. Many of the Jewish leaders could not come to that point but struggled in their supposed superior understanding of Scripture, but they missed God’s will and clear revelation. Faith is both simple, that even a child can enter the kingdom, yet requires our all.
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