And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world,

that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves. John 17:13

 

    

          According to John, Jesus did many other things than were recorded. I supposed He didn’t do them silently. He spoke into the world the formula for fulfilled joy.

       Happiness is circumstantial while joy is not. This is why all of what He said is an important part of the formula. Not all His words were pretty. Many were uplifting but many were instructional: instructions that are difficult to follow sometimes. Quite often He rebuked the Pharisees: rebukes which still stand for anyone in the present age who behaves like the Pharisees or scribes. He did not soft-soap the words to the hypocrites, which are still among us. Yet all the things He spoke are to bring joy. Amazing!

        His joy fulfilled in us: seems to me that can’t happen on this side of heaven while in this dark world. We can have joy but not His joy fulfilled. We need the words of rebuke and instruction to teach us how to live in His will. If we are not in His will, we will not have joy.

      These: it’s a pretty inclusive word and why I believe it is for the complete manuscript of Christ’s testimony. Even if it were to mean the words immediately preceding in this speech to His Father, I believe it still would mean all He had spoken. That is because chapter 17 is His own personal summary of how He has fulfilled His mission. Verse 8 says He has spoken what God told Him to so God wants us to have joy.

      God wants you to have the joy of His Son fulfilled. All these things He spoke say so.