On
Joy in Johannine Writings.
P.B [July 27, 2019]
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The idea behind 'joy' in Johannine
writings carries a profound network of connections.
Broadly speaking, we have *three* blessed strings of thought
associated with the virtue of joy in the apostle
John's writings (one of which is the verse drawn for our present consideration,
i.e. John 15:11). But, allow me to share the other two as well, for our better
handling of the text and understanding.
Let me begin first with 1 John 1:4. Here, the joy is the
result of double edged concavity. This means, we have the Father, the Son and
us. The Father enjoys His Son (infinitely, in a measure the 'eternal life' i.e.
Christ was with the Father).
Next, we are spiritually enabled to enjoy the Son as well (via
the apostolic witness and testimony).
In this case, the *joy is the result of enjoying the *very
theme and noble Person* that both *us* and the *Father* enjoys i.e. the
*Son*!
Here, our joy consists in having the same blessed theme (The
Son) as the Father.
The next point is John 16:25. Here, it is different.
Again, we have the Father, Son and us. But Joy, in John
16:25 is a result of prayers being answered directly with the Father through
the ascended Person of Christ. It is the joy of the new dispensation that has
begun with the ascension of Christ to the heavens after resurrection
: ' *and in that day ye shall demand nothing of me* (John 16:23). *'That
day'* is with reference to Christ ascension - by virtue of which our new
relationship with the Father is enabled (on the authority of His name).
Here, the connection is between us and the Father (as in 1
John) but unlike in 1 John, it is a connection between us and Father secured
and power released through the meditation of the exalted Lord. Here, it is not
enjoyment of the subject of the Person of the Son by us and the Father, but
power released to us from the Father because of the Son - *'ask, and ye shall
receive, that your joy may be full*' (v24). The joy, here is a result of power
to ask and to be granted.
The third connection is the verse that is also our consideration - John 15:11.
Here in John 15:11, it is the joy that comes with keeping the
commandments.
In 1 John, the 'word' and 'commandment' is distinguished,
with the former is totality of the Person of Christ, while the latter being the
specific facets of His glory.
In John 15:11, the joy belongs to the same genus and nature - both in Christ
and in us. But the relationship here, is linear progression: it is the Father
with the Son, and the Son with us (unlike in the other two references, where we
have the Father and us about the Son and through
the Son).