Does Jesus Smile?

Several years ago, I was the worship leader at a church and loved it.   To lead people in worship was a joy, and I always tried to present myself as a joyful leader. It’s easy when you love to worship Jesus. Joy is almost automatic.

After church one Sunday, my wife and I were eating at a local restaurant when one of the longtime members of the church came in with her husband. They walked over to our table and began to talk. She said, “This morning at church as you were leading worship, I could see that you were happy and enjoyed what you were doing.” I smiled and was feeling really good. I thought I was getting a compliment. Then she went on. “And that just disgusts me to no end.”

She continued, “When Jesus entered a town, He walked in with six disciples flanked on the right and six on the left. He didn’t smile. He certainly didn’t lift His hands and look happy when He sang.”

At first, I thought she was joking and chuckled, but then I could    tell by the look on her face she was very serious. I knew there was no convincing her otherwise, so I didn’t try. I treated her politely until she left.

As Christians, we are to be like Jesus. But what was Jesus like?

Was Jesus a happy person? Did He get depressed? Did He show joy and happiness? Or was He stern and solemn all the time?

Well, let’s look to the Bible and see what it says concerning this.

In Luke 10, Jesus sent seventy disciples out into the cities He was planning to go to. He gave them instructions and when they returned, they gave Him a good report. They said that even the demons were subject to His name. (v. 17.) In verse 21, the Bible says that Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit. The Greek word used in this verse for rejoice suggests shouting and leaping with joy.  Can you imagine that? Jesus—shouting and leaping with joy! If you can’t, you probably have a religious image of Jesus.

In Matthew 19, little children were brought to Jesus, and He prayed for them. When the disciples tried to keep the children away, Jesus rebuked them, saying, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for such is the kingdom of heaven” (v. 14). There’s no mention here that these children were afraid of Jesus or were forced to go to Him, which to me strongly implies that the children wanted to go to Jesus. Would children be drawn to a grumpy, rigid, mean old man? Of course not! Children are attracted to joyful people who smile and laugh.

Another time, in John 15, Jesus taught His disciples about love. In verse 11 He said, “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.” Jesus said He was joyful and He wanted us to have His joy.

Listen, God loved us so much that He made a way for us to live throughout all eternity and never die. Through faith, He made a way for us to have special gifts that would help us supernaturally. (1 Cor. 12:4–11.) He gave us His Word that He would heal, prosper, and deliver us. He gave us His Holy Spirit as a comforter, helper, and intercessor. He gave us supernatural love. He gave us peace, not peace like the world gives, but supernatural peace ( John 14:27.)Remember, James 1:17 says, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.”

If we really believe this is true, how can we not jump for joy?

GOD’S GIFTS ARE GROUNDED IN JOY

Everyone has times when they like to sit back and think about all the things going on around them. Sometimes it’s really hard to find the time, but when those times do come along, I find them very refreshing. Last week I had one of those times.

I took a cup of hot apple cider and went into a room in my house I call “the upper room.” It’s a room above my garage that overlooks the Lake of the Ozarks. I have never put a television or stereo up there. Somehow it just never seemed right. The room is so quiet and a nice place to think.

One evening I was in the upper room thinking about the good things of God, when I began to list all the things God has provided for us. As I made my list, I realize something important:

God’s gifts are all grounded in joy.

Let me explain. When we become a Christian, the Spirit of God indwells us. Our spirit is born again and we become a new creation. Second Corinthians 5:17 talks about it, saying, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit lives within us. As a Christian, because we have the Spirit of God within us, we also have the product of His Spirit. The Bible calls it the fruit of the Spirit and says it “is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.

”Everything God has for us is joyful. When He heals us, is that a joyful thing or a sad thing? Of course, it’s a good, joyful thing. When God prospers us, is that a joyful thing, or a sad thing? Of course, it’s a joyful thing! But what’s unique about being a Christian is that we can have joy in the midst of sickness, financial trouble, or any trial that comes our way.

Why? Because first of all, the joy has already been placed within us as a part of the fruit of the Spirit. That happened when we became born again. Secondly, we know that no matter how great the sickness, no matter how great the financial problem, no matter how great the trial, we can rest in the truth that God said He would deliver us.

In Psalm 34:19 the Bible says, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all.” Did you catch that? God delivers us out of all of our afflictions.

If this is true, and we know it is because God’s Word says it, then we have no reason to be depressed. Likewise, we have every reason to be joyful. Even though we may be going through a trial, God said He would deliver us out of it. And if God is going to set us free from our afflictions like He said He would, then we can easily let that joy out that has been placed within us.

The problem with joy is not getting it, it’s letting it out. As Christians, we have already been given joy as part of the fruit of the Spirit. So since we have it, it’s our responsibility to let it flow. We have our hand on the valve that governs our joy level.