The Pulpit Commentary — John — Volume 2 — Section 282

out 11n ebb, True, be we.s "e. Mnn or sorrows, e.nd acquainted with grief." But thi~ wri~ not hie own, "Surely he bore our griefs," etc. His soul was continually joyous, nnd hie no.tnre continu111ly he.ppy. And now, when his earthly work wo.e not actually completed, with tho terrible bo.ttle e.nd more than human pain before him, hie soul waH full of joy. 'l'he sorrow and grief were only waves on the surface, and daBhing on the human side of his being; but down in the depths of hie nature there was only joy in all its serenity, purity, and fulness. But not so the joy of the disciples. It was eseenUnlly incomplete. Only a spark, a flickering fie.me, already threatened with extinction by his departure. II. Timm BAMENEss. Although distinct, so as to be spoken of separately as "my joy" and "your joy," yet there is a similarity and a sameness. 1. They are the - in nature. The stream is of the same nature as the fountain, the drop as the ocean, the fruit as the tree. The joy of the disciples is of the same nature as that of Jesus. 2. They are the same in effect. Joy' as an emotion is: pleasant, buoyant, happy, and inspiring. These were its effects in Jesus, and in a degree in bis disciples. In the degree they experienced it, it made them happy in trouble, hopeful in sorrow, buoyant in depressed circumstances, and joyous even in trib11lation. Pure joy is the same in its effects in the heart of the creature as in that of the Creator, in the heart of the dis- ciple as in that of his Master. 3. They are the same in their sources. What were the sources of Jesus' joy, or what joy was his? (1) The joy of consciOOII union with his Father. He we.s ever conscious of this. It never left him, even in the darkest hour and severest trials. "Ye shall leave me alone: but I am not alone, because the Father," etc. This ever filled him with confidence and joy. (2) The joy of perfect obedience. Obedience to his Father's will and commands, loyalty to his Father's throne, and consecration to his Father's work. (3) The joy of perfect love. Love to his Father, to his disciples, and love of compassion to the world. The central passion of bis heart and the ruling law of his nature was love, and this inevitably produced joy and happiness. His obedience was happy and joyous. It was the obedience o( love. He could say, "Lo, I come to do," etc. It was delightful to come and do the Divine will while the law was in bis heart of love. There is no joy without love; and in the degree we love we are joyous. (4) The joy of perfect self-sacrifice. The love of Christ was not of the ordinary kind, but of the highest kind-the greatest and most dis- interested, resulting in tho greatest self-sacrifice. And the greater the self-sacrifice the greater the joy. In Christ both were perfect. (5) The joy of unswerving confidence qf triumph and success. He never had the least doubt as to the nltimate success of his mission and the result of his coming, although no one was ever so severely tried. His own rejected and crucified him; but, in spite of this, his joy was unruffled, his happi- ness was un.marred, and his confidence in God, and the justice and success of his cause, was unshaken. These were the sources of bis joy; and they are the sources of the joy of all his followers-the joy of union with him and the Father, of obedience to him and his commands, of love to him and each other, of self-sacrifice even to suffering and death for him, and of perfect conviction of the righteousness of their cause, the rectitude of their principles, and complete triumph at last. 'l'hns the joy of the disciples and that of the Master proceeded from the same fountain. Although one is a small stream and the other a sweeping Amazon, yet they spring from the same sources, and flow on through parallel channels to the same ocean of infinite joy. III. THE PERFECTION OF THE DISCIPLES' JOY. 1. The perfection o/ their foy was not yet attained. This could not be expected. They were young disciples, ignorant and imperfect. Their training was as yet only partial, and there were intervening severe trials. Their Master was about to leave them by death; and their permanent Teacher and Se.notifier, the Holy Spirit, had not yet fully come. Between his departure and the coming of the Spirit there was sadness. They were doubtless greatly surprised at his speaking of his joy and theirs at such an hour ; still they had the elements of spiritual joy to an extent they had not yet realized. The development of these was necessarily gradual, a.nd as yet incomplete. 2. The perfection of their joy was attainable. "That my joy may be in you, and that," etc. This was to be attained: (1) By continual realization of their union with him. 'l'his union was made. It was a glorious fact. They had only to continue it and realize it in a greater degree. And with increased realization of the union there would be an increase of joy-the joy of being connected  'I'HE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. JOHN. [oR. xv. 1-27,