Riverside Community Church
Connect with us on facebook. 
Riverside Sept. 21, 2025
More About Jesus #11
Joyous Jesus, Joyous Me
Text: Luke 10:21 — “At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, ‘I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth…’”
Jesus -full of joy, Joyous Jesus, a characteristic of Jesus was joy.
Text: Acts 2:46-47
“They (early Christians) worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord's Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity -- all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their group those who were being saved.”
Joy a characteristic of the early Christian. -each one -Joyous
Joy a characteristic of the early church.-everyone -joyous.
Joyous Jesus, joyous me. I have thought hard and meditated long on this very topic -Joyous Jesus, joyous me. There is no doubt that Jesus had joy which we will get into later but my ponderance on this concept of joy ends up with me (and it includes all of us). Do I have joy like Jesus since it was Him that said in John 15:11
I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may
be complete.(that’s Jesus joy in me)
This is wonderful news that hits at our very core -we all want joy, to have joy in our life even when in pain and suffering -please, Lord can I have joy! Even in difficulties and in rain, oh Lord, please can I have joy.
And the beauty of this is, yes, we can have joy -joy is available to us. Christians are to have joy, yes -Joyous Jesus -Joyous me.
Let me define/describe ‘Jesus joy’ by first saying that happiness is not joy. Joy is not superficial like happiness. Happiness comes and goes. It’s like a balloon you blow up and then release into the air -the ballon zips around crazily and then falls to the ground empty. You smile at this for a while and then it’s over. Joy is like a soccer ball that stays inflated, although the weather changes and it may have scuff marks on it -it remains. Joy is deep within the spirit.
It is THIS joy we want, long-lasting, enduring, firm. Jesus Joy.
DO YOU HAVE THIS JOY, THIS JESUS JOY?
God is not trying to lay a heavier burden on you with a question like that but rather He desires to show you how to obtain that joy in your life because He knows you really want it and that you really need JOY.
-so if you want His joy than you need to be willing to do those things to have His joy in you.
-willing to do -what?
Let me summarize the answer in 1 sentence.
Joy involves being in God’s presence by walking in faith daily with Him, by serving God and others with your gifts and by bearing fruit.
David reacted to God and all His provision by joyfully saying ‘my cup runs over’. When David got out of a close walk with God he prayed ‘return unto me the joy of Your salvation (of walking with You closely)
-This Jesus Joy in me is not overcome by circumstances, it is not overcome by storms, rain, pain or any other negative experience. You may have some scuff marks like on a soccer ball but it won’t deflate like a balloon.
Some people say that the church is filled with narrow-minded people who live miserable lives characterized more by what they don’t do than what they do. They say that Christians find no enjoyment in life.
WHATEVER. All I know is that I have joy and this joy comes from God as I walk with Him daily, serve Him and others and bear fruit in my life and fruit in others. It’s wonderful to be in the presence of God and have joy than to be running away from Him and have NO joy..
Men have pursued joy in every avenue imaginable. Like Solomon who ended up saying ‘life is useless’ outside of God. Perhaps it would be easier to describe where joy cannot be found:
Not in Unbelief -- Voltaire was an infidel of the most pronounced type. He wrote: "I wish I had never been born."Not in Pleasure -- Lord Byron lived a life of pleasure if anyone did. He wrote: "The worm, the canker, and grief are mine alone."
Not in Money -- Jay Gould, the American millionaire, had plenty of that. When dying, he said: "I suppose I am the most miserable man on earth."
Not in Position and Fame -- Lord Beaconsfield enjoyed more than his share of both. He wrote: "Youth is a mistake; manhood a struggle; old age a regret."
Where then is real joy found? -- the answer is simple, in God alone.
I call it Joyous Jesus and it ends up in me -Joyous me.
When we think of Jesus, many images come to mind — the suffering servant, the compassionate healer, the righteous teacher. Yet one portrait often overlooked is that of Jesus, full of joy. Scripture tells us that Jesus rejoiced. He delighted, He celebrated. His heart was lifted in delight at the Father’s goodness. He brought joy to others — in weddings, over meals, in miracles, and in moments of divine revelation.
Today, let us draw near to this joyous Jesus, not as a distant figure of stoic solemnity, but as the One who embodied the joy of heaven, even in the midst of earthly trials. His joy wasn’t shallow; it was rooted deeply in His union with the Father, His mission of love for us, and His vision of the coming Kingdom which included us.
Where did Jesus’ Joy come from?
- Joy in His Relationship with the Father
in His closeness with the Father
At His baptism, the Father declared, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” That delight was mutual. Jesus rejoiced in His Father's will and presence.
Even in prayer, Jesus found joy. He would often retreat not just to intercede but to enjoy fellowship with the Father.
Just like us, our source is grounded in our relationship with God
- Joy in the Holy Spirit
Luke emphasizes that Jesus was “full of joy through the Holy Spirit.” Joy is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22). The Spirit filled Jesus from His baptism (Luke 4:1), empowered His ministry and gave Him joy.
-Jesus had Joy in doing the Father’s will and in bearing fruit in others
Jesus served others (as He said Himself) and it was fruitful
People were taught truth, were healed, were restored, were made whole, were fed. He helped many by serving them as the Father led and it brought the joy of heaven to earth.
Many people imagine Jesus as somber and serious, but the Gospels also records that Jesus was joyful and He expressed that joy in tangible, life-giving ways.
So many of Jesus’ parables had surprising, joyful endings. In Luke 15, the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son all conclude with celebration. In each case, Jesus emphasizes this truth: “There is joy in heaven over one sinner who repents.” He invited people into abundant life (John 10:10).
(Aside)
Jesus had Joy in the Cross —what a Paradox
Hebrews 12:2 says, “For the joy set before Him, He endured the cross…”
This is staggering. Jesus did not enjoy the suffering of the cross. But He looked through it — to the joy of redeeming sinners, of redeeming you. Jesus saw you after the cross and it gave Him joy. And we’ll have joy unspeakable when we see Him in heaven. What joy shall fill my heart.
You’re invited to have Jesus’ Joy
In John 15:11, Jesus said:
“… so that My joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”
Jesus invites us to abide in His love (John 15), obey His commands, and bear fruit — all so that His joy might live in us.
This joy doesn’t deny sorrow. It doesn’t pretend the world is perfect. But it anchors us in something eternal, even in our trials.
Jesus said, “Blessed are you when people insult you… Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven” (Matthew 5:11-12).
Why? Because our identity is not in this world. Our joy is not destroyed by hardship. We can rejoice with Jesus — knowing He walks with us, and that God delights in His own.
Let’s have Joy in the Church
-Jesus’ joy continues today — in the body of Christ. The Church is a joyful community, where we rejoice together, weep together, celebrate the communion together, sing together, and serve each other.
In Acts 2:46, the early believers broke bread together “with glad and sincere hearts.” That was the joy of Jesus in their midst.
Let’s have Joy in what’s Coming
Jesus said in Luke 6:23, “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven.”
One day, we will enter the joy of our Master (Matthew 25:21). Until then, we live in hopeful joy.
Do you want joy, Jesus joy? Who wouldn’t?
Cultivate intimacy with the Father
Jesus’ joy began in His relationship with God. Spend time in prayer, worship, and Scripture. Let the Spirit fill you with the joy that flows from knowing you are loved. Abandon yourself to God. Give in, obey, follow and enjoy.
-celebrate Jesus with others
-serve others in Jesus name
-expect to bear fruit in others as you serve
Be a bringer of joy — through encouragement, service, kindness. Joy multiplies when shared. Be known as someone who carries the fragrance of Jesus’ joy.
See God’s grace at work in you and in others -shout for joy — when the lost are found, when the humble are lifted.
In trials, remember the “joy set before you.” Jesus endured the cross with a vision beyond the pain. So can we. Look towards heaven filled with glory and unspeakable joy.
Enter His Joy
The world is desperate for real joy — not fleeting pleasure or fake positivity, but the deep, abiding joy of Jesus. A joy that comes from the Father, flows through the Spirit, and welcomes all.
Jesus is not a grim Savior. He is the Joyful Redeemer, the Friend of sinners, the Lord of JOY, the Bridegroom of the Church.
As Nehemiah 8:10 says, “The joy of the Lord is your strength.”
