fixing our eyes on Yeshua the author and finisher of the faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2
Joy – This is behavior directed by delayed gratification. Oh, how difficult this is! Especially when the task necessary to reach that delayed joy is excruciating, exhausting and exclusively yours. Alone, you plod forward, buffeted by ridicule, rejection and abuse. But the joy set before you keeps you going. No one understands the purpose of your quest at this moment. Perhaps you even doubt the outcome. But you trust the One who asks for perseverance. Joy comes in the morning, but the night is dark and deep.
The author of Hebrews encourages us to fix our eyes on Yeshua. Why? Because His perseverance is our hope. We are called to follow Him. That means we must see the joy over the horizon and take another step in the dark. We have His promise, guaranteed by His action, that there is joy unspeakable waiting, waiting, waiting – and we will soon step into the light.
It is significant that Yeshua did not greet the women who came to the tomb on that morning after the long, dark night with the usual “Shalom.” Matthew says that he stopped them the word “Chairete”, Rejoice! (although you will have a hard time seeing this in some English translations since they skip the Greek word). Joy to you! Immediately something has changed. This is not what we expect. It is never found in the Old Testament as a greeting. The common Hebrew greeting should have been shalom – peace! Shalom in its true context means completeness, wholeness, harmony or fulfillment in both our undertakings and our relationships. This kind of peace is the result of God’s promise. This was the common greeting of every Jew – a wish of God’s well being for another. But shalom no longer fits reality.
Most of our English Bibles do not translate the actual Greek word. They treat His greeting as an idiom, offering us something like “Hail!” or “Hello.” But the word is chairete – “Rejoice!” – from the same root word as joy (charis). Yeshua didn’t speak a causal hello. He altered forever the perspective we have about this world. Before the resurrection, we wished well-being for each other (Shalom), but after the resurrection, there is no need to wish for well-being. It has arrived. It is guaranteed. Now we can say, “Rejoice!” The dark night is over. The dawn has come. And soon the day will follow.
The author of Hebrews knows that if we are distracted by the present shadows sticking to our travel toward the light, we will divert our eyes from the Finisher of our faith. We will see the edge of darkness and not realize the world has changed. We will grope our way through the night, not realizing that the door to the tomb is open. Wishing for shalom, we will miss the greeting in the garden and overlook the guarantee. So we must fix our eyes on Him. He is the only one who has gone ahead, who knows the path, who sees the end from the middle. No other offers joy.
How easily the dark fingers of despair turn our eyes aside. How quickly we forget that stone rolled out of the way. As soon as we direct our gaze away from Him, we can’t see where we’re going. In those panic-stricken moments, we grasp whatever gratifies, losing the joy of the morning. Blink. Adjust your vision. And follow Him.
Topical Index: joy, charis, rejoice, Hebrews 12:2
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