was Jesus happy?
Let me start out by saying I'm not trying to be all sacrilegious in this blog. I'm genuinely curious.
When Jesus was on earth, was he happy?
I mean, we can assume he was. Besides being fully God, he was also fully human, so he experienced all human emotions. I can assume he was happy. But is it in scripture?
Here's what brought me to this question. I was cleaning out a drawer in my room and came across an old 3" by 5" spiral notepad. "Whoa! This thing is old!" I opened it up and inside was the date: October 15, 1997. This was the notepad I had in college. I took it everywhere to write down prayer requests. I flipped through and enjoyed reading prayer requests and praises from 14 years ago.
And then I got to a page titled "JESUS WAS..." And below I had written feelings/emotions/human responses Jesus had during his 3 years on this earth. (Was I bored between classes and felt like doing a treasure hunt? Was this for a bible class? I don't remember). Here's what was on the page:
JESUS WAS...
Hungry
* "After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry." (Matthew 4:2)
* "Early in the morning, as Jesus was on his way back to the city, he was hungry." (Matthew 21:18)
Thirsty
* "When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, 'Will you give me a drink?'" (John 4:7)
* Jesus was thirsty on the cross (they brought him a sponge with wine vinegar)
Tired
* "Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping." (Matthew 8:24)
Sad
* "Jesus wept." (John 11:35)
* "As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it." (Luke 19:41)
Astonished/Amazed
* (with the centurion) "When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, 'Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.'"
Sorrowful
* "'My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,' he said to them. 'Stay here and keep watch.'" (Mark 14:34 in the garden of Gethsemane)
Moved
* "Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance." (John 11:38 at Lazarus' tomb)
Gentle/Humble
* "'Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.'" (Matthew 11:29)
Wanted To Be Alone
* "After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone." (Matthew 14:23)
Compassionate
* "When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick." (Matthew 14:14)
Angry
* "When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. To those who sold doves he said, 'Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!'" (John 2:13-16)
Felt Abandoned
* "About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, 'Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?' (which means 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?')" (Matthew 27:46)
Happy
...
And that was all I wrote.
Under "Happy", I had written an ellipsis. Dot dot dot. Did that mean 14 years ago I couldn't think of (or find) any verses on Jesus being happy?
Was Jesus happy?
Growing up, I saw pictures in Sunday School of Jesus smiling with children. (Did you?) He said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these." It doesn't say it in the bible, but I bet children made him happy and brought him joy.
I assume Jesus felt happiness when he saw people choose life over death. He saw them turn their lives around, give up all they had, and decide to follow him.
And is it weird or sacrilegious to imagine Jesus smiling and laughing with his disciples at mealtimes?
I don't know, friends. I mean, this issue is not vital in Christian doctrine or theology. It's more of a personal curiosity. Can any of you remember verses in the bible where Jesus was happy? If so, please share.
10 comments:
I've been wondering the same thing recently. I hear people saying things like a bible that is falling apart belongs to someone who is not. I do not belive this. I believe the only joy Jesus had was knowing one day he would return to the Father, for he is the only one who can make us feel truely complete.
Hi Noel and welcome to the blog. Thanks for sharing your comment. I agree - I think Jesus had joy when he thought about being reunited with his Father.
In Luke 10:21 you can read where Jesus rejoiced when the disciples returned to him after being sent into the world two by two to carry the Gospel. He appeared pleased at how excited they were at the people's reception to their message.
Yes Yes YES!!! Thank you, Anonymous! I just looked up that passage and was so excited to see it.
Luke 10:21 "At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, 'I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.'"
Hi please also refer to Luke 15:5-6. He was totally man and totally God! He had happiness but more imporatnatly true Joy!! He was both Happy and joyful! Jesus would have laughed! He loved the children to be around Him and He said for such is the kingdom of Hevaen! Children laugh a lot!!! He says we need to be childlike to enter in!!!!
Also A merry heart does good like medicine...remember who really inspired that scripture!!! Our mouths filled with laughter we were like those who dreamed....come on...why is it hard to believe Jesus was full of the Holy Spirit Joy, Happiness and laughter...yet suffered much for all of us!!!
Hi Anon, thanks for writing. I loved what you shared. I definitely believe that because Jesus was fully man and fully God, he was happy and (more importantly) joyful. I was just curious if the bible ever recorded it. I'm thankful for the people who have commented because now I know it's in there. =)
I think we can guess that Jesus was a happy person by inference. Would the tax collectors and sinners (the "bad boys") love sitting around a man that was morose?
Would Zaccheus climb a tree to see a man with a "so so" personality? Would John lay his head on His bosom and refer to himself as the "man who Jesus loved" if Jesus were clinically depressed or had a blase personality? I dont think so. People were DRAWN to him The anointing is very lovely to be around. It is irresistible.
Mediocre people come a dime a dozen We all know some. Do we go out of our way to be with them? NO. I believe there was something very inviting & WARM about his personality. He had to be happy. No one likes a killjoy. I certainly wouldnt waste expensive perfume or nard on someone who was boring. He would have to be special.
I feel the children wanted to be around Him or they would have started crying. Have you ever reached out your hands to someone else's child and they refuse to come or started crying? Yet Jesus took them up in His arms and blessed them. I believe that was one of His happiest moments because they were PURE.
Mary hung around the tomb after He died because she wanted to see Him so badly. The Gadarene demoniac wanted to join his crew....and he healed so many people (the healing anointing doesnt flow so freely in a depressed man. Compassion come out of Jesus again and again. Is compassion a companion to depression? NO. Compassion is generous. Depression is self absorbed.
Another scriptural evidence that Jesus had joy is John 15:11.
Jesus said these things have I spoken that my joy might remain in you. Jesus had real joy to give. He also said My peace I leave with you, 14:27. What was the source of His joy? His Father's presence. How can you be depressed if you have a LIVE connection with heaven? (in thy presence is fullness of joy Ps 16:11) The presence of the Father is brimming with joy!
Jesus had real joy and real peace to impart to His followers. He was in direct communion with heaven at all times.....which infers that his Father God was also joyful. Heaven is a place of sheer joy. Yes, the angels are happy, Father God is happy, the people in heaven are happy, the children in heaven are happy. Jesus was a happy man........and now that He is exalted and in heaven.......well.........eye has not seen, nor ear heard the party we are going to have!
Hi Lyndie, thank you for sharing! I loved it.
Wow!!! What an awesome insight!!! Thank u Lyndie!!!! I copied and pasted to my bible notes, i hope it is ok with you!!
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