In I John and II John, part of the stated purpose of John’s communication, both written and face to face, is “that our joy may be full” (I John 1:4; II John 1:12). This joy is clearly related to the fellowship (Greek “koinonia”) of believers with one another and with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ (I John 1:3).
We have been celebrating the coming of Immanuel, Jesus Christ, who came to die for our sins. Rejoicing is a huge part of this celebration. Why such joy? At the Christmas Eve service, Kerry Gasque cited many Scriptures that answer this question. Note Romans 5:6-11:
“For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only that, but we also REJOICE in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.”
The entrance of sin into this world broke the fellowship between God and man, and turned joy into separation, sadness, sorrow, suffering, and death. (Genesis 3) Without fellowship with Jesus Christ, there is no true joy, but with that fellowship bought by the blood of Christ, we have fullness of joy.
By the way, in considering these words, joy – a noun, and rejoice – a verb, I wondered how these words are related and found that the Greek words for joy, rejoice, and grace are all cognates – “of the same or similar nature”. For those who are interested, here is the explanation I found at https://biblehub.com/greek/5479.htm:
Cognate: 5479 xará (another feminine noun from the root xar-, “extend favor, lean towards, be favorably disposed”) – properly, the awareness (of God’s) grace, favor; joy (“grace recognized”).
[The etymological link between 5463 /xaírō (“rejoice because of grace”), 5479 /xará (“joy because of grace”) and 5485 /xáris (“grace”) – i.e. that they are all cognates – is observed by LS (p 1,976), Zod (Dict), CBL, Wigram’s Englishman’s Greek Concordance (Ed. Ralph Winters), Word Study Greek-English NT (Tyndale, Ed. Paul McReynolds) – see also DNTT (2,356) and TDNT (9; 359,60).
This rejoicing is centered in God’s amazing grace through Jesus Christ! Here are some more verses that show how Jesus brings joy:
- John 15:11 “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.“
- John 16:24 “Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.“
- John 17:13 “But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves.“
- Psalms 16:11 “You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” (quoted by Peter in Acts)
- Acts 2:28 “You have made known to me the ways of life; You will make me full of joy in Your presence.“
- 1 Peter 1:8 “whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory.“
- Rom 15:13 “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.“