It is easy for those who know the Lord Jesus as Saviour to think that our salvation is the most important result of His work at the cross. But isn’t there something more blessed even than the mercy shown to lost sinners? What about His joy the satisfaction and pleasure of His heart at having gained a bride, bought with His own precious blood, who will share His glory and joy in companionship with Him for all eternity.
Genesis 2:99And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. (Genesis 2:9) tells us that God put in that beautiful garden of Eden every tree that was pleasant to the sight and good for food. In our thoughts food is a necessity which must come before beauty. But God has been pleased to mention beauty first.
The order here suggests that in the work of salvation the heart of God is satisfied, even before man’s need is met. Is there not joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repents? If the repentant sinner has joy in being saved, how much more the Father and the Son in the sinner’s salvation?
“Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame” indicates His thoughts about accomplishing that work the Father gave Him to do, and then being received back to the right hand of the Father. Who can measure what our blessed Lord suffered on the cross? Yet He despised it in light of that joy a joy that far outweighs our joy in salvation.
From a gospel message