How did Jesus get through that infamous night in Gethsemane? His sorrow and anguish was so great that scriptures record that His sweat was like blood. Luke 22:44. How did He endure the excruciating pain of the cross? What was it that helped Him walk those painful, yet necessary final steps of His life on earth? FOR THE JOY…
I found a scripture years ago that would come back around to me at a necessary time in my life. I was struggling with some things and going through a major valley in my life. On January 19, 1993 I wrote a song and it all came together for me. I titled it, “On The Other Side Of The Cross.” It is available on my Youtube channel if you want to hear it, just click on the link. Of the ten songs I have posted, this one has been listened to the most. I’ll be adding more in the near future.
Hebrews 12:1 & 2, “let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2Â fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross”
Here it says that joy was set before Him so He could endure the cross. While I was going through my own grief and pain during this season, I focused in on these words. If it was available to Jesus, then surely it was available to me. It was then I began to understand that He was given a vision to see what was going to happen beyond the cross that was directly in front of Him. Yes, He asked His Father three times if there was another way, yet He submitted to drinking from the cup that was His to drink, the crucifixion. I had a cross in front of me and all I could see was the pain, so I asked Him to give me a vision that was on the other side of where I was and He did. I was able to not only make it through, but as I focused more on the vision instead of the pain, I began to receive strength to endure the journey through that terrible valley season of my life.
Seven years later on May 5, 2000, I would receive a deeper revelation of the vision He saw that night in Gethsemane. I titled this song, “The Gift” and it brought such wonderful revelation to my heart what He has for us if we will just reach out and receive it from Him. This one is also on Youtube and they are also available on my website at DestinyPathOfLife.com.
As I was writing the song, I was able to see Him in the garden of Gethsemane and also on the cross. It was like I was looking out from His eyes and seeing what He was seeing. As I watched, I saw person after person standing before Him and I realized it was all of those who would receive His sacrifice and become children of God.
John 1:12 & 13, “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”
The coolest thing about all of these that passed before Him in this vision was that they were all smiling. He even saw me. He saw us all. It brought Him so much joy that it helped give Him the strength to go on, to be betrayed, to stay silent, to receive all the pain, to endure the demonic torture and finally give up His spirit and die. This was the victory that defeated death and the grave. Hosea 13:14. He defeated what we could not and then He made the way for us to be restored again to Father, to that previous place lost in the Garden of Eden. All we have to do is receive it from Him.
The question I had was, “Would He do any less for me or others around me?” No! He gives us visions and dreams so that we have a focal point to endure the hardships and trials that come our way. James 1:2-4, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3Â because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4Â Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” These things are not meant to beat us down but to strengthen us like a body builder going to a gym and lifting weights. With each trial and hardship we endure, we see more of Who He is and the more we overcome, the more our faith builds and gets stronger. Mountains become no problem because we become highly skilled as a climber and soon we can scale them with ease. Not only that, but then we are able to help others find their way too. We are not in this journey alone, but are interconnected globally in His Kingdom.
So, no matter what you are going through, lift up your eyes to where your help comes from. If you don’t have a vision or a dream from Him, ask Him for it. Psalm 139. Ask Him to show you what He’s written on your scroll in heaven, the plans and purpose He ordained for your life. It’s a wonderful thing and He longs to tell you. Spend some time with Him. Just ask… FOR THE JOY…
There is a place for everyone in His Kingdom. Janiece’s and my goal is to help as many people as we can find their purpose and destiny in this life. Why are you here? This is why we live and it’s our passion. Once a person discovers why they are here, they start running their race. It’s like, “Get out of my way, I see it!” Then all we have to do is stand back and perhaps offer a little guidance or encouragement sometimes. Awesome indeed!
Joseph James