JOY is a quality of ever present Love. Like a song bird it sings its song even when the earth clouds gather low and threatening, and the false evidence of mortal mind claims to hold dominion. It reflects Spirit, whose law annihilates false law, and it aids in conquering the insistent claims of sin. Joy is inherent in God's all-perfect creation. To be joyous is to feel the presence and availability of God, to be conscious of reflecting Him, thereby proving our sonship with Him.
Our precious Saviour was joyous, but the world did not esteem his joy. Blinded by its beliefs of the reality of matter, false theology has dwelt upon the view of Jesus as a man of grief and sorrow. But the wedding feast at Cana found Jesus in the midst of a joyous gathering. How tenderly also he expressed the desire that the little children be allowed to come unto him! How peaceful and serene were the visits at the home of Mary and Martha! What a joyous meeting was that of Jesus with his disciples at their breakfast on the Galilean shore before he departed finally from them!
Jesus knew the value of spiritual joy. Many times he admonished those about him to "be of good cheer," and to rejoice. The disciples on the storm-tossed sea were commanded, "Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid." The palsied man responded when he heard the words, "Son. be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee." These admonitions came from the depth of his understanding. What incomparable joy must have been his as he gave proof of his Messiahship when the lame were healed, the blind received their sight, the deaf ears were unstopped, the lepers were cleansed, the dead were raised, and to the poor the gospel was preached! Jesus upheld and demonstrated the naturalness of spiritual joy, which accompanied his demonstrations of the Christ, Truth.
