"Lo, how I loved thee. This shewed our good Lord for to make us glad and merry."
Julian of Norwich (Ch. 24)
Christ shows us how much He loves us, tells us how much He loves us, not to make us feel sad that He suffered on the cross but to make us happy that He cares so much. His goal is for us not to feel indebted to Him or like we owe Him gratitude or service for all He did for us. His goal is simply to make us "glad and merry." When you love someone you will do difficult and challenging things just to see them happy. Christ wants to see us happy. He came to rescue us from fear, shame, sorrow, darkness, worry, loneliness and pain. He came to uplift us into His joy, a joy earth can't produce and a joy nothing can take away from us. Oh, how He loves us! Let's be "glad and merry," because we are unconditionally, absolutely, eternally loved and taken in by God. We are lifted above the shame and darkness and sorrow into the light of love and life with God. Christ endured the cross for the joy set before Him. Perhaps that joy set before Him was not only the joy of knowing He saved us but also our joy in knowing Him and His love. He is happy over us, happy about our happiness. What a wonderful Savior and Friend!
"He puts a smile on my face. He's my God."
Psalm 42:5 (MSG)
"Rejoice always.....for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."
1 Thessalonians 5:16, 18 (ESV)
A Prayer: Your love makes me glad and merry!