Joy in the Garden

Their gnarled fingers had grasped for a few moments the glaring events from the great empires that had performed on the stage of life. Swayed by the winds of the song of war and peace they stood mute witnesses to the futility of man to bring permanent peace and contentment to all mankind.

Now those aged trees in the garden stretched out their weathered arms forming a canopy over a special group of men, who would turn the world upside down. Their mission in life would not be quickly borne away on the prevailing winds but would transform the lives of men and women who would out of love join their ranks creating a ceaseless march that would see the banner of peace and joy carried forward to be planted firm in the kingdom of God.

Immersed in prayer a lonely figure lies almost prostrate a stone’s throw from them. In his appeal for strength and help from above his out stretched arms opens the doors for the greatest event in history to commence. It appeared that creation itself sensed the moment, the agony and trial that the Saviour of the world was experiencing at that time. The clouds in heaven ceased their wandering, the voice of the winds was lowered to a whisper. The heavenly candles took on a brighter glow throwing a spotlight on he who came into the world to be the “light that was sent into the world that men might have life.”

Like a Woman in Travail

The lips of prayer moved but no sound was heard, but the rivers of sweat that broke their banks of the crevices in the forehead spoke of the agony and the inner concern of Christ at this time. Was he able to do his father’s will and so fulfill through his life and death the promises and prophecy written of him?

Isaiah likened his experience to that of a woman in travail about to bare a child. Isaiah 53:11. “He shall see the travail of his soul.” At that moment the shadow of the cross reaches out to touch him and he is stricken by the pain from the “wounds for our transgressions,” the bruises for our iniquities.” So it was written, “He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before the shearers is dumb, so he open­eth not his mouth.”

Yet now the voice is heard, rising from the ground he cries to heaven above, “If thou be willing, remove this cup from me.” Luke 22:42. “Never the less not my will, but thine, be done.” The ears of our Heavenly Father are never out of the range of those who speak to him in faith. The prayer was borne before the throne of grace and immediately an angel was commissioned to Christ’s side.

An Angel Strengthened Him

We can only summarize the contents of the conversation between these two men, yet we feel safe in saying that the things revealed became a reservoir of unlimited strength that enabled the Son of God to fulfill his commitments even unto the end.

Is it possible that during this time of travail he was permitted to see the “seed” and “the pleasure of the Lord that would prosper in his hand ?”

The reservoir of his strength commenced with the few droplets conveyed in one of our favorite hymns. “At even ere the sun was set, the sick 0 Lord around thee lay, 0 in what divers pains they came 0 with what joy they went away.” Such droplets developed into a torrent of rivers of joy as the angel revealed to him “the joy that was set before him.” His seed being born out of many generations. To see after his ascension to the heavens his apostles striding out into the unknown, intent alone on sharing the joy of the hope of resurrection which would be made real through his death. Men of humble surroundings made giants through the “Word” who would take the world and shake its foundations with the joyous news that he who had gone up into heaven would so come in like manner. Phillip taken from the children of men, now a man of God was going into Samaria preaching Christ unto them. So we read in Acts 8:8 the outcome of his visit. “There was great joy in the city.” The travail of his soul subsided a little to know that there were those who had thrust the nails into his hands and feet would repent of their ways. What strength of joy to learn of one obsessed in persecuting his seed, the ecclesia of God would have a change of heart and mind and instead of pain bring joy to the household. Those in Christ would also become his joy as mentioned in many of his letters, especially to the ecclesia at Phillipi. “Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown.”

We are Part of the Ecclesia of Christ

We are not told the length of time the angel remained with him but we have the confidence that the vision tarried long, affording sufficient time for him to see the birth of his seed and to hear the first cry of life in the formation of the eccles­ias that would fan out through the ages. Enjoying the pleasure of the Lord in his hand when hearing the cry of praise and thanksgiving uttered by those attending Bible Schools, fraternal gatherings, mission work, where ever a few are gathered in his Name.

The travail passed. The seed was borne and we are a part of the ecclesia of Christ today. We have left the shadow of the cross and it is now up to us as fully grown men and women to spread the joyous news abroad. Giving hope to those within the household and without. Like the Apostle Paul we are sometimes shackled with the chains of life’s difficulties, never the less not with a sad heart, or a weakened faith but with the hymn and prayer constantly on our lips we are seen, or should be seen by the audience that God has brought before us. With such an attitude Paul brought great joy to the jailer’s household and the seed of Christ was increased with the baptism of the jailer and those of his house.

Brother Islip Collyer once said, “The gaiety of the world is based on forgetfulness. The joy of a true Christian is based on memory.”

Where there is no vision the People Perish

Scripture records, “Where there is no vision the people perish.” We have not the open visitation of angels today but we have the “Comforter” the living Word.

Word that takes us to the border of the kingdom of God and there we can see the joy of it all. Jesus the Christ, “King of Kings and Lord of Lords surrounded by his seed brought out of great suffering to rejoice evermore in his presence and before the Almighty on high. The trees on a thousand hills no longer bent down under the misery of man’s ill doings but reaching ever heavenwards as they clap their hands with all creation with the glorious news “joy to the world the Lord has come.”

In Christ we taste that joy today but especially more if it is shared with others. If such is our commitment in life then we are assured that we shall receive those welcome words, “Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.” “Finally brethren, rejoice in the Lord. Rejoice again I say, Rejoice.”