An old song says, “Are you living in the shadow of the cross?” But more interesting is the fact that Jesus lived in the shadow of the cross– before it was erected. Calvary came as no surprise to Christ. He knew He was born to die. He was keenly aware of what awaited Him, yet He never wavered. He set His face like a flint and proceeded to Jerusalem without complaint. How He did that is explained by these words–“…. who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Spurgeon said, “The joy that was set before Jesus was principally the joy of saving you and me. I know it was the joy of fulfilling His Father’s will, of sitting down on His Father’s throne, of being made perfect through suffering—but still I know that this is the grand, great motive of the Savior’s suffering: the joy of saving us. It was this joy that made Christ strong to endure in the day of His sorrow, and joy must make you also strong to endure unto the end. He had the joy of anticipated victory. It “was set before Him,” and so He “endured the cross, disregarding the shame.” He ran with a heavy cross on His back, and yet He ran faster than you or I have run. He ran because He had more joy than we have. So let us live in the joy of heaven, let us live in the joy of ultimate victory, and this will enable us to bear all the toils and trials of our present life.”
Jesus endured the greatest injustice and most grievous suffering ever because He was sustained by the joy of hope. For the joy set before Him He died for us. For the joy set before us we ought to live for Him. Remember, “the joy of the LORD is your strength.” (Neh. 8:10) –HDS
