Why Jesus was Anointed with Joy (Hebrews 1:9)

Why Jesus was Anointed with Joy (Hebrews 1:9)

“You have love righteousness and hate wickedness: therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy” (Hebrews 1:9)

Part 2 of 3

It is not by chance that Jesus was full of joy; there is a reason for it. From the same passage of scripture that is quoted in Psalm 45, comes the answer, “you love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy” (Psalms 45:7). Hebrews 1:9 makes it clear that this verse is about Jesus. The reason He was anointed with joy far above anyone else is because He loved righteousness and hated wickedness.

The Amplified Bible gives a great definition of righteousness versus wickedness; “You have loved righteousness [You have delighted in integrity, virtue, and uprightness in purpose, thought, and action] and You have hated lawlessness (injustice and iniquity). (Hebrews 1:9a AMP).There is a stark contrast between these two extremes. However Jesus’ love of righteousness went beyond possessing this viewpoint, it propelled Him to act. He knew we were hopeless without Him because sin had destroyed any chance we had of being reconciled to God. His love of righteousness compelled Him to destroy sin and lawlessness in one act on the cross. Then he freely offered this righteousness to mankind.God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (II Corinthians 5:21). Now through Christ we are holy and blameless. “For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation” (Colossians 1:19-22).

This is why Jesus was anointed with the oil of joy far above His companions, because His love of righteousness compelled Him to act on our behalf to remove sin, shame and its effects on mankind. His gift of grace was far superior than the effects of the fall. “But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! Again, the gift of God is not like the result of the one man’s sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification” (Romans 5:15-16). It was reconciling the world back to God that brought Jesus such joy. We are so valuable to Him that He gave up everything so we could be saved.

This is why I believe most portrayals of Jesus aren’t accurate. He wasn't unapproachable, he wasn't unfriendly, and He wasn't somber. He was full of life. He was full of joy. He was full of love. I am sure He woke up every morning knowing He was one day closer to dying for us, conquering sin and death in the process. The anticipation of the cross must have given Him so much joy, knowing we would be reconciled back to God forever, I'm sure that made every day a good day for Him!

Tomorrow we look at Part 3: Jesus Has Given Us His Joy

Juli Camarin

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