“You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.” -Hebrews 1:9
Jesus was the most joyful person who ever walked the face of the earth. He was supremely, gloriously, filled with joy!
I believe two things attracted people to Jesus- His radiant holiness and His radiant joy.
The scripture says that the Holiness of God is beautiful.
“Oh, worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness!” –Psalm 96:9
Holiness is one of the most attractive things in the universe! When once we see the Holiness of God we can’t look away! He is incomparably beautiful in holiness.
Jesus literally was Heaven on Earth! He radiated the Glory of God in holiness.
But it wasn’t just the attraction of His Holiness that compelled people to come to Him, Jesus had contagious joy!
Imagine the most holy man who ever lived being the most joyful man who ever lived- that’s Jesus!
We’re told that God set Him above His companions by anointing Him “with the oil of joy”! I love that! Joy was literally poured out on Jesus by His Father in heaven.
Notice that the Word of God tells us that the unbridled joy of Jesus was given to Him because of His love of holiness.
“You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore…”
Therefore, God has anointed you with the oil of joy above your companions!
You see the connection? Holiness and joy are knit together. They’re part of the same fabric of the Kingdom of God.
“The kingdom of God is… righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” -Romans 14:17
It’s who God is! It’s what His Kingdom is all about. You see it all right there in Jesus- righteousness, peace and joy.
I point it out because they come packaged together. It’s impossible to walk in sin and at the same time experience the peace and joy of the Kingdom.
What the world calls happiness or joy is not the same as the joy of the Kingdom. They’re quite different.
The joy of the Kingdom lives in the flame of holiness and none but those who are holy can truly experience it.
It’s ours for the taking by abiding in Jesus!
“Though now you don’t see him, yet believing, you rejoice greatly with joy unspeakable and full of glory!” -1 Peter 1:8
Unspeakable joy! Full of the Glory of God!
Wrapped in His holiness, we become Fountains of Joy!
“As they make music they will sing, “All my fountains are in you!” -Psalm 87:7