Where Joy and Sorrow Meet
There is one place in the universe where joy and sorrow lead to hope: at the cross of Jesus.
“…looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb. 12:2).
Real life is a mixture of experiences where joy and sorrow often tug at the same heart, sometimes even at the exact moment. For example, the joy of seeing your kids leave home to start their careers can be mingled with the sorrow of their absence. We often live in the tension of competing emotions, and the Bible does not ask us to suppress one for the sake of the other. It doesn’t call us to be stoics, nor does it leave us to despair. Instead, the Bible validates both our grief and our joy, showing us where these emotions are held together perfectly: in Jesus.
The prophet Isaiah describes Jesus as a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief (Is. 53:3). Jesus experienced the deepest sorrows imaginable. Yet, at the same time, he knew the fullest joy. Both of these realities came together at the cross—"for the joy set before him, he endured the cross" (Heb. 12:2). At the cross, Jesus experienced profound grief and joy simultaneously. There was the joy of saving us and the agony of enduring God’s wrath. His joy was real but did not shield him from pain. His pain was real but did not overshadow his joy. At the cross, his joy and sorrow worked together for our sake. His joy and endurance brought us life.
There is one place in the universe where joy and sorrow converge to bring hope: the cross of Jesus. Look to him. He knows your pain. He sympathizes with your struggle. And he cares for you.
See from His head, His hands, His feet, Sorrow and love flow mingled down! Did e’er such love and sorrow meet, Or thorns compose so rich a crown? - When I Survey the Wondrous Cross, Isaac Watts
CAROLFEST 2024 - THIS FRIDAY!
We at Immanuel warmly invite you—along with your friends, family, neighbors, and coworkers—to join us for Carolfest 2024: We Wish You a Jazzy Christmas!
5:30pm: Festive fun begins!
Cookies and dessert in the café (bring your best to share!)
Hot cocoa, cider, and bonfires in the courtyard
Logos Bookstore open in the lobby
6:15pm: Carol-singing in the Worship Center
7:00pm: A Charlie Brown Christmas LIVE performance
We hope to see you there!