His transition was painful. “The Word (God the Son) became flesh.” He left the place of life and came to where death was reigning. Hebrews 12:2 says that Jesus, “for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross.” The ‘for’ in this verse is the Greek word ‘anti.’ This word means instead. We identify with this word every day when we get dressed and apply antiperspirant because instead of perspiring we want to be dry. Or if you suffer from athletes foot perhaps you regularly apply antifungal cream because ‘instead’ of fungus you want feet that are blemish free. With this in mind, we can understand that Jesus, “instead of the joy that was set before Him, He endured the cross.”
What joy did Jesus refuse in order to endure the cross? It was the joy of glory where He continually enjoyed the worship of the angels. The picture painted by the writer of Hebrews is that of a wealthy businessman losing his fortune and being forced to move to the projects. Jesus left glory for gloom, diadems for despair. And He did so because of love for you and me.
During Jesus’ ministry here on earth He was often found in the places where suffering, sin and sorrow were at their highest. “and dwelt among us.” The word ‘dwelt’ can also be translated ‘tabernacle.’ Jesus pitched His tent among us, a troubled people. Jesus came to touch the untouchable, reach the unreachable and love the unlovable. He came to reveal God’s salvation and holiness to us apart from our effort. He came to reveal what had been known, ‘before the ages began,’ that by God’s grace and purpose we are saved to life and immortality through the gospel (2 Timothy 1:8-10).
