Jesus intended us to experience a life of inexhaustible joy. The noun translated "joy" (χαρα) was used 7 times in the upper room that night before the cross (Jn. 15:11 (2x), 16:20,21,22,24, 17:13) but had been used only once in John's gospel prior to that night (cf. Jn. 3:29, Morris, John, p. 674). Jesus intends His teaching to produce joy in our hearts. The byproduct of abiding in Jesus is inexhaustible joy.
"These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full" (Jn. 15:11). "These things" (ταυτα) looks back to the previous instruction about abiding in Jesus' love by obeying His commands (Jn. 15:10). Jesus emphasizes an inseparable connection between love and obedience throughout His teaching in the upper room. There is a double purpose for abiding in Jesus: 1) that My joy may be in you, and that 2) your joy may be made full.
"My joy" (η χαρα η εμη) is Jesus' own joy not the joy produced by Jesus (Meyer, John, p. 434). The Son and the Father experienced an inexhaustible joy in their love for one another from eternity past. God was not a lonely God before creation. He was complete in His own happiness. Jesus' joy stood on the twin pillars of eternally abiding in the Father's love and always obeying the Father's commands (Jn. 15:10). The obedience of a slave produces duty, but the obedience of love produces joy so Jesus' joy is the product of His loving obedience. The happiness Jesus enjoyed with the Father is the happiness He wants us to enjoy with Him. We will experience the same joy He experiences with the Father by abiding in His love through obedience to His commands.
Our joy is filled up to its fullest extent when we commune with God in prayer (Jn. 16:24). The word translated "made full" (πληρωθη) means to be filled up or to be completed (BAGD, p. 671). Jesus asks His Father "that they (us) may have My joy made full in themselves" (Jn. 17:13). The pronoun is plural and reciprocal (εν εαυτοις). Joy is relational, communal and reciprocal. Joy is not found in isolation. Our joy is filled up as we experience our love with Jesus and with each other.
The tri-unity of God is a community of infinite love and inexhaustible joy. Our friendship with each other is grounded in our friendship with God - Father, Son and Spirit. Our joy is made complete as we experience the dual community of God and church (1 Jn. 1:3-4). We will not find true happiness in isolation. Our greatest happiness is relational happiness because we were made to enjoy God in the people of God united as one in Jesus.
O, Lord, my lack of inexhaustible joy stems directly from my lack of love for you and your people. Open my heart to your joy by opening my heart to your love.
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