1 John 1:1-4
The Incarnation of the Word of Life
1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 2 The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. 3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4 We write this to make our joy complete.
John 15:1-17
The Vine and Branches
1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other.
John 16:19-24
Complete Joy
19 Jesus saw that they wanted to ask him about this, so he said to them, “Are you asking one another what I meant when I said, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me’?20 Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. 21 A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. 22 So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. 23 In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 24 Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.
Imagine having Complete Joy in your life...The Disciple John writes about complete joy in His epistle and he writes about Jesus talking about Complete Joy is his gospel...In John's Epistle he writes and says, that which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life...The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us...We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us...And our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ...We write this to make our joy complete...
So one of the reasons John wrote his first Epistle is to make our Joy Complete...
Then Jesus mentions Complete Joy in John's Gospel, when He talks about the vines and the branches...Jesus says, "As the Father has loved Me, so have I LOVED you...Now remain in My LOVE...If you keep My commands, you will remain in My LOVE, just as I have kept My Father’s commands and remain in His love...I have told you this so that My joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete...My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you...Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends...You are My friends if you do what I command...I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know His Master’s business...Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from My Father I have made known to you...You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in My name the Father will give you...This is My command: Love each other."...
Then again Jesus mentions Complete Joy...Jesus was talking about His upcoming death and His Disciples would grieve...Jesus told them, "Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices....You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy...A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world...So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy...In that day you will no longer ask Me anything...Very truly I tell you, My Father will give you whatever you ask in My Name...Until now you have not asked for anything in My Name...Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete."...
Complete Joy relates to Jesus...Complete Joy is about believing in Him, having faith in Him, and loving Him...Complete Joy is about a relationship with Jesus...