Jesus’ Hope of Glory

IN PROPHECY Jesus said, “I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”—Ps. 16:8-11

Here is an expression of Jesus’ full confidence in his Heavenly Father in whom he had put his complete trust. Jesus knew that his devotion to his Heavenly Father would lead him in the path of self-sacrifice, even unto death; but from this prophecy it is clear also that Jesus had confidence that his Father would restore him to life in the resurrection, and exalt him to his own right hand where there are pleasures forevermore.

There can be no mistake about this application of the prophecy, because in the New Testament the Apostle Paul quotes from it and applies it to Jesus. In an admonition to us Paul wrote, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”—Heb. 12:2

Jesus had said, “Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; … thou wilt show me the path of life,” and for Jesus that “path of life” led right to the presence of his Heavenly Father, where he knew there was fullness of joy. This is the joy which, as Paul observed, was set before Jesus, and it was this joy set before Jesus that enabled him to endure the cross and despise the shame which he experienced in giving his life as the Redeemer and Savior of the world.

Jesus said that at the end of the path of life which the Heavenly Father would unfold to him there would be “fullness of joy,” and a position at the right hand of God. Paul confirms this, explaining that it was this joy set before Jesus that enabled him to endure the cross, and that Jesus’ path of life led to “the right hand of the throne of God.” Thus again we have an outstanding example of the manner in which the New Testament interprets the Old Testament.

One of the joys of being at the right hand of God is that which results from participating in the great work of restoring the world of mankind to life. It was Jesus’ faithfulness even unto death as the world’s Redeemer that made him worthy of this great joy of being at the right hand of God and sharing in this work. The prophet wrote, “It pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.”—Isa. 53:10

The “pleasure of the Lord” here referred to is undoubtedly the great joy of seeing the human race redeemed and restored to its lost inheritance. The prospect of restitution for the human race was such a pleasure to the Creator that he caused all his holy prophets to write about it; and it is this “pleasure,” this “joy,” which will prosper in the hands of the One who gave his life to prepare the way for this great blessing which the Heavenly Father has planned for his human creatures.

Isaiah continues, “He shall see the travail of his soul and shall be satisfied.” (Isa. 53:11) In the preceding verse we read concerning Jesus that he “shall see his seed.” Much “travail” was involved on the part of Jesus in order to be worthy to produce the “seed” here referred to; that is, the restored human race. But when this work is complete he shall “see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied.” And this great satisfaction, this great joy, will be his because of being at the right hand of God where there are pleasures forevermore.

The Heavenly Father promised Jesus, “I will divide him a portion with the great.” (Isa. 53:12) The “great” referred to here is none other than our great and loving Heavenly Father. He gave Jesus a portion with himself, at his own right hand of authority and power. And the prophet explains that Jesus would divide this “spoil” or reward with the strong. (Isa. 53:12) Here is one of God’s precious promises to the true followers of Jesus—a promise that they will share Jesus’ future glory with him, and, of course, this includes the work of blessing all the families of the earth.

Jesus himself sums up this thought for us, saying, “To him that overcometh [the “strong”] will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.” May this great joy that is set before us enable us, as it did Jesus, to endure the cross and despise the shame, and through it all to be faithful, even unto death.

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