“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.” — Hebrews 12:2
There are some verses in Scripture that feel too deep for words—truths so vast that they seem to stretch from eternity past to eternity future. Hebrews 12:2 is certainly one of them.
Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith, chose the path of suffering. He embraced the pain. He submitted to the cross. But why? The writer to the Hebrews tells us: “for the joy that was set before him.”
What kind of joy could be so compelling that the Son of God would willingly endure Roman lashes, a crown of thorns, and the wrath of God poured out for the sins of the world?
It was the joy of redeeming us.
It was the joy of reuniting us to the Father.
It was the joy of restoring a broken world.
It was the joy of relationship with us.
And this brings us to a beloved timeless hymn: “What a Friend We Have in Jesus.”
He Endured, So We Could Be Embraced
Friendship with Jesus isn’t a cheap sentiment—it was purchased at infinite cost (His Blood). The One who calls us “friends” (John 15:15) is the same One who endured the cruelest death imaginable, not because He had to, but because He wanted us. This wasn’t mere duty—it was delight.
On the cross, Jesus wasn’t just accomplishing a mission. He was preparing a place for us—in His heart, in His kingdom, in His eternal joy.
A Friend Who Knows Suffering
Many friends may walk with us when the road is easy, but only a true friend walks with us through the valley. Jesus walked the darkest valley before we ever did. He knows grief, betrayal, abandonment, injustice, and pain.
So when we carry our burdens to Him in prayer, we’re not speaking to someone who merely listens—we’re speaking to Someone who understands.
“What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer.”
The old hymn captures it beautifully. In Jesus, we have more than a Savior—we have a friend who is near, tender-hearted, powerful, and present.
The Joy That Sustains Us
If Jesus could endure the cross for the joy set before Him, we too can endure trials for the joy set before us. His joy becomes our strength (Nehemiah 8:10). His victory becomes our hope. His friendship becomes our anchor.
Even when the path is painful, we can press on—looking unto Jesus—because He has already gone before us. He’s not just waiting for us at the finish line. He’s walking with us every step of the way.
Joy, Endurance, and Friendship
Let us not take lightly the love of our crucified and risen Friend. His joy was not in escaping suffering, but in embracing it for our sake. He endured the cross, despised the shame, and now sits enthroned—offering us mercy, grace, and friendship.
What a Savior. What a Redeemer.
What a Friend we have in Jesus.
