Introduction:

Although the theme of "joy" and "rejoicing" may not seem as prominent in John's Gospel as it is in Luke's Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles, it is surprisingly central in some key Johannine passages. In fact, it occurs in the chiastic center of some of the most important texts of John: the Last Supper Discourse (15:11) and the great Prayer of Jesus (17:13).

Vocabulary:

Note: The verb chairō is used in the form chaire (sg.) or chairete (pl.), meaning "Hail!" or "Greetings" six times in the Gospels (Matt 26:49; 27:29; 28:9; Mark 15:18; Luke 1:28; and John 19:13).

Texts from the Fourth Gospel:

• John 3:29 [John the Baptizer, speaking about Jesus] – “He who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, REJOICES greatly (χαρα χαιρει) at the bridegroom's voice. For this reason my JOY (χαρα) has been fulfilled”.
• John 4:36 [Jesus, speaking to his disciples] – “The reaper is already receiving wages and is gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may REJOICE (χαιρη) together.”
• John 5:35 [Jesus, speaking about John the Baptizer] – “He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to REJOICE (αγαλλιαθηναι) for a while in his light.”
• John 8:56 [Jesus, to the Jews] – “Your ancestor Abraham REJOICED (ηγαλλιασατο) that he would see my day; he saw it and was glad” (εχαρη).
• John 11:15 [Jesus, to his brothers] – “For your sake I am GLAD (χαιρω) I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”
• John 13:17 [Jesus, to his disciples] – “If you know these things, you are blessed (μακαριοι) if you do them.”
• John 14:28 [Jesus, to his disciples] – “You heard me say to you, 'I am going away, and I am coming to you.' If you loved me, you would REJOICE (εχαρητε) that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I.”
• John 15:11 [Jesus, to his disciples] – “I have said these things to you so that my JOY (χαρα) may be in you, and that your JOY (χαρα) may be complete”.
• John 16:20-22 [Jesus, to his disciples] – “Very truly, I tell you, you will weep and mourn, but the world will REJOICE (χαρησεται); you will have pain, but your pain will turn into JOY (χαρα). / When a woman is in labor, she has pain, because her hour has come. But when her child is born, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the JOY (χαρα) of having brought a human being into the world. / So you have pain now; but I will see you again, and your hearts will REJOICE (χαιρησεται), and no one will take your JOY (χαρα) from you.”
• John 16:24 [Jesus, to his disciples] – “Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, so that your JOY (χαρα) may be complete”.
• John 17:13 [Jesus, praying to his Father] – “But now I am coming to you, and I speak these things in the world so that they may have my JOY (χαρα) made complete in themselves.”
• John 20:20 [Evangelist] – After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples REJOICED (εχαρησαν) when they saw the Lord.
• John 20:29 [Jesus, to Thomas] – “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed (μακαριοι) are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”

Texts from the Johannine Epistles:

• 1 John 1:4 – “We are writing these things so that our JOY (χαρα) may be complete.”
• 2 John 4 – “I was OVERJOYED (εχαρην λιαν) to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as we have been commanded by the Father.”
• 2 John 12 – “Although I have much to write to you, I would rather not use paper and ink; instead I hope to come to you and talk with you face to face, so that our JOY (χαρα) may be complete.”
• 3 John 3 – “I was OVERJOYED (εχαρην λιαν) when some of the friends arrived and testified to your faithfulness to the truth, namely how you walk in the truth.”
• 3 John 4 – “I have no greater JOY (χαρα) than this, to hear that my children are walking in the truth.”

Return to the Introductory Materials for the Fourth Gospel

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