THE JOY OF DEATH 
The Bible instructs us about the appropriate attitude for those who willingly and intentionally expose themselves to persecution and death at the hands of the enemy: religion. The joy that Moses, Abraham, Jesus and other warriors knew was not based on any personal benefit. These heroes of faith already possessed their rewards because they were delivered from the sin of religion. Therefore, their joy was based on seeing others delivered from religion as a result of their efforts to set religious captives free.

STUDY TIP: See this link for scriptures about setting people free from religion.

This attitude is the attitude that all New Covenant disciples experience. And it all happens because they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death, but, like Jesus, they willingly laid down their lives for their friends who are still in bondage to religion so that they might have eternal life that is only available by hearing God’s spoken word.

The joy of suffering persecution (i.e. second death) from religious people is best represented in this scripture:

Hebrews 12:1-2: Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

COMMENTARY: The cloud of witnesses is people who are watching how New Covenant disciples conduct their ministries. 

The model of perfect, unhindered, unentangled ministry is exemplified in the example of Jesus.

STUDY TIP: See this link for a detailed outline of Jesus’ ministry.

Pride and fear of death at the hands of religious people is what hinders people from engaging in Jesus-like ministry. Jesus did not allow the fear of death at the hands of religious leaders to dissuade him.

The enticing sin of religion entangles us when we allow fear of death to dissuade us from our ministry and causes us to return to the comfortable place of religion instead of engaging in the lonely, painful place of serving God.

Jesus’ joy was the knowledge that people would be saved from religion if he was faithful to his ministry. It was the anticipation of this deliverance  that motivated him to endure spiritual suffering and death perpetrated by religious leaders.

STUDY TIP: See this link for more understanding of joy.