In
the Savior’s teachings, the wheat prevailed against
the tares, the tiny mustard seed grew, the yeast swelled
the whole loaf, and optimism abounded (Matthew 13:24-33).
The
Savior never doubted his purpose. The possibility
of failure never crossed his mind, despite odds that,
to mortal eyes, seemed overwhelming.
In
the Savior’s gospel, all things are stated in the
positive: what to do instead of what not
to do, with the overriding positive promise that
the sure way of avoiding evil is to be doing good.
The gospel is the most positive philosophy of all
time, and its author was (and is) the most positive
being of all time.
His
optimism never failed. In his parables we find that
the good always wins; in his stories we find the epitome
of "the happy ending;" in his life we find a sureness of purpose and an assurance
of ultimate success (even at moments so dark that
his chosen twelve had fled his side).
Who
but this world’s most positive and optimistic being
could love nature as he did? Who but the world’s
most positive person would love children as he did
(Mark 10:16)? Who but this kind of an optimist would
want his disciples (even as he awaited his crucifixion)
to have joy (John 15:11), and who would teach them
so well that those disciples never forgot? Even after
his death, his disciples took food with gladness (Acts
2:46); rejoiced when they suffered shame for his name
(Acts 5:41); sang and rejoiced in the jails of Rome
(Philippians 4:4, Acts 16:25); and taught that the
fruits of the spirit were love, joy, and peace (Galatians
5:22). When Paul dreamed of the departed Master,
he dreamed of him saying to the disciples, “Be of
good cheer” (Acts 23:11).
He
was the Bridegroom, the bringer of joy, the one who
told us to rejoice in the day of persecution for his
sake, to leap for joy (Luke 6:23); to look happy even
when we are fasting (Matthew 6:16-18); and to be exceedingly
glad (Matthew 5:12; also see Job 38:7; Psalms 30:5;
Isaiah 35:10; Matthew 13:20; 2 Corinthians 2:3; Hebrews
12:2; and 1 Peter 1:8).
Join
us next week as we think about the part that gratitude
played in the Savior’s joy.
