He Counted the Cost and Paid It All

In 1999, Joy Vernon, a Texas schoolteacher, vacationed in the Colorado mountains with her parents, her husband, and their three young children. They had such a great time, they planned to return at Christmas. Before leaving, the ladies and children met Joy’s husband and father at a cabin to sign papers for a rental home.

Thinking they’d just be a few minutes, Joy left the SUV running and forgot to shut the doors. As everyone headed back to their vehicles, the children ran ahead and hopped in the car.

Without warning, the SUV slipped out of gear and began rolling toward a cliff. The adults raced toward it. Instinctively, Joy ran in front of the vehicle and tried to stop it with her hands.

Instead, she fell backward, and the car ran over her. The third time it hit her, Joy knew her back was broken. Her body slowed the vehicle enough for her father to dive inside and activate the brake, saving the children.

Joy miraculously survived but was hospitalized for five months and in rehab another two. After she went home, she kept showing her children how much she loved them by striving to make their lives as normal as possible.

It’s no wonder Joy remained their hero into adulthood. While a student at Harvard, her older daughter Chloe gave a speech about their journey and described how her mom taught them to find joy and humor in life. She recalled her mom telling them the childhood game about not stepping “on a [sidewalk] crack or you’ll break your mother’s back,” no longer applied to them.

Reading Joy’s breathtaking story, I realized it was a blessing she didn’t know how her heroic act on that fateful day would change her life forever.

In contrast, Jesus knew what His sacrifice would cost. He knew He’d be mocked, whipped nearly to death, disfigured from beatings, and agonizingly crucified. As He took on our sins, He’d be separated from His Father. The depth of love that chose the cross is unfathomable.

But Hebrews 12:2 is even more miraculous: “For the joy set before him he endured the cross…” (NIV) He endured unimaginable torment hour after hour even though He could have escaped at any point.

What was the future “joy” that kept Him there? The joy of living with us forever. He loves us that much.