Supreme Service of Christ

I'm currently reading a book by Neal A. Maxwell called "All These Things Shall Give Thee Experience". I highly recommend it! He is so articulate and powerful. It almost seems irreverent to make an attempt at expounding upon his already compelling words, but I will do my best. He said:

"Jesus did not find pleasure in hanging on the cross; joy came after duty and agony.He went to Gethsemane and Golgotha out of a sense of supreme service, not because it would meet his needs. He fulfilled all things by giving all in that remarkable and special act of service. He descended below all - taking more than all of us put together have taken - before being lifted up.
"But selfish people are forever taking their own temperature , asking themselves, "Am I happy?""

As I have pondered upon that thought for a few days, I have been deeply moved by the "supreme service" of Christ. None of what he remarkably did was for him! It never was, even from the beginning. He, being the only One without stain is the only One who suffered ultimate agony in an act of ultimate love and service. And although this was done in divine love, Christ still "did not find pleasure in hanging on the cross", indeed, His "joy came after duty and agony." To me that is a marvelous insight!

How often am I "checking my own temperature"? How often am I concentrating on my own happiness? I believe I'm learning that much of the joy I seek now will actually come "after duty" and even after some "agony". When those times of agony do come I hope to have the faith to say: "nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done." (Luke 22:42)