Originally posted: 09/19/2019
At that very time He rejoiced greatly… (10:21).
I don’t know why I found it so stunning to read of Jesus rejoicing, and Rejoicing Greatly at that. I guess I tend to think of His life on earth as so rigorous, so exacting, forever confronted by the skeptics trying to disprove Him. I think of His sorrow as He encountered His people rejecting Him, held in bondage by blinding sin. I think of His burden in the midst of sickness and oppression.
And suddenly a ray of joy bursts forth, a bright light shining in the midst of the dismal darkness; and we see Him Who Rejoiced Greatly.
Consider Him Who Rejoiced Greatly
The seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.” 18 And He said to them, “I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning. 19 Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you. 20 Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven,” (10:17-20).
At that very time He rejoiced greatly… (10:21).
What precipitated such rejoicing within our perfect, sinless Savior? His joy was not about the authority He would give, the great works His followers would do in His Name, or the fact He would render them impervious to the attacks of the enemy. He Rejoiced Greatly because their names are recorded in heaven.
Stunning. At that very time… The Greek language indicates “at this exact point in time.” Exactly at this point in time, while Jesus was reminding His followers of their eternal destiny, He Rejoiced Greatly.
At that very time He rejoiced greatly in the Holy Spirit, and said, “I praise You, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants. Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight. 22 All things have been handed over to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him,” (10:21-22).
He Rejoiced Greatly in the Holy Spirit.
He Rejoiced Greatly with praise to His Father.
He Rejoiced Greatly at the childlike faith that pleased His Father.
He Rejoiced Greatly in His authority to reveal His Father.
How do we respond to Him Who Rejoiced Greatly?
- True joy is found in our eternal security in Christ, the joy He imparts by His Holy Spirit when we yield our lives to Him in faith and our names our recorded in heaven. Let us also Rejoice Greatly in the Holy Spirit.
- …and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls, (1 Peter 1:8-9).
- How can we not be filled with joy as we consider our Father in heaven and the incomparable blessings He has bestowed?
- Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow, (James 1:17).
- May we also Rejoice Greatly each and every day with Praise to our Father for His very good gifts.
- Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, (Ephesians 1:3).
- Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort… (2 Corinthians 1:3).
- Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, (1 Peter 1:3).
- A child never questions her father’s ability or faithfulness; she simply believes. It is the faith of a child that pleases the Father. Let us also Rejoice Greatly as His children of grace, desiring to please our Father in humility and faith, believing He is able and faithful.
- And He called a child to Himself and set him before them, 3 and said, “Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven,” (Matthew 18:3-4).
- And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him, (Hebrews 11:6).
- By His authority, we have been empowered to break forth as a bright light to represent our Father to a world so desperate and dark. Let us also Rejoice Greatly in His authority and power, that our lives would reveal and glorify our Father in heaven.
- “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; 15 nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven,” (Matthew 5:14-16).