Rejoice!

Like most other people I have been tempted to slump into the general lowness of January 2009. Christmas is over and we are back at work, the weather is cold, and most of us are feeling poor. On the news is a nasty war in Gaza, and the economy is in such a state that the only argument is whether to call it a recession of “Armageddon.” Personal bad news seems to keep dripping like a diabolical water torture – a friend is sick, another friend’s father dies, a Christian friend is cruelly mistreated. What next?

But then I sit down to pray, and I remember that Christianity is a faith of outrageous hope, unfathomable peace and indomitable joy. Why? How? It is, of course, easy to rejoice on a warm summer day when the world is rejoicing and our troubles are few. What marked the early Christians out was their joy in the face of trials far worse than our trifling woes.

A brief survey of the gospels reveals some of the causes of true joy.

Seeing Jesus. Old Testament saints rejoiced at the prospect of seeing the arrival of Jesus (John 8:54). The announcement of king Jesus’ birth to the shepherds was “good news of great joy” (Luke 2:10). Simply being led to Jesus gave the magi great joy (Matthew 2:10). John the Baptist leapt for joy at Jesus in his mother’s womb (Luke 1:44) and that joy was completed in adulthood (John 3:29). Crowds rejoiced as he entered Jerusalem (Luke 19:37).
The kingdom. The “message of the kingdom” gives joy (Matthew 13:20), whilst discovering “the kingdom” is enough to make people abandon everything else “for joy” (Matthew 13:44). The joy of knowing that our names are written in heaven is greater than any triumph in this world (Luke 10:17-20), whilst the prospect of reward in heaven should make us leap for joy despite persecution (Luke 6:23).
God’s grace. Mary rejoiced that God should use a humble person like herself to be the mother of Jesus (Luke 1:47). Jesus rejoiced that God revealed his truth to little children and hid them from the wise and learned (Luke 10:21). Jesus told parables of a shepherd joyfully bringing home one sheep, a woman joyfully finding one coin, and father joyfully welcome one lost son (Luke 15:1-31) to show us God’s joy in lavishing grace upon us, and to invite us to share it.
The resurrection. The news of the Jesus’ resurrection filled the disciples with joy (Matthew 28:8, John 20:20). For a while they could not believe it “for joy and amazement” (Luke 24:41), but when it is embraced joy in the resurrection cannot be taken away (John 16:22).
Obedience. Jesus’ commands are given so that we may have complete joy (John 15:11). Particularly the obedience of prayer, brings joy (John 16:24)

Just rehearsing these truths makes a spark glow a little more brightly in my heart. But there is a deep hunger too. I am starving for a joy which is undaunted by all the powers of hell and death. I am embarrassed and disappointed that my joy is so fragile and ephemeral. How can I escape the inexorable progression from angry young man, via cynical middle aged man, to grumpy old man?

This morning the gospels have given me four things to meditate on and one thing to do. I need to see Jesus again, I need to understand how belonging to his kingdom is more precious than anything else, I need to delight in God’s joyful grace for people like me, and I need to see how the resurrection of Jesus seals it all as a solid certain hope. And then I need to obey, especially in the discipline of prayer.

“Heavenly Father I long to be like those early disciples. Today I commit to doing my bit, but I need your Spirit to give me this joy which triumphs over all adversity in 2009”

And here is my prayer for you. A prayer which has been answered millions of times, in millions of lives, and this morning I am praying it for you:

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13)