Rejoicing.
There are a number of religious terms that have always confounded me. “Rejoicing” is one of them. What does “rejoicing” really mean? The concept of “rejoicing” has always only been on the periphery of my faith - somewhat understood but never fully explored. How do I unmask its “churchiness” and understand it as an applicable reality for my own life?
In our current series, we are looking at specific ways followers of Jesus were transformed and propelled forward by the risen Jesus in the early days of the Christian Church. We are learning from their example how we can be the Church today. This weekend, we’re focusing on Acts 5:40-42 and exploring what it means to rejoice. This is not an easy study. In just three verses, we see a huge contradiction: the apostles’ reaction - rejoicing - doesn’t seem to add up to their current circumstance.
40 His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
The context is fairly simple. The apostles were speaking about Jesus and arrested for it. The arresting officers wanted to do something to the disciples to stop them from proclaiming the name of Jesus. Gamaliel, one of their chief teachers, advised them not to do anything extreme. (The group wanted them put to death.) They took his advice (v.40), flogged the disciples, then let them go free. The flogging could’ve been as serious as 39 lashes, severing the flesh on their backs and causing enormous pain. And yet,
41 The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. 42 Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.
I rejoice when my favorite team wins the Super Bowl or when my kids do well on a project, but not when I’ve suffered some kind of tragedy. What was it that caused the apostles - including Peter, the one who denied even knowing Jesus at his trial—to rejoice while still nursing their wounds given because of their connection to Jesus (the Name). Something had to have happened to them in order for them to celebrate at a time like this.
What happened was Pentecost. What we are experiencing in these focused verses from Acts 5 is an outward expression of an internal change that came over Peter and the apostles as the Holy Spirit descended on them.
The word “rejoice” (v.41) means to delight in God’s grace because you are experiencing his grace. Pentecost changed their outlook on life. It caused them to radically delight in the goodness of God.
What is that goodness? God had set them free - not just from the Sanhedrin’s prison, but from something much bigger. God had set them free from their sin, their guilt, their eternal death. Because the risen Jesus and the Holy Spirit opened their eyes to this greater reality, they were not worried about any beatings or imprisonment that this world could throw at them. They were living in the real, unending freedom which Christ had won for them (and us). All other attempts to physically restrain them were, in comparison to this newly discovered freedom, trivial earthly inconveniences.
And they now knew this in a way that was bigger than textbook information. They were experiencing this information, the grace of God, internally. Grace had come to them personally, not just in teaching or words, but in a strong confidence that would allow them peace though they were being tormented. So they were rejoicing.
God calls us to that same rejoicing, despite the difficulties, pain, and challenges of our current life. Despite the pain, adjustments, and isolation caused by COVID-19, we know this life is temporary—an earthly inconvenience—and heaven is the grace that has been eternally secured for us by Jesus. Sheltering-in-place can’t really lock us in. Jesus has set us free for all eternity. Even when death finds its way into our lives, our permanent life is in the presence of our Savior God; it is powerful and lasting.
How can I have the apostles’ same transformed focus? How can I face difficulties and pain with that same rejoicing? God has promised that when his sacraments are given, his Holy Spirit comes and his grace is given. God has promised that where two or three gather together in his name, there his Spirit is with them. When two or three or 10 Christians gather virtually to discuss the Word of God and ponder what it means, the Holy Spirit is going to dwell in them as a group and as individuals. When we gather for worship over livestream in Jesus’ name, he is with us. It’s through the Word and sacrament that the Holy Spirit transforms us also.
Blessings to you in Jesus’ powerful name.
Pastor Al