Spurgeon Morning and Evening March 24 PM

Biblical Context

The Gospel of Luke tells us about Jesus’ life, teachings, death, and resurrection. Luke, a doctor and companion of the Apostle Paul, wrote this account to give a clear, orderly story of Christ, drawing on eyewitness accounts. He often paid special attention to Jesus’ humanity, His concern for the poor and marginalized, and the role of the Holy Spirit. This verse, Luke 10:21, happens after Jesus has sent out seventy-two disciples. They come back full of joy because even the demons listen to them in Jesus’ name. It’s a moment of great success in their mission, and it’s in this setting that Jesus Himself feels a rush of deep, spiritual joy. He then gives thanks to His Father for hiding these things from the wise and smart and showing them to little children, which speaks to a special kind of humble faith.

Key Word Study

Let’s look at the word “rejoiced” in our main verse, Luke 10:21. The Greek word used here is ἀγαλλιάω (agalliaō). This isn’t just a simple happiness; it means to exult, to jump for joy, to be exceedingly glad, or to celebrate with great delight. It describes a deep, overflowing joy that often shows itself with outward expressions of gladness. It’s a joy that comes from within, a spiritual excitement that bubbles up, far beyond just feeling ‘good’. This word tells us that Jesus wasn’t just mildly pleased; He felt a powerful, exultant joy deep in His spirit at that moment.

The Saviour’s Deep, Heavenly Joy

You know, Jesus was often called “a man of sorrows.” People saw His pain, His burdens, the way He carried the weight of the world. But if you look deeper, you find something else about Him. Down deep in His innermost soul, He held a never-ending supply of pure, heavenly joy. It wasn’t just a fleeting feeling; it was a constant wellspring within Him.

Think about everyone who has ever lived. Of all human beings, there was never a man who had a deeper, purer, or more lasting peace than our Lord Jesus Christ. It’s said about Him, “He was anointed with the oil of gladness above His fellows.” This means He had a special kind of joy that went beyond anyone else’s experience. His big, kind heart, His vast goodness, must have given Him the deepest happiness, because being kind and good to others really is joy itself.

Moments When Joy Shined Through

There were a few times, remarkable times, when this deep joy of Jesus really showed itself plainly. Our verse for today tells us: “At that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth.” It wasn’t always obvious, but sometimes that inner joy burst out.

Even when it was a hard time for Him, like night, Christ had His songs. His face might have been marked by suffering, and His looks might have lost the bright glow of earthly happiness. Yet, sometimes, His face would light up with a matchless beauty, a grand display of total satisfaction. This happened when He thought about the reward that was coming. And we’re told He sang His praise to God “in the midst of the congregation.” Imagine that – Jesus, finding such deep satisfaction and singing in the assembly of believers.

The Church’s Shared Journey with Christ

In all this, the Lord Jesus gives us a beautiful picture of His church here on earth. We, as the church, expect to walk with our Lord on a hard, thorny path. We know we’ll go “through much tribulation” as we push our way towards the crown waiting for us.

Our job is to carry the cross. It’s our lot to be looked down on and treated like strangers by the very people who should be our family. And yet, even with all that, the church has a deep well of joy. It’s a joy that no one outside of God’s children can drink from or truly understand.

There are rich stores of wine, and oil, and corn hidden right in the middle of our Jerusalem, our spiritual home. These are the things that keep God’s saints going strong and nourished all the time. And sometimes, just like with our Saviour, we have our own moments of very strong happiness. It’s true what the Bible says: “There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of our God.”

We might feel like we’re far from home, like exiles in this world. But we still rejoice in our King! Yes, in Him, we rejoice greatly. And in His powerful name, we set up our banners, showing everyone whose side we’re on.