Download Luke 10:21-24 JOYFUL PRAISE Can you imagine

Luke 10:21-24
JOYFUL PRAISE
Can you imagine Jesus laughing? Can you see a big smile on his face and hear his catchy laughter?
Jesus never had his photo taken, so we don’t know exactly what he looked like, but a laughing Jesus
might not be the most common impression we have of the Lord. Rather we tend to see images of
him with a sad or fearful look in his face, and with tears running down his cheeks.
Jesus of course, had a very difficult time in his public ministry; because people did not accept him
really. So he probably felt very much alone and rejected most of the time. His best and closest
friend was his Father in heaven. So Jesus spent much time with him.
That could only happen in prayer. The two of them had some important things to share, some great
plans to work through. This was serious; and not a laughing matter. However, in our text this
morning we catch Jesus in one of those essential prayer moments. And, maybe surprisingly, Luke
tells us that Jesus was full of joy through The Holy Spirit.
Jesus was happy; and I do believe it could be seen, because real joy cannot be hidden.
One can tell for instance, by watching people being on the phone, whether their conversation is a
joyful or difficult one. Well, Jesus had no mobile phone, but he was online with his Father in heaven
all the same, because Christian prayer makes instant and constant connection between heaven and
earth. What a marvellous medium is that! Internet access to the throne of God all the time! No
wonder Jesus utilised prayer both in public and private! People could tell.
And, yes; I can imagine Jesus smiling and laughing when speaking to God.
What may worship look like?
What do we look like when speaking to God? What is our body language like?
In church during prayers we are sometimes asked to bow our heads, close our eyes, and it also
means shut our mouths and be quiet, except from the person who is leading prayers on behalf of us
all. Then; after the concluding “Amen” others in the congregation might express their corporate
“Amen” as well.
As a child I did not close my eyes in prayer, to be honest, but was rather watching those who did.
Once I made a drawing of the people sat on the platform. All kinds of details went into the picture,
although out of proportions as they will be in children’s art.
My mother asked me to explain that drawing to her; to tell who the people were and so on. One of
the ladies was stood in an upright position, so she was obviously leading prayers. But she was
definitely not bowing her head; rather it was lifted as if turned to someone above her. Her eyes were
not closed at all, but wide open! How her mouth had been portrayed in the picture, I cannot tell, but
I still remember her gentle voice when speaking confidently to God. Her way of praying was
different, and I wanted to see what she saw.
Maybe someone would like to go home this afternoon and make a drawing of our worshipping
community; as seen and interpreted, either from the balcony or the platform. I wonder what that
might be like! It might be helpful to know! Do we look miserable and bored, or attentive and
excited? We certainly all have images in our minds that reflect how people worshipping God may
appear.
On the occasion that Luke refers to in his text, we get the impression that
Jesus was a really excited worshipper before God. His prayer must have
been audible to others, and perhaps even expressed with a loud voice.
Perhaps he was singing; who knows? His joy in the Spirit may have
“bubbled” in his heart and shone on his face for people to see and attract.
His life with God was genuine and transparent. Perhaps Jesus looked
something like this:
Sharing in His joy.
I don’t know about you, but when I see a group of people smiling and laughing, I would like to be
part of it. It attracts me somehow. Laughter is supposed to make us feel happier, isn’t it?
However, we should not confuse laughter and joy, because they are different. Superficial laughter
can easily be created, while real joy comes from the heart and lives within us. Joy, real joy, is what
we are longing for. Jesus had it; so Luke’s text tells clearly, and Jesus invites us all, I believe, to share
his joy in the Spirit.
Our two readings from Luke 10 this morning have both some strong elements of joy in them. The
first passage speaks about 72 messengers returning joyfully from their successful mission, and the
second is as already mentioned, about Jesus praising God full of joy.
Joy for the sake of it might be a good thing, but its reasons are of significance as well. Most of us will
know what it feels like to win in a competition or achieve praise and reward after hard work.
Maybe that feeling of joy was what the 72 messengers experienced. They had made it; that very first
expedition for Jesus to their own villages and towns had gone so well, that even evil spirits had
obeyed their command to leave people and places in the name of Jesus. A little army of ordinary
people, even oppressed people, had proven to be in power for good and for God.
What a reason for joy! I would like to sense a similar joy of seeing changes taking place through our
mission too. Wouldn’t you?
Jesus knew that mission in his name would not always be a joyful event. His followers would be
facing difficult times; and not be able to see immediate or exact results. Only the Lord could see the
whole picture of what had been achieved for the Kingdom of God.
Therefore the best reason for joy would not be their success for Jesus; but rather knowing Jesus;
knowing him and his presence by faith and not by sight.
The joy Jesus wanted to share with his 72 messengers was not based on the ups and downs of this
world, but on the future glory in heaven. He said to them: “Rejoice that your names are written in
heaven”. That focus would actually increase their present joy.
In our text Jesus is on his way to the cross, which certainly was not going to be a very pleasant or
joyful event, to say the least of it! Luke tells about that as well. In chapter 22 we find Jesus
expressing his prayers to God when distressed and terribly frightened of all what the cross would
mean (Luke 22:41-44).
Jesus knows what very soon is going to happen; it will not take him by surprise. Rather our text
leaves us with the impression that Jesus, when rejoicing in the Spirit is looking higher up, beyond the
present situation and to his Father in heaven, who is his everlasting source of joy. Jesus is offering
joyful praise as if already knowing for sure the glorious end result of his earthly mission. He probably
can imagine the day God’s kingdom will be revealed on earth as it is in heaven.
What would our reasons be for worshipping God joyfully? In our time of prayer this morning we
have been using coloured balls to symbolize our joyful praises to God, for what we can see and what
is still to be uncovered. Let me repeat our corporate expressed praises:
Green balls:
”God, we praise you for the wonderful earth you have created for us to live on.”
Blue balls:
“God, we praise you, because you are holy. – Holy, holy, holy is our God.”
Red balls:
“God, we praise you for Jesus Christ who gave his life in love for the world.”
Yellow balls: “God, we praise you for The Holy Spirit who inspires our hearts from above.”
Now I would like to add to the collection of balls a silver-coloured one that may help us think of the
future in heaven for which we are all called. And I want to use these words before God just now:
“God, we praise you that heaven is real.”
Let us say them together, shall we? “God, we praise you that heaven is real.”
So I now bring the silver coloured ball to the altar where the big basket of balls representing our
praises has been placed.
“Blessed are the eyes that see what you see.”
This morning I would like to suggest to you that prayer and praise to God indeed can be joyful
experiences. Prayer is not always about being quiet and thoughtful and grave. It certainly can be, but
to come before God can also become an experience of real joy.
When in two weeks we start a week of prayer in the Corps we anticipate some fresh outbursts of
praises to take place.
Not everybody has discovered the joy of praying. They may not see the point in praying when
everything is fine, so they pray only when they feel they have to. Therefore they may not be in a
mood of joy when seeking God to start with. And because they do not pray that often, they may feel
God as being far away and difficult to approach. They do pray sincerely, but without an experience
of genuine hope and trust in God’s love, so they miss the joy of being in the Father’s presence as his
beloved child.
Others may love to come before God in praise, and do so nearly all the time. Their hearts are turned
open to God in childlike trust all the time, ready to receive his guidance in all they do. Equally they
may be prepared to give God honour and praise always, because they have seen glimpses of God’s
glory through praise.
In our congregation we pray two or three times during one meeting. We believe that is right and
good, even if it does not always mean everybody engages in it. Whether we feel like it or not, we are
God’s children who are gathered to worship him.
Those who worship the Lord, increase their joy. A service might not be all we would want it to be all
the time and religious prayers may seem to be boring sometimes. But worship in spirit and truth is
definitely not, because it involves the whole person; body, soul and spirit.
We know what people look and sound like when engaged and excited; imagine spectators of a
football match or the audience at a show. Without even taking part on the ground or the stage,
they are drawn to what happens out or up there, and responding to it with shouts and laughter, with
waving of banners and standing applause, like a worshipping crowd. It is all about what they see, and
about responding to it.
In our text Jesus says: “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see”. So what is it?
It is Jesus and all he stands for. His messengers only knew what they had seen and heard of Jesus so
far. They didn’t know what would be, except they had begun to know him who will take the lead of
the future. And Jesus emphasized that privilege by telling them a secret: “Many prophets and kings
wanted to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.”
In the past important people as spiritual leaders and rulers of the land might have been waiting for
Christ to come. Their spiritual eyes had been blessed; - good for them; - but what they were waiting
and looking for, never happened in their lifetime. They only imagined by faith.
When it actually happened that Jesus was born, it meant “good news of great joy that will be for all
the people” (Luke 2:10). God had come close to his people; they could see and hear him and come to
know him if they wanted. Some yet did not want to be with Jesus. However the possibility was there
because God had made himself known in the person of Jesus.
In his joyful praise Jesus was uncovering some of God’s secrets for others to hear and share. His 72
messengers might have discovered that the best time is actually now and the best place is here. By
knowing Jesus they had been involved in God’s surprising and exciting news for the world. In his
name, by and by, the kingdom of God would be coming and growing against all odds.
The big clue was actually Jesus himself, because he was, and still is God’s open secret.
No wonder he might have been smiling and laughing. I imagine he could not wait to share what he
was seeing.
May that be true about our worship as well! Let us come close to God often in joyful praise, and
thereby open our own spiritual eyes and those of others looking to us!