This is not a comprehensive or even a broad meditation. It couldn’t be, since I try to limit these blog posts to 500 words or less. I don’t know who it was who said it, but it seems completely on point when I think of the long history of mankind. 

“Before Christ came, no man ever dreamt of ‘Rejoicing Always.'”

Life before the advent of Christ, was brutal and hard everywhere. Everywhere. In China, it was brutal and hard. In India, it was brutal and hard. In the Roman Empire, it was brutal and hard. In ancient Greece, it was brutal and hard. There was no place on earth where the concept of ‘rejoicing always’ was a ready or current thought. But after Christ, after the resurrection, BECAUSE of the resurrection, because of the promises and hopes of the gospel the world was slowly introduced to a radical joy. 

The experience of joy was released from the shackles of a harsh daily fight for life and livelihood, by the death-conquering message of the gospel. Paul writes from a prison cell to small group of believers who also might have a prison cell in their future and tells them to “rejoice always” (Philippians 4:4) And this wasn’t a one time event. A decade before, planting the church in Philippi, had cost Paul  another trip to prison, and a beating with rods, and a stripping of his clothing and a night time escape (Acts 16:22-40). Still, he wrote these often misunderstood words,  

¹⁰ But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned before, but you lacked opportunity. ¹¹ Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. ¹² I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. ¹³ I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. 

These words are not about rejoicing when circumstances are favorable. They are not about rejoicing because somehow you have obtained great strength to overcome obstacles. Paul is encouraging rejoicing always among the faithful because no matter what our circumstances, he has discovered the truth that redemption is nigh. He is urging joy because Jesus is enough. 

---

“Jesus is Enough!”

---

Today, I learned of a mother and father bereft of a son. Their pain streamed from my eyes and yet even this, greatest of sorrows, was mediated by the hope of the gospel. Because even in a sin-soaked, grief-burdened, and often harsh world, gospel joy and hope coupled with Jesus, is enough. Remember that the rejoicing of Christmas is increased by the resurrection and leads to a never ending joy even the midst of our sorrows.