The disciples did great things, but Jesus did not rejoice because they managed to cast out evil spirits. He rejoiced because of the disciples’ and His connection with heaven. Muslims, Buddhists, Atheists, and Postmodernists often live productive lives. I have met people in each of those categories who I suspect were nicer than me. Being Christian isn’t about what you do, it is about who you know. The kind of intimate relationship that God desires with us leads to joy. You may know a lot. You may do a lot. Do you have a joy that is maintained in spite of circumstances?
Luke 10: 21-24; Matthew 13: 44-46
- In whom did Jesus rejoice?
- To whom are ‘these things’ revealed?
- What kind of eyes are blessed?
- What have you seen that would lead to joy?
- How do the cares of the world blind joyful vision?
Going Deeper
Observation
- At what time did Jesus rejoice?
- Why did the Father choose to reveal ‘these things’ to infants?
- Who knows the Son?
- Who knows the Father (two answers)?
- Who desired to see what the disciples saw?
Interpretation
- Jesus rejoiced at the same hour as what?
- What are the ‘things’ that are revealed to which Jesus refers?
- If the Son reveals the Father to whomever he chooses, can he choose not to reveal the Father?
- Does the similarity of the language here to the gospel of John mean that this passage is a fraudulent addition?
- How does joy lead to the sacrifice of everything in Mtt 13:44-46?
Application
- How does your service of others lead to joy?
- Does your joy transcend the labours of obedience?
- If the kingdom of heaven is a joyful discovery that comes before anything else, to whom or what do you need to give less time?
- Do you trust the Bible to be inerrant in the original autographs? Does it matter?
- How is your prayer life? How could it express more joy?
Plymothian 
Continuing from the end of your first paragraph…Do you have a joy that leads to greater love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control?Good works do not separate the Christian, because many outside of the faith do good works. But good works do define every Christian.James says that faith without works is dead. He goes as far as to say that we are justified by our works (which I understand Him to mean as saying that our good works, energized by God’s spirit and the natural outflow of a grace-saved person, set us apart as the people of God who are to be vindicated on the last Day).But, my cushy interpretation aside, James was adamant about works. My pastor back home, on the first day my family ever went to his church, described James as a series of self-tests to determine one’s Christianity. While I would never treat Scripture so modernistically, the Spirit behind his teachings was correct: James was talking to people many of whom believed themselves to be Christians when they actually weren’t. He was lovingly and forcefully pointing that out to them. Maybe they even wanted to be Christians. Hopefully they read that and got on board.Also, though, James is a reprimand to all true Christians, as we all have areas of our lives that need to be given over to God; we always sin by “what we have left undone” à la the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer. May God re-energize us to be transformed by Him in doing more good works that men may see our good deeds and glorify our Father in heaven! (Matt 5:16)