Still more reasons to rejoice

Sermon for Midweek of Jubilate

Lamentations 3:18-26  +  Hebrews 4:14-16  +  John 14:1-11

You remember how, on Sunday, we talked about that constant mingling of joy and sorrow in the Christian life. All three of our lessons this evening help us to find that joy in times of sorrow.

Where did the prophet Jeremiah find joy in the midst of his great sorrow, in the midst of his lamentations over the lost city of Jerusalem, over its impenitence and destruction, over the exile of God’s people, over his own mistreatment at the hands of the people of Israel? He remembers the LORD’s mercy and compassion. He remembers that they do not fail, even though everyone around us should fail, even though friends turn out to be enemies, and the religious leaders turn out to be scoundrels, as Jeremiah experienced. As for the mercy and compassion of God, they are “new every morning.” His mercy doesn’t cease. His compassion always returns, because He is faithful. He doesn’t take pleasure in our sorrow, just as the Father didn’t take pleasure in Jesus’ sorrow.

What’s more, if the Lord is your portion, as Jeremiah calls Him, if He is the one you live for, if He is the one you seek to possess above everything else, then, no matter who disappoints you on earth, you can never truly be disappointed. You can always hope in God. He is “good to those who wait for Him.” So, Jeremiah says, “hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.” You don’t have to figure everything out. You don’t have to solve the unsolvable problems of this world. Wait quietly for the Lord’s salvation. That’s a dependable source of joy in times of sorrow.

Where else do Christians find joy in times of sorrow? The writer to the Hebrews tells us. We have a great High Priest and Mediator who suffered, who died, who rose again, and who has now ascended to the right hand of God. And remember, He is there as One who is able to sympathize with our weaknesses, because He was tempted as we are in every way, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. That means we can pray to the Lord Jesus, our High Priest, as One who understands our weaknesses, who understands what it is to be tempted to sin, tempted to despair, tempted to give up. He understands, and, therefore, He is able to help and willing to show us mercy and grant us His favor and help in every time of need.

Where else do Christians find joy in times of sorrow? That we learn from the Lord Jesus Himself as He gathered with His disciples on the most sorrowful night of His life, and of theirs, gathered in the upper room, waiting to go out to the Garden of Gethsemane. What did Jesus give His disciples to hold onto through the sorrow? In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

And what is the way to those heavenly mansions? What is the path? I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life, Jesus says. You know Jesus, so you know the Way—the only Way to God. You know that you stand righteous before God by faith alone in Him alone. That’s the Truth. And you have come to Him for life. He’s the only source of it. In fact, He is the Life. There is no eternal life apart from Him. And He’s given Himself to you freely, to have Him as your Lord, to have Him as your Savior, to have Him as the One who will walk through this entire life with you, even through the valley of the shadow of death, until He comes back for you, to bring you to those mansions He’s preparing for you even now.

Is that enough to get rid of all the sorrow of this life? Of course not. But it’s enough to get you through it, and it’s enough to give you something to rejoice over in the meantime. May God the Holy Spirit continue to work that fruit called “joy” in your hearts! Amen.