WHEN JOY INTERFERES

"But while they still did not believe for joy, and marveled, He said to them, ‘Have you any food here?' So they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb. And He took it and ate in their presence" (Luke 24:41-43).

Often it is difficult to experience any joy at all. In such times, it is hard to conceive of there being anything inhibitive or restraining about joy. However, there is a joy that actually interferes with faith. The text before us provides an example of this. Jesus had already risen from the dead, but His disciples did not realize it. On this particular occasion, Jesus confronted Cleopas and a friend on the road to Emmaus. They were discouraged because Jesus had died. They thought their hopes had been dashed to the ground, and all was hopeless. When Jesus joined them, they did not recognize Him, thinking Him to be a stranger in those parts. Mark provides some insight on why they thought this way. "After that, He appeared in another form to two of them as they walked and went into the country" (Mk 16:12). Luke says they were "kept from recognizing Him" (NIV).

It was not long until our Lord was "opening" the Scriptures to them, showing how they testified of Him, and foretold all of the things that had happened. Before the evening was over, He revealed Himself to the two, then vanished from their sight. They later acknowledged to one another that their "hearts burned within" while Jesus talked with them and "opened the Scriptures" (Lk 24:15-32).

Immediately, the pair returned to Jerusalem where "the eleven" Apostles were gathered together. Already the women who saw the resurrected Christ had told the Apostles He was risen, but they had not believed them (Lk 24:11; Matt 28:7).

Now, while Cleopas and his friend are relating their account, the Lord Himself appears among them. Even though He said, "Peace be unto you," the disciples were "terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit" (Lk 24:37). Gently, the Lord confirmed to them that it is really Him. He asks them to look at His hands and feet–to handle Him and see that they were not looking at a spirit. A spirit does not have flesh and bones.

At this point, the record reads, "they still did not believe for joy, and marveled" (24:41). How happy they were to see Him! Their hearts fairly leaped with joy–but not the "joy of faith" (Phil 1:25). They possessed a carnal, or fleshly joy. Their vision, not their faith, prompted their joy. It was the kind of joy the world can take away (John 16:22), because it did not proceed from believing.

There is a religious joy that is in the flesh, not the Spirit. It is not a lasting joy, but one that quickly passes. It is in the soul, but not the spirit. It is prompted by what is seen, not what is unseen. It glories "in appearance, and not in heart " (2 Cor 5:12). In this case, the disciples could see Jesus, touch Him, and even see Him eat "a piece of broiled fish and some honeycomb" (Lk 24:41) – and still "BELIEVE NOT!"

Those who imagine they must have evidence to believe could not possibly be more wrong! It is not possible to have more evidence than the disciples. They heard testimony from two sets of living witnesses. They eyes saw the Son of God. Their hands touched Him. They beheld Him eat some fish and bread they themselves had prepared. They heard His voice. Yet that was not sufficient to produce faith in their hearts. It brought them joy, but that very joy stopped them from believing!

I have observed a growing tendency among the churches to induce a sort of surface joy–the kind the disciples had. Reports are given, and activities are promoted that appeal to the senses more than to the heart. People seem to have fun, but remain in the grip of unbelief. They appear to be happy, yet do not know their names are written in heaven. Their roots do not go deep enough. Their joy is like a ripple on the top of the water, and it will soon pass away.

As soon as we allow our vision to remain on what is "seen," our faith begins to grow weak. If we choose to linger on earthly considerations, and major on life in this world, believing slowly becomes impossible. If the disciples could not believe for the joy generated by seeing and touching a risen Christ, what of a joy brought on by lesser matters?

Immediately after these events, the Lord led His disciples "out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them." As he blessed them "He was parted from them, and carried up into heaven"–away from their sight (Lk 24:50). It was then, and only then, that lasting joy came upon these disciples. It is written, "And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy" (24:52). Now, they believed! Now their joy remained!

PRAYER POINT: Father, I thank You for the joy unspeakable and full of glory that is available in Your Son. I praise You through Him that I can have this joy independently of what is seen

-- Monday: SOME ARE DELUDED --