Disbelieving for Joy

Chapter 25 - Joy in Spite of Stoopidity

Luke 24:41 ESV

And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?”

That is one of the best verses that shows me Jesus is my people…the disciples are all excited and stuff and Jesus is all “Hey…feed me.”

Ok, ok…there is definitely more happening here than just a hungry Savior. But still. I feel seen.

This verse points us to two other places in Scripture where this disbelieving for joy occurred: in Acts 12 where a servant girl, Rhoda, is so happy to see Peter at the gate (and not in prison) she goes to tell others without letting him in. And then in Genesis 45 when Jacob is told that Joseph is alive. But the words used to describe Jacob was that his heart became numb. That doesn’t sound very joyful – but Jacob’s history with his boy’s being truthful wasn’t that great either.

So, this joy is being tied to the idea of something being too good to be true or experiencing something that say, science can’t explain.

My husband was diagnosed with an aortic aneurysm in 2023. Once discovered it led to more tests and scans to determine if surgery was necessary. He has a significant family history of heart issues, so his cardiologist was taking it very seriously. Over the course of the next few months, he had four more scans. The third one showed no aneurysm. I immediately was praising God and wanting to share the news. The doctor, not so much, because science. (I am not knocking science; I love facts and clarity and proof.) Another scan was ordered. Another scan showed no aneurysm. The doc put the scans next to each other and points to each one: aneurysm…aneurysm…aneurysm…no aneurysm…no aneurysm. Brian asks, “So can my wife give credit to God now and tell everyone?” The doc just kinda shrugged his shoulders and had that look on his face that people get when what they’re seeing doesn’t match what their brain wants to believe. The doc was thrilled there was no aneurysm, no doubt; he disbelieved for joy.

It makes sense that the disciples would be flabbergasted. Astonished. Befuddled. Along with joy. And yet Jesus was calling people out here in chapter 24. This chapter is all about the resurrection leading up to our verse today. The angels at the tomb ask, “Why do you seek the living among the dead?” Jesus asked the disciples on the road to Emmaus, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into His glory?” And then He asks, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?”

And then Jesus said, “See…”

Behold. This word appeals to the discerning mind. Jesus wants the disciples to consider what they know they have seen. The empty tomb. The physical scars on His body. That He needs food. He is not just a spirit appearing to them. He is God with them, again. In the flesh. They were disbelieving for joy and Jesus appealed to their discerning minds. While gathered together fearfully, hopelessly, Jesus appeared to them, proved Himself resurrected, asked for food, and opened their minds to understand all they had been taught.

Jesus is not unfamiliar with disbelieving for joy. He walked His disciples through it and He will walk us through it too. And He bids us to know these things as we break bread and drink wine in remembrance of Him. Especially when the truth of His Word seems too good to be true for a sinner like me.

This came from a writing by Spurgeon that you might find interesting to read here

I have found it interesting that as I do the dive into joy, I find it more difficult to remember the things that struck me as stoopid over the last few days or weeks. I used to keep a running list, just for the purpose of sharing here. Trust me, the stoopid has happened - I guess I am just not dwelling on them or internalizing them in a sense. They happen, and then it’s done and apparently, forgotten. I did almost break my ankle on the dog’s ball today. And it felt misleading at the furniture store to be handed a big 25% off paper and then find out it was only if you spend a certain amount first (which wasn’t even in the small print).

But the joys of my life are becoming more and more obvious. Like my amazing residents and how they are so happy for my family’s next adventure, even though we all have sad hearts because it means see ya later. Or planning to move into a fabulous house on the water and already looking forward to coffee on the deck. God is kind.