February 3, 2023: Philippians 2:17-18 - Let Us be Glad and Rejoice

“Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. For the same reason you also be glad and rejoice with me.” - Philippians 2:17-18

Jesus had chosen Paul, who at that time went by his Hebrew name of “Saul” and was a Jewish Pharisee, to bring the good news, the gospel of Christ, to the Gentiles. Saul was traveling with others to Damascus to go after Christians in Damascus and bind them and bring them back to Jerusalem. On the way there, Saul heard the voice of Jesus asking him why was he persecuting Him. “So he [Saul], trembling and astonished, said, ‘Lord, what do You want me to do?’” Jesus told him to go into the city, where he would be told what to do. Jesus then struck Paul with blindness for three days. Jesus then told Ananias to go meet a man named Saul. Ananias knew all about Saul and how he had persecuted the Christians with zeal. Ananias said to Jesus,“Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.” But Jesus answered him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.” Ananias did go to meet Saul and laid hands on him, and Saul’s eyes were immediately opened and he was filled with the Holy Spirit. (Acts 9:1-19). Saul would later refer to himself by his Roman name of “Paul.”

Notice that Jesus said of Paul, “For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.” Paul would be severely persecuted by both the Jews and Gentiles during his life after he turned to Jesus. (For further information, see: https://www.biblecharts.org/apostlepaulcharts/15%20-%20The%20Sufferings%20of%20Paul.pdf). And yet, Paul kept going, for as long as he could, telling others about the saving power of Jesus, for he knew that as believers in Christ, he would suffer; all who love Christ will suffer. Paul had previously told the Philippians, “For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake.” (Philippians 1:29)

Did you also notice that when Jesus spoke to Paul on the way to Damascus and asked him why he was persecuting Him, Paul did not disagree that he was persecuting Jesus? Paul could have denied he was persecuting Him and instead said that he was persecuting those who believe in Him. He could have not called Jesus “Lord” when he answered Jesus’ question. He could have refused to do as Jesus told him, but he didn’t. He obeyed Him, and later after meeting Ananias, Paul received the Holy Spirit. Paul didn’t have to follow Jesus, he chose to. Now nearly two thousand years later, we have all the books of the New Testament that he wrote, through the Holy Spirit. In those books we read and learn about all of his teachings on Christ crucified, and of Paul’s own struggles with sin. We learn of his sufferings, but we also learn of his deep love for Jesus and his love for his brothers and sisters in Christ. I think Paul knew that like Stephen, he would be martyred for his faith in Christ, and yet, he said as we read in today’s scripture post, “Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. For the same reason you also be glad and rejoice with me.” We, as Paul’s brothers and sisters in Christ, must remember that Paul’s suffering and his death served a greater purpose, the purpose to which Jesus had called Paul.

Let us remember the account of Paul when he and Barnabas had gone to the Jewish synagogue in Antioch. Paul said to the Jews in the synagogue:

“Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses. Beware therefore, lest what has been spoken in the prophets come upon you:

‘Behold, you despisers, marvel and perish! For I work a work in your days, a work which you will be no means believe, though one were to declare it to you.’ ” (Acts 13:38-41)

The Bible tells us in Acts 13:42-52:

“So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath. Now when the congregation had broken up, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God. But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul. Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, ‘It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. For so the Lord has commanded us:

‘I have set you as a light to the Gentiles, that you should be for the salvation to the ends of the earth.’

“Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed. And the word of the Lord was being spread throughout all the region. But the Jews stirred up the devout and prominent women and the chief men of the city, raised up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region. But they shook off the dust from their feet against them, and came to Iconium. And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.”

As God used Paul in his suffering and persecution, so shall He use us if we remain faithful and obedient to Him, as Paul did. Let us be glad and rejoice that God gave us the apostle Paul as an example for us. We each have people in our lives, including unbelievers, that we know and can boldly and joyfully share the good news with. If they reject it, we dust off our feet, and press on boldly and steadfastly through our faith, eyes firmly fixed on Him, for as in the words of Paul, “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21) ✝️