“Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name.”
Why did they rejoice?
I was thinking about this while getting ready for work. I was pondering how difficult it could be to rejoice in the midst of suffering. In essence, that rejoicing included praise of thanksgiving. Their prayers echoed in my mind, “Thank you, Jesus, for the privilege of suffering as you did!” And then it hit me. They were rejoicing because they were given the opportunity to be like the savior they had followed! Not everyone is given such an opportunity, but what a blessing it is. For He suffered! It’s amazing to think that, when we suffer, there is so much about Christ, and such an intimacy that we gain, that we could not get otherwise.
There is a deep understanding and incredible bond that transcends any spoken word when two people who have endured hardships come together. This can be what is gained with Christ. When we endure, there is an understanding of our savior and an ability to relate and know him that cannot be known any other way.
They knew him, and the greater their suffering, the deeper their relationship became. On top of all of that, they knew that our Savior trusted them to carry the burden of that suffering. They knew he saw them as worthy. In this way, there is no question as to why they rejoiced.
Christ, my Lord, may I always find comfort and joy in suffering for your name and my I rejoice when you find me worthy!