Luke 10:21 – At that very time He rejoiced greatly in the Holy Spirit, and said, “I praise You, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to babes. Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight.”

Jesus had sent out seventy ministers who are now coming in from their labor in ministry. They are praising the Lord and rejoicing that demons were subject to them. Jesus’ response to them is a gentle reproof. He does not say that it is wrong of them to rejoice in the fact that the demons were subject to them, but He says that is not to be compared with praising the Lord that your names are recorded in heaven (vv. 17-20).

Then verse 21 says, “He rejoiced greatly.” One Greek scholar says it means exuberant ecstasy! Jesus is absolutely overwhelmed with excitement and joy! That's interesting! What is Jesus absolutely blown away and excited about? First, notice that we see all the members of the God-head. Jesus is rejoicing. He's rejoicing in the Holy Spirit. He is rejoicing to God the Father. The point is that Jesus deeply loves His heavenly Father and He greatly rejoices in His Father’s will and His Father’s work. In other words, He loves the heavenly Father, and therefore He loves the way the heavenly Father does His work.

Picture, if you will, a little boy who just idolizes his dad. Maybe his dad is a builder, and as the little boy grows older he just thinks his dad can build anything. He loves the way his dad uses his hands to cut wood, create shapes, and build things. He loves to watch him and dreams of the day he might can do the same things. Well, that is literally what this verse pictures. Jesus is enthralled with the way His Father is "revealing" the way of salvation to those He is going to save and "hiding" it from others! Jesus is deeply overjoyed at the way His Father does these things… Amazing!

This is the doctrine of election. The word election is a Bible word. It is taught all throughout the scriptures. But, it is a doctrine that is vigorously opposed and attacked by so many today. I was very fortunate early on in my Christian walk to have men to teach me that these truths are in the Bible. It helped me greatly. These truths are under such vigorous attack today, partly I think because many just don’t understand them.

I challenge all to stop and consider that this is a doctrine that brings exceeding joy to the heart of Christ! I would ask you, can it be wise to attack and oppose this doctrine which brings Jesus such deep joy? Would it not be wiser to say, "I don’t understand it all?" Would it not be wiser to say, "I’m still learning, or I don’t grasp it all," than to attack it as untrue? I have labored thousands of hours over this particular doctrine, and I still don’t understand it completely! But, I do glory in it; I do joy in it; I do wonder over it!