Dancing for Your Brother's Sake

Then the leading priests and Pharisees called the high council together to discuss the situation. “What are we going to do?” they asked each other. “This man certainly performs many miraculous signs. If we leave him alone, the whole nation will follow him, and then the Roman army will come and destroy both our Temple and our nation.”… So from that time on the Jewish leaders began to plot Jesus’ death. – John 11:47-48, 53

A simple man, a porter, who was fairly ignorant of the Scriptures, was once seen clapping, dancing and celebrating the Master during a church service. Other Christians asked him, “Why are you dancing and rejoicing so much? What do you have to rejoice about?”

The porter answered “If my brother has a family celebration, don’t I also get to rejoice and dance with him?”

A person’s joy in God does not depend on how learned, holy or saintly he is. He can rejoice in whatever small part God has given him in the Kingdom. He can dance, knowing that there are other Christians who DO have a deep understanding of the Scriptures. He can rejoice in his brothers’ and sisters’ gifts.

The Pharisees did not understand this concept. They felt that their gifts needed to be recognized. They saw the miracles of the Christ, but instead of recognizing who He was, they focused instead on the fact that fewer people were following them.

So many people today will see another brother or sister being elevated for their skill, their gifts or their knowledge and, instead of rejoicing, they grow jealous and decide to try to bring their spiritual sibling down to their level. They attack the gift, “Oh she sings well enough, but I think she really enjoys the attention too much.” They assassinate the character, “He thinks he knows so much about the Scriptures, but he takes them out of context to suit his wishes.”

John the Baptist was humble enough to understand his proper place in life. “God in heaven appoints each person’s work. You yourselves know how plainly I told you that I am not the Messiah. I am here to prepare the way for him—that is all…He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.” (John 3:28, 30)

When your coworker gets a pay raise – do you pout about how unfair the boss is because you didn’t get one? When a person with greater gifts comes into your church, do you step aside and let them serve so that the church benefits most or do you stubbornly hang on in order to prove how much the church needs you? When your family member buys a better house or receives sudden financial gain or is elected to a high position – what is your reaction? Are you jealous and bitter, or can you dance for your brother?