What does it mean to rejoice with those who rejoice (Romans 12:15)?

Answer

Romans 12:15 promotes empathy, encouraging believers to “rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep” (NKJV). In this chapter, Paul transitions from teaching doctrine to discussing practical living. He begins with the exhortation, “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship” «I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. », (Romans 12:1, ESV). It is in the context of living according to the gospel that we are instructed to rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep.

An impactful illustration of someone who wept with those in sorrow is Jesus Himself, following Lazarus’ death. Despite knowing He would raise Lazarus again, Jesus shared in Mary and Martha’s grief «Jesus wept. », (John 11:35). Another demonstration of Christ’s empathy is found in Hebrews 4:15, portraying Jesus as the High Priest who comprehends our weaknesses.

To rejoice with those who rejoice is to celebrate their good fortune and take pleasure in their success. This opposes envy. To weep with those who weep is to bear the burden of others and participate in their sorrow. This opposes apathy and indifference. Christ wept with us, being “a man of sorrows” «He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. », (Isaiah 53:3). He rejoiced with us, being “full of joy through the Holy Spirit” at tThe disciples’ success in ministry “In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.”, (Luke 10:21).

The command to rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep hints at the ups and downs of Christian living. Life has hills and valleys. We will not always rejoice, and we will not always weep. Life in a broken world means that there will be good fortune and daunting challenges. There is “a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance” “a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;”, (Ecclesiastes 3:4).

As believers in Christ, we shouldn’t be aloof to the suffering of our brothers and sisters, nor overly wary of their success. Scripture calls us to genuine empathy, seeing others through Christ’s eyes. We can share the ups and downs of life together.

The empathy required in Romans 12:15 can be counterintuitive, and the command can be challenging to obey. When going through the valleys, rejoicing in others’ success may seem unfair, especially when their success aligns with our desires. Similar to what Job’s friends did, we may rationalize someone’s suffering, forgetting compassion. Perhaps this is why Paul begins the epistle of Romans with a look at the gospel, emphasizing the doctrine of justification by grace through faith. The empathy required of Christians— as well as other ethical obligations— should be obeyed based on the gospel that saves us. Through the empowerment of the indwelling Holy Spirit, we can rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.