The Gospel of John - part 38
“Sorrow and Joy”
As you may recall Chapter 13 began what has been called the “Farewell Addresses.” It begins with a lesson on servant-hood in the form of a foot-washing. It shares the reality of Heaven and the Way to get there. Jesus promises a Helper will come, whom we know is the Holy Spirit. In Chapter 15 we have the lessons from the Vine and what it means to bear fruit as true Christian. At the end of 15, we are reminded persecutions will happen in this world. It is not fun, but it is a part of the Christian life in this lost world. And, last week we looked at the role of the Holy Spirit to convict of sin, righteousness, and judgement.
This leads us to the final section before the Great Magisterial Prayer of Chapter 17 which we will look at next week. For this week, we are looking at a series of verses that reminds us there will be times of sorrow and times of joy. As Christians, we are not promised a completely happy life, but we also should remember it will not be completely sorrowful either.
It reminds of Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
This passage is not just inspiration for a great song. It is timeless truth we tend to forget in life. There is a time for every activity. There will be times we are sorrowful, and rightfully so. But, there will also be times of great joy. The great difference for Christians is that we know all sorrow will eventually be swallowed up in the great joy that is coming when our faith is made sight—when we see our Savior face to face. And that knowledge, that hope, permeates our entire lives so that even when those times of sorrow come, we can still sing, “It is Well with My Soul”. Let’s begin in John 16:16:
Joy in the Resurrection
“A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see me.” So some of his disciples said to one another, “What is this that he says to us, ‘A little while, and you will not see me, and again a little while, and you will see me’; and, ‘because I am going to the Father’?” So they were saying, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We do not know what he is talking about.” Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, “Is this what you are asking yourselves, what I meant by saying, ‘A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me’? Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy.
John 16:16-20
Jesus prophesies there is coming a time when they will no longer see Him. Now, at the time of this conversation, the disciples are quite perplexed. John is writing this story on the other side of the Resurrection, so imagine him sitting at his table, remembering this story. His old self is looking back at his younger self. I can only imagine his desire to jump back in time and say, “It’s okay. Jesus is absolutely right. You are going to be just fine.”
I’ve heard many stories from people with the same message for their younger selves. It really is going to work out. Maybe not the way you think, but everything is going to be fine. It’s funny how time seems to ease how we remember things. The bad disappears, because the good was worth it.
The disciples are about to walk into a very dark time in their lives. The Messiah is about to be handed over to the enemy, and they will be scattered about. But, Sunday is coming, and their sorrow will turn to joy. In a little while, they will not see Jesus because He is going to the grave. But after a little while, just a few days, they will see Him again alive and well.
There is sorrow at the Crucifixion, but there is joy at the Resurrection.
As I was reading commentaries on this verse, I happened upon a small debate. Apparently, some have taken this to refer to Jesus’ Second Coming rather than the Resurrection. I was confused at first, because the plain reading is fairly obvious. Jesus is referring to the Resurrection. However, it occurred to me that the principle behind this verse works well with this interpretation.
There is sorrow for the Church as we wait for Jesus, but there is joy at His Return.
When we think about the warning about persecution Jesus gave us, and we see its fulfillment around us, it can be frustrating and bring sorrow. But, there is coming a day when all the world will see what we already know. We serve a Risen Savior, a Risen King, who sits at the right hand of the Father in glory and maintains sovereign control over this world. When this world brings you sorrow, “let the Joy of the Lord be your strength.”
So whether we are looking back in history of Jesus’ crucifixion turn Resurrection, or we look forward to when the Church’s persecution becomes our glorification at Jesus’ Return, or we are looking at our day to day lives, we can always remember:
No matter how big the sorrow, there is bigger joy coming in a little while.
An Illustration
When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.
John 16:21-22
Jesus gives us a simple illustration to prove His point. I have not heard a single mother in my lifetime say these words, “Giving birth was easy. Those nine months were a tremendous amount of fun!” And yet, time and time again, these women will say, “I think I’ll have another child.” Why go through the torture again? Because the joy the new life brings covers up all the sorrow that preceded.
Jesus uses this metaphor in Matthew 24 when referring to the end times. The wars and rumors of wars, the famines, earthquakes, and the general tribulation that will occur at that time are just “birth pangs” for the end. Paul uses the same metaphor in Romans 8 when speaking about Creation. Creation has been subjected to the curse of sin, waiting eagerly for the sons of God to be revealed. It has been groaning as in childbirth waiting for release from sin.
We do not have time today to compare these three passages, but if you do, you will notice a situation that theologians refer to as the “already-not-yet” state of the Kingdom. In John, the immediate context refers to the Resurrection. In Matthew, it refers to the end of time. In Romans, Paul refers to the mission movement of the first century. So which one is correct? Yes, they all are.
The culmination of this study will help you fully understand verse 22: you have sorrow now, but when you see Jesus, your heart will rejoice and no one can take that joy.
Joy is available now, because Jesus has Risen.
Joy is available soon, because Jesus is working today.
Joy is available for eternity, because Jesus is returning.
A mother rejoices when she learns a new life is on the way. She can rejoice during the pain of pregnancy, because she knows a life is growing. And, she will rejoice fully when the baby arrives. The same can be said of all Christians. We can rejoice in the new life we have with Christ. We can rejoice as sorrows come in this world, because we know eternity is on the way. And, one day, we will rejoice fully because our faith will turn to sight.
Speaking Plainly
In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. 24 Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.
I Have Overcome the World
“I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father. In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.”
His disciples said, “Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech! Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that you came from God.” Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
John 16:23-33
Jesus moves away from the parable to speak clearly what is about to happen. After the Resurrection, Jesus is going to speak clearly without figures of speech. Think of the Emmaeus Road or in the upper room when Jesus teaches them again what He has been saying for these three years. The disciples could not handle the gravity of the truth at the time, but once they see the Risen Lord and joy overcomes them, they are then able to hear more. At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit comes upon them, and they are empowered and taught even more. There is a great shift in the relationship between the disciples, Christ, and the Father. No longer will the disciples ask Jesus for anything, because they will have direct access to the Father.
The thought is explained in verse 26-27, the disciples will ask for whatever they want in the name of Jesus, but it will be addressed to the Father. This is why Christians typically pray to the Father. In our prayers, we address the Father in the name of the Son. Some Christians may have been taught to pray straight to the Son or even to the Holy Spirit, and I don’t think that is necessarily wrong, but theologically the way prayer works (and it is supported here), is we pray to our Heavenly Father (who is the giver of all good gifts), in the name of the Son (who conquered sin bridging the spiritual divide between us and God), and in the power of the Spirit (who tells what to pray when we do not know). Likewise, we remember prayer is a two-way communication, so that after we pray to the Father, we listen to the Holy Spirit who draws us closer to Christ by speaking the Truth of the Father and Son. The truth of the Trinity is not just a theological exercise, it is how prayer works.
We can go to the Father in prayer, because He loves us.
We can ask in the name of the Son, because He died for us.
We can listen to the Spirit, because He indwells us.
The disciples are relieved to here Jesus speak plainly for a change and claim their belief He came from the Father. Jesus replies, “Do you now believe?” I imagine there is a bit of sarcasm in the tone. After three years of miracles, “Oh, now you believe?” Added to His reply, “You are about to be scattered and leave me alone, but now you believe?” But, Jesus is not troubled by their fickle convictions, because He knows what will eventually happen. He even says, the Father will be with Him.
Christian, don’t be troubled by the fickleness of people around you.
If no one else stands with you, the Father will never leave you alone.
Last, we come to the final verse, which you should highlight. Why has Jesus taught these lessons? What has been the purpose of Chapters 13-16? Look closely,
“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace, in the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
John tells us his gospel is so that we may know we have eternal life in Jesus. Once we have taken hold of that life, Jesus has taught us this world will bring all kinds of trouble our way, but we can confidently, boldly, and with all the fortitude and strength that comes knowing no matter what happens on this earth, Jesus has already conquered this world and Heaven is waiting.
But, dear friend, please understand, this truth is only for those who believe in Christ.
They believe God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for their sin.
They believe Jesus did not stay in the grave, but arose on the third day.
They believe that Jesus is Lord of Heaven and Earth, and one day will return to put an end to all sin and death. That on that day, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess what they already know, “Jesus is Lord”. If you want the true joy that comes from Jesus, you must first repent of your sins, turn away from what is destroying you, and turn to Jesus who died for you and wants to save you today.