Series: Discovering the Life-Changing Gospel
Turning Sorrow into Joy
John 16:16–33 (HCSB)
16 “A little while and you will no longer see Me; again a little while and you will see Me.” 17 Therefore some of His disciples said to one another, “What is this He tells us: ‘A little while and you will not see Me; again a little while and you will see Me’; and, ‘because I am going to the Father’?” 18 They said, “What is this He is saying, ‘A little while’? We don’t know what He’s talking about!” 19 Jesus knew they wanted to question Him, so He said to them, “Are you asking one another about what I said, ‘A little while and you will not see Me; again a little while and you will see Me’? 20 “I assure you: You will weep and wail, but the world will rejoice. You will become sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn to joy. 21 When a woman is in labor she has pain because her time has come. But when she has given birth to a child, she no longer remembers the suffering because of the joy that a person has been born into the world. 22 So you also have sorrow now. But I will see you again. Your hearts will rejoice, and no one will rob you of your joy. 23 In that day you will not ask Me anything. “I assure you: Anything you ask the Father in My name, He will give you. 24 Until now you have asked for nothing in My name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete. 25 “I have spoken these things to you in figures of speech. A time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures, but I will tell you plainly about the Father. 26 In that day you will ask in My name. I am not telling you that I will make requests to the Father on your behalf. 27 For the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed that I came from God. 28 I came from the Father and have come into the world. Again, I am leaving the world and going to the Father.” 29 “Ah!” His disciples said. “Now You’re speaking plainly and not using any figurative language. 30 Now we know that You know everything and don’t need anyone to question You. By this we believe that You came from God.” 31 Jesus responded to them, “Do you now believe? 32 Look: An hour is coming, and has come, when each of you will be scattered to his own home, and you will leave Me alone. Yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. 33 I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.”
- I MUST CLAIM THE PROMISES OF A LIVING SAVIOR (16:16)
- Jesus boldly predicted His death and resurrection.
- I serve a living Savior.
- I MUST OVERCOME MY DOUBT AND LIVE BY FAITH (16:17-19)
- The disciples were confused and were living by sight not by faith.
- I must exercise my faith in believing the promises of Jesus.
- I MUST ANTICIPATE THE JOY THAT COMES FROM TRUSTING CHRIST (16:20-22)
- The enemy has nothing but sorrow and pain in store for me.
- Christ overcame death and the grave to bring me genuine joy.
- I CAN RECEIVE ALL THAT GOD HAS IN STORE FOR ME (16:23-24)
- God wants to give us everything that will make our joy complete.
- I must align myself with Him, then ask God for what I need.
- I MUST FOCUS ON THE VIRTUES THAT BUILD MY FAITH (16:25-33)
- I need to know how much God loves me. (25-27a)
- I must believe that Jesus was sent from the Father. (27b-32)
- I must cling to the peace He provides to face this world. (33)
As the reality of the Cross began to set in, Jesus turns the sorrow of His leaving into the joy of His victory over death and the grave; leaving the disciples with powerful Christian virtues to live by.
