Well, turn with me in your Bibles to John chapter 16. That's page 848 in the Pew Bible,
if you want to turn there. John chapter 16, we're going to look at verses 16 through 24
this morning as we continue our series in this portion of John's Gospel, the Farewell Discourse.
So let me pray for us as we turn to God's Word. God, thank you for the clarity and the sufficiency
of your written Word. Thank you, most of all, how you continue to reveal yourself to us
through your written Word so that we might see and that we might savor and we might praise
the incarnate Word, Jesus, all the more. God, we pray for this time now when we meditate on this
passage that it would honor you and that it would edify us. We pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.
All right, John 16, verses 16 through 24. Jesus says this, he says, 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's 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.
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. 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. Until now,
you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.
How can we find joy in a world full of inevitable sorrow? How can we find joy in a world full of
inevitable sorrow? That's the theme of our passage today. And I'm guessing I don't need to say much
to convince us that that's a worthwhile topic to consider. After all, who isn't looking for lasting
joy? But then again, often we are like the apostles in this passage. We can be a bit confused.
Remember, Jesus here is with his closest followers near the very end of his earthly ministry,
and he's preparing them for his imminent departure and for their upcoming mission. And Jesus says
something here that really confuses them at first. He says, in a little while, you're not going to see
me. But then in a little while, you will see me. And the disciples are asking, what on earth does Jesus
mean? They all believe that Jesus was Israel's long-awaited king, the Messiah. They all believe that he
would triumph over evil and re-establish God's people. That's what the Messiah was supposed to do
according to the scriptures. So all this talk about a little while, them not seeing and then seeing
Jesus, it didn't really make much sense. The game plan, as far as the apostles were concerned, for the
Messiah, who they believed was Jesus, was unmitigated, uninterrupted conquest. Defeat the Romans, cleanse the
temple, rule the nations, done deal. That's how it's supposed to happen. But Jesus here is telling them
and telling us that being his follower isn't that simple. The true Messiah's mission wasn't one of
simple triumph. No, he says first there would be sorrow. And through sorrow, then there would come
lasting joy. A little while, and they would not see him. There will be sorrow. And then a little while,
they would see him. And there will be joy. A joy that no one can take away. So what I want to do is I
want to look a little more closely at those two ideas, sorrow and then joy. And let's see if we can learn
where this lasting joy in a world of sorrow can be found, according to Jesus. So first, let's look at
sorrow. Jesus says, in a little while, you will not see me. And that confuses the disciples,
understandably, as we just said. And you know what? It has confused many interpreters of John's
gospel too, down through the ages. What is Jesus referring to here? Is he referring maybe to his
ascension to the Father, to his return to the Father? Is that what he means when he says in a
little while, I'm going to go away and you won't see me anymore? Well, that's maybe a good guess.
Jesus often talks about returning to the Father in John's gospel. And in the book of Acts,
we read Luke's account of the ascension. And Jesus is indeed taken from our sight, taken from their
sight. But here's the thing. In the account of Jesus's ascension in Luke 24 and then again in Acts 1,
the disciples are not in that moment filled with grief. In fact, Luke writes at the end of his gospel,
when he's talking about the ascension, he says they were filled with great joy.
And then they go back to the city and worship and praise. So Jesus must be referring to something
else when he says in a little while, you will see me no longer. So what is it?
Well, it's what Jesus has slowly been preparing his disciples for throughout his ministry.
He's been slowly preparing them for the fact that the climax of his earthly work would not be a deed of
obvious triumph, but an act that from the outside looked like utter defeat.
In a little while, Jesus says, probably less than 24 hours, Jesus would be arrested, condemned,
shamefully crucified, and buried. The one with whom the disciples had spent nearly every day for the last
three years eating together, traveling, learning, ministering, they would see him no more. He would
be killed and buried, no more to be seen. And in a little while because of that, they would experience
excruciating sorrow. The one they loved would be taken from them. The one in whom they had placed all
their hopes, the one in whom they had begun to dream these most soul-thrilling, vivid dreams.
But look again at verse 20. Jesus says, truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament,
but the world will rejoice.
Here would be perhaps the most bitter part of the pill to swallow. While the apostles grieved their dead
teacher, friend, and Lord, the world around them would be rejoicing.
The secular Roman authority and the religious Jewish authorities would both rejoice that they
had finally gotten rid of Jesus, the troublemaker from Galilee, the would-be king of the Jews.
Now, friends, pause with me here for a moment.
Jesus is telling his disciples that sorrow is soon to be inevitable for them.
I wonder, do you and I live under the illusion that somehow we can be immune from sorrow in this
world? Can we be immune from weeping and lamenting, as verse 20 says?
Where are you placing your hopes for joy? Many of us are placing our hopes in a good career.
Many of us are placing our hopes in a healthy family. Many of us are placing our hopes for joy
in cultural pursuits or an intellectual growth. But can any of these things really last?
They're all good things in their own right, in their own place, but will they keep you
immune from the inevitable sorrow that will come?
Beth and I recently watched a movie about the American author Thomas Wolfe
and his editor named Maxwell something or other, played by Colin Firth. It's actually kind of a cool
movie. But Thomas Wolfe was from Asheville, North Carolina, and he published his first book in 1929,
before he had even turned 30. He was 29 years old and wrote a novel. And then he would go on to
publish another novel in 1935. And soon, Thomas Wolfe was being lauded as one of the greatest writers of
his generation. And he was even being compared with some of the greatest novelists of all time.
Can you imagine being in your mid-30s and having reached the pinnacle of artistic success,
that people are mentioning your name in the same breath as Dickens and Dostoevsky and James Joyce
and Ernest Hemingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald? Can you imagine joining the pantheon of these great
novelists and you haven't even turned 40? Now, maybe you don't care a snap about novelists and writing,
but whatever it is, imagine what it would be like. Whatever your field or whatever your pursuit or
whatever your desire might be, that you're one of the greats and you haven't even gotten started yet.
And yet in a little while, it would all slip away for Wolfe. He fell sick with pneumonia while visiting
a sister in Seattle, was diagnosed with miliary tuberculosis, which is sort of lesions that just
begin to spread throughout your whole body. They feared that these things had gotten worse and
worse and worse. So he traveled to Baltimore to get the best treatment in the country from the
world's most renowned, the country's most renowned neurosurgeon at Johns Hopkins. But despite it all,
18 days before his 38th birthday, Wolfe tragically dies at Johns Hopkins Hospital.
Life is so unbelievably frail. And sorrow, friends, is inevitable.
Are you and I under the illusion that it will not come for us? But it will.
So what hope is there for us? Where can we find lasting joy when every hope seems to slip through
our fingers in the end? And when eventually death will steal it all away?
Well, Jesus here points the way. He tells his disciples first about that sorrow that is coming
and coming soon. But then he says, and again in a little while, you will see me.
And that brings us to the second big idea of our passage, joy. Look again at verse 20,
which is really the center of this whole passage. 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.
Your sorrow will turn into joy. What is Jesus referring to here? If they were going to see him
no longer, how could they possibly see him again? What could possibly turn sorrow into joy?
Well, friends, Jesus can only be referring to one thing. There's only one way that the apostles could
truly see him again. There's only one way that seeing him again would take all their sorrow and
turn it into joy. Only one thing. And it's the proclamation of the church from the very beginning.
The very thing that makes Christianity what it is from now until the end of time and into eternity.
The fact that Jesus, the crucified Messiah, has been raised from the dead. The resurrection of
Jesus Christ is the one and only thing that can give lasting joy. Why?
Well, in verse 21, Jesus gives the analogy of a pregnant mother. Picture Jesus as a mother writhing
in the pain of childbirth. Now, I don't need to tell you that I have not given birth, but I have
watched it happen three times. And what I have learned from observation is that birth pains are incredibly
intense. They're all consuming and they get worse as time goes on. But then Jesus says,
even though birth pains are some of the worst a human will ever experience, the pains of birth give
way to indescribable joy. A joy so great that the pains are almost forgotten. Why? Because a human
being has come into the world. And not just any human being, a son, a daughter, a beloved child.
And when you see that beloved, Jesus says, the pain and sorrow melt away and you are awash in joy.
Jesus says to his disciples, it's going to be like that. When you see me again, your sorrow will give way
to joy. Because then, because then you'll know that your hopes and your labors and your sacrifices
and your dreams, Jesus says to his apostles, above all, you'll know that your love for me, it wasn't in vain.
Because I'm alive forevermore and nothing, nothing will take me away from you.
That's why the joy is everlasting. That's why Jesus can say, no one will take your joy away from you.
Because if your joy is Christ and Christ has conquered even death, what could possibly take it away now?
The world tried ridiculing Jesus. The world tried condemning Jesus. The world even tried killing Jesus
once and for all. And yet none of it worked. Not even death could hold him back.
But you know, there's a deeper layer here. When Jesus talks about the woman in labor, he's picking up
actually an Old Testament theme that runs throughout many of the prophets in the Hebrew Scriptures.
In fact, our reading from Isaiah 26 earlier was, is one of those passages.
The prophets saw a time when God's people would undergo great distress before his final victory
and salvation came. In Jesus' day, picking up on these Old Testament themes, they would often speak
of the birth pains of the Messiah to refer to a period of trouble and terrible travail that would
precede the kind of coming and consummation of God's salvation. So there's this theme running through
Scripture running about in Jesus' day that birth pains are coming before God does his victorious act.
But friends, don't you see? Who's the real mother in this story?
Is not joy? Who's the one who lives in this story?
Who is the one who admired it? Who is the one who endured unspeakable sorrow
so that another might be given life?
Is not Jesus the true mother in the story of salvation?
the prophets saw that the people would suffer before salvation would come but Jesus
our king stepped into that suffering on our behalf he endured the pain so that all who
believe in him could be born into everlasting life and he rose again so that we might know
it can never be taken from us how is it that our sorrows can turn into joy friends if God
gave us what we deserve we would only get sorrow but Jesus like a mother in childbirth suffered so
that we might have life and joy he writhed and cried out on a cross so that you and I could be
born anew because at the cross there was an exchange that happened your sin for his righteousness
he took your sin and sorrow that your sins deserved so that you could have the joy of the
righteousness that his life deserved and that's the promise for all who turn and place their trust
in Jesus forgiveness of sins now righteousness before God an unshakable joy to come
friends does what you believe include anything like what I just described what the bible talks about
does your worldview include anything like a God who loves you so much that he would suffer bleed and
die for you many world religions many spiritualities speak about God as a great mother but only
Christianity speaks of a God who actually took flesh and who actually suffered like a mother in pains
even more excruciating than childbirth for you though you did not deserve it so that you might live
why would you not believe and trust in a God like that why would you not put your trust in the God of
the Bible the God of Jesus Christ
and notice as well Jesus doesn't say that your sorrow will be replaced by joy could have easily said that
right the day is coming when your sorrow is going to be replaced by joy he says this he says your sorrow
is going to turn into joy
well that's a funny expression isn't it
but do you see what that means
it means that the church that those who trust in Christ can always be hopeful and never despairing
because no matter how bad it gets
Jesus is able to turn sorrow into joy
how do we know this
well when Christ rose on the third day the apostles saw that the cross was actually our salvation
they saw and understood and proclaimed that God was able to use one of the cruelest inventions of human evil
Roman crucifixion to bring about the greatest of heavenly good
and likewise when Christ returns in glory
all of us will see
how even the deepest sorrows of the church age
will be swallowed up in victory
healed
restored
redeemed
these momentary afflictions Paul says
are preparing for us
an eternal weight of glory
your sorrows will turn into joy
but what will be the crowning moment of it all
what was the crowning moment for the first disciples on Easter Sunday
what will it be for all the church on the last day
what will be the sort of pinnacle of the joy
look at verse 22
Jesus says
quite simply
I will see you again
beholding Christ face to face
that will be glory
when the mother sees the face of her child
she knows it was all worth it
and when we see Christ face to face
not just when we see him
notice what Jesus says
when he sees us
I will see you
when we see him
seeing us
with eyes of eternal love
and endless beauty
with eyes that know our deepest flaws
and yet love us
with unmistakable
and unrelenting passion
when he sees us
we'll know it was all worth it
just like the first disciples on Easter Sunday
all our hopes
all our labors
all our sacrifice
all our dreams
yes even all our sorrows
will know
that they were not
in
vain
I will see you again
and your hearts will rejoice
so you see the resurrection of Jesus Christ
the conquering of death
the conquering of sin
holds forth
indestructible
joy
but if we're living only for this life
if our joys are grounded
only in the things of this life
then all of our joys
will turn to sorrow in the end
just like the warmest fire
only turns into ash
if you wait long enough
so if we put our hopes
in earthly joys
it's only going to eventually
turn into ash
in the end
but
in the gospel friends
this good news
rings forth
for all who hear
and receive
the truth of the resurrection
of Jesus Christ
the sorrows of this life
will turn into joy
in the gospel
even our sorrows
will turn into joy
and the joys of this life
will only get fuller
listen to how our passage ends
in verse 23 and 24
just look at those verses with me
as we walk through
and as we finish up
in that day
Jesus says
that is when Jesus is risen from the dead
and his work is complete
in that day
you'll ask nothing of me
you see up to this point
the disciples have gone to Jesus
with all their questions
and all their needs
but on the basis of his finished work
post-resurrection
there's a new reality
that's opened up
you'll no longer need to ask anything of me
what's the reality
truly truly I say to you
whatever you ask of the father in my name
he will give it to you
until now you've asked nothing in my name
Jesus says
ask and you will receive
that your joy may be full
because Jesus has dealt with our sin
finally and fully at the cross
because he's been raised as our Lord
and heavenly mediator
now he's saying
we have free
and open access
to the heart of God the father
that's what Jesus says
that's what Jesus means
when he says
you won't need to ask anything of me anymore
now you can go straight to the father
and ask anything in my name
now to ask
to ask in Jesus' name
isn't some sort of empty phrase
that we tack on
to the end of our prayers
for good measure
you know
like when you're using a CB
and you say
over and out
you know
this isn't
Jesus' name isn't sort of like
over and out God
I'm done now
no
it means something
to pray in Jesus' name
means to pray
to the father
on the basis of
all that Jesus has accomplished
we don't go in our name
or in someone else's name
we go in Jesus' name
on the basis of what he's done
and it also means
to pray
not just on the basis
of what Jesus has accomplished
but it also means
to pray to the father
in line with
all that Jesus
has instructed
we pray to the father
in Jesus' name
in line with
all that Jesus
has taught us
and when we pray
like that
Jesus says
the father hears
and answers
our prayers
of course
God is much wiser
than us
so he won't always
answer prayer
the way
we think we want
and God is a very patient
and long-suffering God
so we won't always
answer prayer
when we think we want
but God is a faithful God
and his story
of redemption
is heading
to a magnificent conclusion
and he has promised
to include us
in that story
and bring us
all the way home
you see
in prayer
in genuine prayer
prayer to the father
in the name of Jesus
we can take
all of our life
every sorrow
every joy
and we can bring it
before him
and then
we can do something
revolutionary
we can ask
do you ask
it's pretty vulnerable
to ask for something
isn't it
it's pretty risky
to ask for something
so often we don't ask
because we're afraid
to open ourselves up
to weakness
to disappointment
to rejection
in short
one of the reasons
we don't ask God
anything
is because we're afraid
it's just going to lead
to more sorrow
underneath so much
of our prayerlessness
is a hidden fear
that our prayers
won't be answered
and we're just going
to increase
our sorrow
so unconsciously
it seems better
just to stick it out
on our own
but here again
the words of Jesus
in this passage
friends
he says
beloved
don't give in
to your fears
I've died for you
I've risen again
so that you might go
to my father
who is now
your father
and ask
ask that you might
receive
ask that your joy
might be full
so here's where
our passage ends
all this
unshakable
lasting joy
that Jesus
has won for us
in the resurrection
a joy that cannot
be taken away
where do we
experience it
here and now
well
everywhere
and in everything
yes
but the highest
and deepest
and most fundamental
place of all
where we experience
the joy that Jesus
has won for us
is in prayer
the heart
in simple faith
speaking to God
and asking our father
for all that our
needs and fears
and sorrows
and joys require
Jesus promises
there
your joy will be full
so this joy
that can't be taken away
this lasting joy
in the midst
of the world's sorrow
the joy of the resurrection
it's a bit like
a cup of water
on a hot summer day
Christ has risen
from the dead
he has given you life
he's opened your hand
and granted you faith
and united you
to the father
he's placed a cup
of cold water
in your hands
and it is yours forever
and nothing can take it away
and prayer
prayer is like
taking that cup of water
and drinking it
taking deep
long
drinks of cold water
day
by day
a joy
that cannot be taken away
a joy
that you can go on
enjoying
so brothers and sisters
pray
drink
drink the cup
of joy
that's been granted
to you
and let your joy
be full
so church
let us be a joyful
people
even in the midst
of sorrow
because our Lord
is risen
and let us be
a prayerful
people
because it is there
that our joy
will be full
amen
let's pray together
our Father in heaven
we pray that by your spirit
you would take these words
of our Savior
that we've read
and that we've spoken about
and we've meditated on
and you'd work them
into our hearts
Lord many of us today
are sorrowful
would you help us
to grasp again
the resurrection of Jesus
in the midst of our sorrow
and rekindle joy
in our hearts
God
rekindle hope
and Lord
many of us
have become stale
in our prayers to you
Lord
open up for us again
the joy of prayer
that our joy may be full
we pray this in Jesus name
amen
may or may
may
runners
x
feet
may
traffic
attachments
in