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 Well, turn with me in your Bibles to John chapter 16. That's page 848 in the Pew Bible,

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 if you want to turn there. John chapter 16, we're going to look at verses 16 through 24

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 this morning as we continue our series in this portion of John's Gospel, the Farewell Discourse.

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 So let me pray for us as we turn to God's Word. God, thank you for the clarity and the sufficiency

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 of your written Word. Thank you, most of all, how you continue to reveal yourself to us

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 through your written Word so that we might see and that we might savor and we might praise

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 the incarnate Word, Jesus, all the more. God, we pray for this time now when we meditate on this

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 passage that it would honor you and that it would edify us. We pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.

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 All right, John 16, verses 16 through 24. Jesus says this, he says, a little while and you will

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 see me no longer, and again a little while and you will see me. So some of his disciples said to one

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 another, what is this that he says to us? A little while and you will not see me, and again a little

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 while and you will see me, and because I am going to the Father. So they were saying, what does he mean

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 by a little while? We do not know what he's talking about. Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he

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 said to them, is this what you are asking yourselves? What I meant by saying a little while and you will

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 not see me, and again a little while and you will see me? Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep

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 and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy.

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 When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has

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 delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish for joy that a human being has been born

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 into the world. So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice,

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 and no one will take your joy from you. In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly,

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 I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now,

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 you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

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 How can we find joy in a world full of inevitable sorrow? How can we find joy in a world full of

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 inevitable sorrow? That's the theme of our passage today. And I'm guessing I don't need to say much

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 to convince us that that's a worthwhile topic to consider. After all, who isn't looking for lasting

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 joy? But then again, often we are like the apostles in this passage. We can be a bit confused.

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 Remember, Jesus here is with his closest followers near the very end of his earthly ministry,

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 and he's preparing them for his imminent departure and for their upcoming mission. And Jesus says

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 something here that really confuses them at first. He says, in a little while, you're not going to see

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 me. But then in a little while, you will see me. And the disciples are asking, what on earth does Jesus

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 mean? They all believe that Jesus was Israel's long-awaited king, the Messiah. They all believe that he

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 would triumph over evil and re-establish God's people. That's what the Messiah was supposed to do

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 according to the scriptures. So all this talk about a little while, them not seeing and then seeing

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 Jesus, it didn't really make much sense. The game plan, as far as the apostles were concerned, for the

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 Messiah, who they believed was Jesus, was unmitigated, uninterrupted conquest. Defeat the Romans, cleanse the

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 temple, rule the nations, done deal. That's how it's supposed to happen. But Jesus here is telling them

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 and telling us that being his follower isn't that simple. The true Messiah's mission wasn't one of

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 simple triumph. No, he says first there would be sorrow. And through sorrow, then there would come

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 lasting joy. A little while, and they would not see him. There will be sorrow. And then a little while,

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 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

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 want to look a little more closely at those two ideas, sorrow and then joy. And let's see if we can learn

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 where this lasting joy in a world of sorrow can be found, according to Jesus. So first, let's look at

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 sorrow. Jesus says, in a little while, you will not see me. And that confuses the disciples,

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 understandably, as we just said. And you know what? It has confused many interpreters of John's

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 gospel too, down through the ages. What is Jesus referring to here? Is he referring maybe to his

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 ascension to the Father, to his return to the Father? Is that what he means when he says in a

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 little while, I'm going to go away and you won't see me anymore? Well, that's maybe a good guess.

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 Jesus often talks about returning to the Father in John's gospel. And in the book of Acts,

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 we read Luke's account of the ascension. And Jesus is indeed taken from our sight, taken from their

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 sight. But here's the thing. In the account of Jesus's ascension in Luke 24 and then again in Acts 1,

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 the disciples are not in that moment filled with grief. In fact, Luke writes at the end of his gospel,

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 when he's talking about the ascension, he says they were filled with great joy.

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 And then they go back to the city and worship and praise. So Jesus must be referring to something

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 else when he says in a little while, you will see me no longer. So what is it?

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 Well, it's what Jesus has slowly been preparing his disciples for throughout his ministry.

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 He's been slowly preparing them for the fact that the climax of his earthly work would not be a deed of

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 obvious triumph, but an act that from the outside looked like utter defeat.

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 In a little while, Jesus says, probably less than 24 hours, Jesus would be arrested, condemned,

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 shamefully crucified, and buried. The one with whom the disciples had spent nearly every day for the last

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 three years eating together, traveling, learning, ministering, they would see him no more. He would

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 be killed and buried, no more to be seen. And in a little while because of that, they would experience

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 excruciating sorrow. The one they loved would be taken from them. The one in whom they had placed all

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 their hopes, the one in whom they had begun to dream these most soul-thrilling, vivid dreams.

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 But look again at verse 20. Jesus says, truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament,

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 but the world will rejoice.

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 Here would be perhaps the most bitter part of the pill to swallow. While the apostles grieved their dead

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 teacher, friend, and Lord, the world around them would be rejoicing.

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 The secular Roman authority and the religious Jewish authorities would both rejoice that they

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 had finally gotten rid of Jesus, the troublemaker from Galilee, the would-be king of the Jews.

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 Now, friends, pause with me here for a moment.

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 Jesus is telling his disciples that sorrow is soon to be inevitable for them.

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 I wonder, do you and I live under the illusion that somehow we can be immune from sorrow in this

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 world? Can we be immune from weeping and lamenting, as verse 20 says?

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 Where are you placing your hopes for joy? Many of us are placing our hopes in a good career.

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 Many of us are placing our hopes in a healthy family. Many of us are placing our hopes for joy

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 in cultural pursuits or an intellectual growth. But can any of these things really last?

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 They're all good things in their own right, in their own place, but will they keep you

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 immune from the inevitable sorrow that will come?

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 Beth and I recently watched a movie about the American author Thomas Wolfe

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 and his editor named Maxwell something or other, played by Colin Firth. It's actually kind of a cool

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 movie. But Thomas Wolfe was from Asheville, North Carolina, and he published his first book in 1929,

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 before he had even turned 30. He was 29 years old and wrote a novel. And then he would go on to

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 publish another novel in 1935. And soon, Thomas Wolfe was being lauded as one of the greatest writers of

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 his generation. And he was even being compared with some of the greatest novelists of all time.

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 Can you imagine being in your mid-30s and having reached the pinnacle of artistic success,

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 that people are mentioning your name in the same breath as Dickens and Dostoevsky and James Joyce

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 and Ernest Hemingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald? Can you imagine joining the pantheon of these great

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 novelists and you haven't even turned 40? Now, maybe you don't care a snap about novelists and writing,

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 but whatever it is, imagine what it would be like. Whatever your field or whatever your pursuit or

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 whatever your desire might be, that you're one of the greats and you haven't even gotten started yet.

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 And yet in a little while, it would all slip away for Wolfe. He fell sick with pneumonia while visiting

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 a sister in Seattle, was diagnosed with miliary tuberculosis, which is sort of lesions that just

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 begin to spread throughout your whole body. They feared that these things had gotten worse and

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 worse and worse. So he traveled to Baltimore to get the best treatment in the country from the

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 world's most renowned, the country's most renowned neurosurgeon at Johns Hopkins. But despite it all,

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 18 days before his 38th birthday, Wolfe tragically dies at Johns Hopkins Hospital.

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 Life is so unbelievably frail. And sorrow, friends, is inevitable.

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 Are you and I under the illusion that it will not come for us? But it will.

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 So what hope is there for us? Where can we find lasting joy when every hope seems to slip through

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 our fingers in the end? And when eventually death will steal it all away?

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 Well, Jesus here points the way. He tells his disciples first about that sorrow that is coming

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 and coming soon. But then he says, and again in a little while, you will see me.

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 And that brings us to the second big idea of our passage, joy. Look again at verse 20,

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 which is really the center of this whole passage. Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament,

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 but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy.

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 Your sorrow will turn into joy. What is Jesus referring to here? If they were going to see him

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 no longer, how could they possibly see him again? What could possibly turn sorrow into joy?

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 Well, friends, Jesus can only be referring to one thing. There's only one way that the apostles could

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 truly see him again. There's only one way that seeing him again would take all their sorrow and

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 turn it into joy. Only one thing. And it's the proclamation of the church from the very beginning.

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 The very thing that makes Christianity what it is from now until the end of time and into eternity.

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 The fact that Jesus, the crucified Messiah, has been raised from the dead. The resurrection of

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 Jesus Christ is the one and only thing that can give lasting joy. Why?

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 Well, in verse 21, Jesus gives the analogy of a pregnant mother. Picture Jesus as a mother writhing

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 in the pain of childbirth. Now, I don't need to tell you that I have not given birth, but I have

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 watched it happen three times. And what I have learned from observation is that birth pains are incredibly

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 intense. They're all consuming and they get worse as time goes on. But then Jesus says,

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 even though birth pains are some of the worst a human will ever experience, the pains of birth give

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 way to indescribable joy. A joy so great that the pains are almost forgotten. Why? Because a human

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 being has come into the world. And not just any human being, a son, a daughter, a beloved child.

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 And when you see that beloved, Jesus says, the pain and sorrow melt away and you are awash in joy.

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 Jesus says to his disciples, it's going to be like that. When you see me again, your sorrow will give way

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 to joy. Because then, because then you'll know that your hopes and your labors and your sacrifices

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 and your dreams, Jesus says to his apostles, above all, you'll know that your love for me, it wasn't in vain.

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 Because I'm alive forevermore and nothing, nothing will take me away from you.

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 That's why the joy is everlasting. That's why Jesus can say, no one will take your joy away from you.

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 Because if your joy is Christ and Christ has conquered even death, what could possibly take it away now?

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 The world tried ridiculing Jesus. The world tried condemning Jesus. The world even tried killing Jesus

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 once and for all. And yet none of it worked. Not even death could hold him back.

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 But you know, there's a deeper layer here. When Jesus talks about the woman in labor, he's picking up

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 actually an Old Testament theme that runs throughout many of the prophets in the Hebrew Scriptures.

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 In fact, our reading from Isaiah 26 earlier was, is one of those passages.

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 The prophets saw a time when God's people would undergo great distress before his final victory

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 and salvation came. In Jesus' day, picking up on these Old Testament themes, they would often speak

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 of the birth pains of the Messiah to refer to a period of trouble and terrible travail that would

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 precede the kind of coming and consummation of God's salvation. So there's this theme running through

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 Scripture running about in Jesus' day that birth pains are coming before God does his victorious act.

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 But friends, don't you see? Who's the real mother in this story?

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 Is not joy? Who's the one who lives in this story?

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 Who is the one who admired it? Who is the one who endured unspeakable sorrow

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 so that another might be given life?

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 Is not Jesus the true mother in the story of salvation?

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 the prophets saw that the people would suffer before salvation would come but Jesus

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 our king stepped into that suffering on our behalf he endured the pain so that all who

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 believe in him could be born into everlasting life and he rose again so that we might know

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 it can never be taken from us how is it that our sorrows can turn into joy friends if God

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 gave us what we deserve we would only get sorrow but Jesus like a mother in childbirth suffered so

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 that we might have life and joy he writhed and cried out on a cross so that you and I could be

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 born anew because at the cross there was an exchange that happened your sin for his righteousness

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 he took your sin and sorrow that your sins deserved so that you could have the joy of the

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 righteousness that his life deserved and that's the promise for all who turn and place their trust

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 in Jesus forgiveness of sins now righteousness before God an unshakable joy to come

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 friends does what you believe include anything like what I just described what the bible talks about

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 does your worldview include anything like a God who loves you so much that he would suffer bleed and

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 die for you many world religions many spiritualities speak about God as a great mother but only

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 Christianity speaks of a God who actually took flesh and who actually suffered like a mother in pains

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 even more excruciating than childbirth for you though you did not deserve it so that you might live

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 why would you not believe and trust in a God like that why would you not put your trust in the God of

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 the Bible the God of Jesus Christ

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 and notice as well Jesus doesn't say that your sorrow will be replaced by joy could have easily said that

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 right the day is coming when your sorrow is going to be replaced by joy he says this he says your sorrow

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 is going to turn into joy

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 well that's a funny expression isn't it

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 but do you see what that means

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 it means that the church that those who trust in Christ can always be hopeful and never despairing

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 because no matter how bad it gets

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 Jesus is able to turn sorrow into joy

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 how do we know this

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 well when Christ rose on the third day the apostles saw that the cross was actually our salvation

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 they saw and understood and proclaimed that God was able to use one of the cruelest inventions of human evil

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 Roman crucifixion to bring about the greatest of heavenly good

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 and likewise when Christ returns in glory

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 all of us will see

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 how even the deepest sorrows of the church age

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 will be swallowed up in victory

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 healed

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 restored

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 redeemed

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 these momentary afflictions Paul says

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 are preparing for us

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 an eternal weight of glory

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 your sorrows will turn into joy

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 but what will be the crowning moment of it all

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 what was the crowning moment for the first disciples on Easter Sunday

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 what will it be for all the church on the last day

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 what will be the sort of pinnacle of the joy

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 look at verse 22

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 Jesus says

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 quite simply

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 I will see you again

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 beholding Christ face to face

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 that will be glory

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 when the mother sees the face of her child

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 she knows it was all worth it

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 and when we see Christ face to face

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 not just when we see him

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 notice what Jesus says

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 when he sees us

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 I will see you

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 when we see him

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 seeing us

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 with eyes of eternal love

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 and endless beauty

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 with eyes that know our deepest flaws

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 and yet love us

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 with unmistakable

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 and unrelenting passion

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 when he sees us

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 we'll know it was all worth it

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 just like the first disciples on Easter Sunday

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 all our hopes

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 all our labors

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 all our sacrifice

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 all our dreams

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 yes even all our sorrows

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 will know

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 that they were not

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 in

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 vain

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 I will see you again

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 and your hearts will rejoice

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 so you see the resurrection of Jesus Christ

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 the conquering of death

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 the conquering of sin

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 holds forth

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 indestructible

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 joy

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 but if we're living only for this life

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 if our joys are grounded

00:21:41.379 --> 00:21:42.859
 only in the things of this life

00:21:42.859 --> 00:21:43.919
 then all of our joys

00:21:43.919 --> 00:21:45.220
 will turn to sorrow in the end

00:21:45.220 --> 00:21:47.480
 just like the warmest fire

00:21:47.480 --> 00:21:49.180
 only turns into ash

00:21:49.180 --> 00:21:50.680
 if you wait long enough

00:21:50.680 --> 00:21:53.539
 so if we put our hopes

00:21:53.539 --> 00:21:54.460
 in earthly joys

00:21:54.460 --> 00:21:55.900
 it's only going to eventually

00:21:55.900 --> 00:21:57.200
 turn into ash

00:21:57.200 --> 00:21:57.839
 in the end

00:21:57.839 --> 00:21:59.559
 but

00:21:59.559 --> 00:22:01.900
 in the gospel friends

00:22:01.900 --> 00:22:03.279
 this good news

00:22:03.279 --> 00:22:04.500
 rings forth

00:22:04.500 --> 00:22:06.140
 for all who hear

00:22:06.140 --> 00:22:06.799
 and receive

00:22:06.799 --> 00:22:08.120
 the truth of the resurrection

00:22:08.120 --> 00:22:09.079
 of Jesus Christ

00:22:09.079 --> 00:22:10.640
 the sorrows of this life

00:22:10.640 --> 00:22:12.079
 will turn into joy

00:22:12.079 --> 00:22:15.000
 in the gospel

00:22:15.000 --> 00:22:16.599
 even our sorrows

00:22:16.599 --> 00:22:18.199
 will turn into joy

00:22:18.199 --> 00:22:20.659
 and the joys of this life

00:22:20.659 --> 00:22:23.299
 will only get fuller

00:22:23.299 --> 00:22:26.319
 listen to how our passage ends

00:22:26.319 --> 00:22:27.460
 in verse 23 and 24

00:22:27.460 --> 00:22:28.779
 just look at those verses with me

00:22:28.779 --> 00:22:29.460
 as we walk through

00:22:29.460 --> 00:22:30.199
 and as we finish up

00:22:30.199 --> 00:22:30.879
 in that day

00:22:30.879 --> 00:22:31.819
 Jesus says

00:22:31.819 --> 00:22:33.919
 that is when Jesus is risen from the dead

00:22:33.919 --> 00:22:35.099
 and his work is complete

00:22:35.099 --> 00:22:36.119
 in that day

00:22:36.119 --> 00:22:37.799
 you'll ask nothing of me

00:22:37.799 --> 00:22:39.460
 you see up to this point

00:22:39.460 --> 00:22:40.819
 the disciples have gone to Jesus

00:22:40.819 --> 00:22:41.720
 with all their questions

00:22:41.720 --> 00:22:42.460
 and all their needs

00:22:42.460 --> 00:22:44.639
 but on the basis of his finished work

00:22:44.639 --> 00:22:45.539
 post-resurrection

00:22:45.539 --> 00:22:46.939
 there's a new reality

00:22:46.939 --> 00:22:47.799
 that's opened up

00:22:47.799 --> 00:22:49.939
 you'll no longer need to ask anything of me

00:22:49.939 --> 00:22:51.019
 what's the reality

00:22:51.019 --> 00:22:52.539
 truly truly I say to you

00:22:52.539 --> 00:22:54.960
 whatever you ask of the father in my name

00:22:54.960 --> 00:22:56.539
 he will give it to you

00:22:56.539 --> 00:22:59.500
 until now you've asked nothing in my name

00:22:59.500 --> 00:23:00.039
 Jesus says

00:23:00.039 --> 00:23:01.500
 ask and you will receive

00:23:01.500 --> 00:23:03.460
 that your joy may be full

00:23:03.460 --> 00:23:05.879
 because Jesus has dealt with our sin

00:23:05.879 --> 00:23:08.279
 finally and fully at the cross

00:23:08.279 --> 00:23:10.220
 because he's been raised as our Lord

00:23:10.220 --> 00:23:11.259
 and heavenly mediator

00:23:11.259 --> 00:23:12.319
 now he's saying

00:23:12.319 --> 00:23:13.100
 we have free

00:23:13.100 --> 00:23:14.700
 and open access

00:23:14.700 --> 00:23:16.980
 to the heart of God the father

00:23:16.980 --> 00:23:20.220
 that's what Jesus says

00:23:20.220 --> 00:23:21.180
 that's what Jesus means

00:23:21.180 --> 00:23:21.660
 when he says

00:23:21.660 --> 00:23:24.519
 you won't need to ask anything of me anymore

00:23:24.519 --> 00:23:27.180
 now you can go straight to the father

00:23:27.180 --> 00:23:29.120
 and ask anything in my name

00:23:29.120 --> 00:23:31.900
 now to ask

00:23:31.900 --> 00:23:34.259
 to ask in Jesus' name

00:23:34.259 --> 00:23:36.059
 isn't some sort of empty phrase

00:23:36.059 --> 00:23:37.460
 that we tack on

00:23:37.460 --> 00:23:38.460
 to the end of our prayers

00:23:38.460 --> 00:23:39.240
 for good measure

00:23:39.240 --> 00:23:40.440
 you know

00:23:40.440 --> 00:23:41.700
 like when you're using a CB

00:23:41.700 --> 00:23:42.380
 and you say

00:23:42.380 --> 00:23:43.579
 over and out

00:23:43.579 --> 00:23:44.059
 you know

00:23:44.059 --> 00:23:44.559
 this isn't

00:23:44.559 --> 00:23:45.779
 Jesus' name isn't sort of like

00:23:45.779 --> 00:23:46.559
 over and out God

00:23:46.559 --> 00:23:47.160
 I'm done now

00:23:47.160 --> 00:23:47.519
 no

00:23:47.519 --> 00:23:48.539
 it means something

00:23:48.539 --> 00:23:51.640
 to pray in Jesus' name

00:23:51.640 --> 00:23:52.539
 means to pray

00:23:52.539 --> 00:23:53.680
 to the father

00:23:53.680 --> 00:23:55.460
 on the basis of

00:23:55.460 --> 00:23:57.340
 all that Jesus has accomplished

00:23:57.340 --> 00:24:00.059
 we don't go in our name

00:24:00.059 --> 00:24:02.579
 or in someone else's name

00:24:02.579 --> 00:24:04.400
 we go in Jesus' name

00:24:04.400 --> 00:24:06.180
 on the basis of what he's done

00:24:06.180 --> 00:24:08.640
 and it also means

00:24:08.640 --> 00:24:09.039
 to pray

00:24:09.039 --> 00:24:10.019
 not just on the basis

00:24:10.019 --> 00:24:11.180
 of what Jesus has accomplished

00:24:11.180 --> 00:24:11.900
 but it also means

00:24:11.900 --> 00:24:12.740
 to pray to the father

00:24:12.740 --> 00:24:14.220
 in line with

00:24:14.220 --> 00:24:15.400
 all that Jesus

00:24:15.400 --> 00:24:16.320
 has instructed

00:24:16.320 --> 00:24:19.380
 we pray to the father

00:24:19.380 --> 00:24:20.779
 in Jesus' name

00:24:20.779 --> 00:24:21.980
 in line with

00:24:21.980 --> 00:24:22.640
 all that Jesus

00:24:22.640 --> 00:24:23.620
 has taught us

00:24:23.620 --> 00:24:26.779
 and when we pray

00:24:26.779 --> 00:24:27.519
 like that

00:24:27.519 --> 00:24:29.060
 Jesus says

00:24:29.060 --> 00:24:29.900
 the father hears

00:24:29.900 --> 00:24:30.740
 and answers

00:24:30.740 --> 00:24:31.400
 our prayers

00:24:31.400 --> 00:24:34.660
 of course

00:24:34.660 --> 00:24:35.580
 God is much wiser

00:24:35.580 --> 00:24:36.080
 than us

00:24:36.080 --> 00:24:37.620
 so he won't always

00:24:37.620 --> 00:24:38.200
 answer prayer

00:24:38.200 --> 00:24:38.700
 the way

00:24:38.700 --> 00:24:39.680
 we think we want

00:24:39.680 --> 00:24:42.240
 and God is a very patient

00:24:42.240 --> 00:24:43.220
 and long-suffering God

00:24:43.220 --> 00:24:43.920
 so we won't always

00:24:43.920 --> 00:24:44.519
 answer prayer

00:24:44.519 --> 00:24:46.060
 when we think we want

00:24:46.060 --> 00:24:49.080
 but God is a faithful God

00:24:49.080 --> 00:24:50.920
 and his story

00:24:50.920 --> 00:24:51.480
 of redemption

00:24:51.480 --> 00:24:52.080
 is heading

00:24:52.080 --> 00:24:54.080
 to a magnificent conclusion

00:24:54.080 --> 00:24:55.720
 and he has promised

00:24:55.720 --> 00:24:57.300
 to include us

00:24:57.300 --> 00:24:58.500
 in that story

00:24:58.500 --> 00:24:59.380
 and bring us

00:24:59.380 --> 00:25:00.320
 all the way home

00:25:00.319 --> 00:25:02.980
 you see

00:25:02.980 --> 00:25:03.599
 in prayer

00:25:03.599 --> 00:25:04.700
 in genuine prayer

00:25:04.700 --> 00:25:05.919
 prayer to the father

00:25:05.919 --> 00:25:06.779
 in the name of Jesus

00:25:06.779 --> 00:25:07.299
 we can take

00:25:07.299 --> 00:25:08.259
 all of our life

00:25:08.259 --> 00:25:09.539
 every sorrow

00:25:09.539 --> 00:25:10.639
 every joy

00:25:10.639 --> 00:25:11.740
 and we can bring it

00:25:11.740 --> 00:25:12.439
 before him

00:25:12.439 --> 00:25:13.319
 and then

00:25:13.319 --> 00:25:14.599
 we can do something

00:25:14.599 --> 00:25:15.559
 revolutionary

00:25:15.559 --> 00:25:18.359
 we can ask

00:25:18.359 --> 00:25:22.859
 do you ask

00:25:22.859 --> 00:25:26.859
 it's pretty vulnerable

00:25:26.859 --> 00:25:28.139
 to ask for something

00:25:28.139 --> 00:25:28.559
 isn't it

00:25:28.559 --> 00:25:31.079
 it's pretty risky

00:25:31.079 --> 00:25:32.879
 to ask for something

00:25:32.879 --> 00:25:36.599
 so often we don't ask

00:25:36.599 --> 00:25:37.579
 because we're afraid

00:25:37.579 --> 00:25:39.179
 to open ourselves up

00:25:39.179 --> 00:25:40.779
 to weakness

00:25:40.779 --> 00:25:42.179
 to disappointment

00:25:42.179 --> 00:25:43.539
 to rejection

00:25:43.539 --> 00:25:44.839
 in short

00:25:44.839 --> 00:25:45.359
 one of the reasons

00:25:45.359 --> 00:25:46.299
 we don't ask God

00:25:46.299 --> 00:25:46.539
 anything

00:25:46.539 --> 00:25:47.619
 is because we're afraid

00:25:47.619 --> 00:25:48.399
 it's just going to lead

00:25:48.399 --> 00:25:49.179
 to more sorrow

00:25:49.179 --> 00:25:52.940
 underneath so much

00:25:52.940 --> 00:25:53.799
 of our prayerlessness

00:25:53.799 --> 00:25:55.000
 is a hidden fear

00:25:55.000 --> 00:25:56.579
 that our prayers

00:25:56.579 --> 00:25:57.500
 won't be answered

00:25:57.500 --> 00:25:59.019
 and we're just going

00:25:59.019 --> 00:25:59.559
 to increase

00:25:59.559 --> 00:26:00.180
 our sorrow

00:26:00.180 --> 00:26:02.819
 so unconsciously

00:26:02.819 --> 00:26:03.420
 it seems better

00:26:03.420 --> 00:26:04.220
 just to stick it out

00:26:04.220 --> 00:26:04.720
 on our own

00:26:04.720 --> 00:26:08.579
 but here again

00:26:08.579 --> 00:26:09.240
 the words of Jesus

00:26:09.240 --> 00:26:09.960
 in this passage

00:26:09.960 --> 00:26:10.279
 friends

00:26:10.279 --> 00:26:10.660
 he says

00:26:10.660 --> 00:26:11.059
 beloved

00:26:11.059 --> 00:26:13.579
 don't give in

00:26:13.579 --> 00:26:14.639
 to your fears

00:26:14.639 --> 00:26:17.019
 I've died for you

00:26:17.019 --> 00:26:18.619
 I've risen again

00:26:18.619 --> 00:26:20.299
 so that you might go

00:26:20.299 --> 00:26:21.220
 to my father

00:26:21.220 --> 00:26:21.879
 who is now

00:26:21.879 --> 00:26:22.779
 your father

00:26:22.779 --> 00:26:24.059
 and ask

00:26:24.059 --> 00:26:25.659
 ask that you might

00:26:25.659 --> 00:26:26.279
 receive

00:26:26.279 --> 00:26:27.839
 ask that your joy

00:26:27.839 --> 00:26:28.659
 might be full

00:26:28.659 --> 00:26:33.619
 so here's where

00:26:33.619 --> 00:26:34.399
 our passage ends

00:26:34.400 --> 00:26:35.540
 all this

00:26:35.540 --> 00:26:36.700
 unshakable

00:26:36.700 --> 00:26:37.880
 lasting joy

00:26:37.880 --> 00:26:38.660
 that Jesus

00:26:38.660 --> 00:26:39.740
 has won for us

00:26:39.740 --> 00:26:40.500
 in the resurrection

00:26:40.500 --> 00:26:41.759
 a joy that cannot

00:26:41.759 --> 00:26:42.780
 be taken away

00:26:42.780 --> 00:26:43.720
 where do we

00:26:43.720 --> 00:26:44.700
 experience it

00:26:44.700 --> 00:26:45.580
 here and now

00:26:45.580 --> 00:26:47.280
 well

00:26:47.280 --> 00:26:48.100
 everywhere

00:26:48.100 --> 00:26:48.920
 and in everything

00:26:48.920 --> 00:26:49.560
 yes

00:26:49.560 --> 00:26:50.400
 but the highest

00:26:50.400 --> 00:26:50.980
 and deepest

00:26:50.980 --> 00:26:51.780
 and most fundamental

00:26:51.780 --> 00:26:52.660
 place of all

00:26:52.660 --> 00:26:53.660
 where we experience

00:26:53.660 --> 00:26:54.660
 the joy that Jesus

00:26:54.660 --> 00:26:55.460
 has won for us

00:26:55.460 --> 00:26:56.420
 is in prayer

00:26:56.420 --> 00:26:59.080
 the heart

00:26:59.080 --> 00:27:00.340
 in simple faith

00:27:00.340 --> 00:27:01.640
 speaking to God

00:27:01.640 --> 00:27:03.160
 and asking our father

00:27:03.160 --> 00:27:04.340
 for all that our

00:27:04.340 --> 00:27:05.120
 needs and fears

00:27:05.120 --> 00:27:05.640
 and sorrows

00:27:05.640 --> 00:27:06.620
 and joys require

00:27:06.620 --> 00:27:09.320
 Jesus promises

00:27:09.320 --> 00:27:09.960
 there

00:27:09.960 --> 00:27:12.060
 your joy will be full

00:27:12.060 --> 00:27:15.100
 so this joy

00:27:15.100 --> 00:27:16.100
 that can't be taken away

00:27:16.100 --> 00:27:17.180
 this lasting joy

00:27:17.180 --> 00:27:17.620
 in the midst

00:27:17.620 --> 00:27:18.460
 of the world's sorrow

00:27:18.460 --> 00:27:19.720
 the joy of the resurrection

00:27:19.720 --> 00:27:20.400
 it's a bit like

00:27:20.400 --> 00:27:21.180
 a cup of water

00:27:21.180 --> 00:27:22.680
 on a hot summer day

00:27:22.680 --> 00:27:25.660
 Christ has risen

00:27:25.660 --> 00:27:26.259
 from the dead

00:27:26.259 --> 00:27:28.580
 he has given you life

00:27:28.580 --> 00:27:30.400
 he's opened your hand

00:27:30.400 --> 00:27:31.580
 and granted you faith

00:27:31.580 --> 00:27:32.720
 and united you

00:27:32.720 --> 00:27:33.400
 to the father

00:27:33.400 --> 00:27:34.700
 he's placed a cup

00:27:34.700 --> 00:27:35.620
 of cold water

00:27:35.620 --> 00:27:36.380
 in your hands

00:27:36.380 --> 00:27:37.360
 and it is yours forever

00:27:37.360 --> 00:27:39.019
 and nothing can take it away

00:27:39.019 --> 00:27:41.440
 and prayer

00:27:41.440 --> 00:27:42.779
 prayer is like

00:27:42.779 --> 00:27:44.000
 taking that cup of water

00:27:44.000 --> 00:27:45.579
 and drinking it

00:27:45.579 --> 00:27:47.360
 taking deep

00:27:47.360 --> 00:27:48.440
 long

00:27:48.440 --> 00:27:50.220
 drinks of cold water

00:27:50.220 --> 00:27:50.720
 day

00:27:50.720 --> 00:27:51.640
 by day

00:27:51.640 --> 00:27:52.539
 by day

00:27:52.539 --> 00:27:53.360
 by day

00:27:53.360 --> 00:27:54.339
 a joy

00:27:54.339 --> 00:27:56.259
 that cannot be taken away

00:27:56.259 --> 00:27:57.039
 a joy

00:27:57.039 --> 00:27:58.180
 that you can go on

00:27:58.180 --> 00:27:58.900
 enjoying

00:27:58.900 --> 00:28:00.860
 so brothers and sisters

00:28:00.860 --> 00:28:02.559
 pray

00:28:02.559 --> 00:28:04.559
 drink

00:28:04.559 --> 00:28:05.000
 drink the cup

00:28:05.000 --> 00:28:05.399
 of joy

00:28:05.399 --> 00:28:06.220
 that's been granted

00:28:06.220 --> 00:28:06.720
 to you

00:28:06.720 --> 00:28:07.839
 and let your joy

00:28:07.839 --> 00:28:08.359
 be full

00:28:08.359 --> 00:28:11.599
 so church

00:28:11.599 --> 00:28:12.480
 let us be a joyful

00:28:12.480 --> 00:28:12.899
 people

00:28:12.899 --> 00:28:13.779
 even in the midst

00:28:13.779 --> 00:28:14.299
 of sorrow

00:28:14.299 --> 00:28:15.720
 because our Lord

00:28:15.720 --> 00:28:16.819
 is risen

00:28:16.819 --> 00:28:18.619
 and let us be

00:28:18.619 --> 00:28:19.460
 a prayerful

00:28:19.460 --> 00:28:20.179
 people

00:28:20.179 --> 00:28:21.659
 because it is there

00:28:21.659 --> 00:28:22.879
 that our joy

00:28:22.879 --> 00:28:23.519
 will be full

00:28:23.519 --> 00:28:24.720
 amen

00:28:24.720 --> 00:28:25.559
 let's pray together

00:28:25.559 --> 00:28:33.200
 our Father in heaven

00:28:33.200 --> 00:28:34.460
 we pray that by your spirit

00:28:34.460 --> 00:28:35.500
 you would take these words

00:28:35.500 --> 00:28:36.079
 of our Savior

00:28:36.079 --> 00:28:36.819
 that we've read

00:28:36.819 --> 00:28:38.299
 and that we've spoken about

00:28:38.299 --> 00:28:39.359
 and we've meditated on

00:28:39.359 --> 00:28:40.220
 and you'd work them

00:28:40.220 --> 00:28:40.919
 into our hearts

00:28:40.919 --> 00:28:42.919
 Lord many of us today

00:28:42.919 --> 00:28:43.700
 are sorrowful

00:28:43.700 --> 00:28:46.079
 would you help us

00:28:46.079 --> 00:28:46.899
 to grasp again

00:28:46.899 --> 00:28:48.039
 the resurrection of Jesus

00:28:48.039 --> 00:28:49.200
 in the midst of our sorrow

00:28:49.200 --> 00:28:51.099
 and rekindle joy

00:28:51.099 --> 00:28:51.720
 in our hearts

00:28:51.720 --> 00:28:52.059
 God

00:28:52.059 --> 00:28:53.819
 rekindle hope

00:28:53.819 --> 00:28:55.759
 and Lord

00:28:55.759 --> 00:28:56.559
 many of us

00:28:56.559 --> 00:28:58.339
 have become stale

00:28:58.339 --> 00:28:59.779
 in our prayers to you

00:28:59.779 --> 00:29:00.559
 Lord

00:29:00.559 --> 00:29:01.940
 open up for us again

00:29:01.940 --> 00:29:03.819
 the joy of prayer

00:29:03.819 --> 00:29:05.200
 that our joy may be full

00:29:05.200 --> 00:29:07.159
 we pray this in Jesus name

00:29:07.159 --> 00:29:08.000
 amen

00:29:08.000 --> 00:29:09.880
 may or may

00:29:09.880 --> 00:29:10.059
 may

00:29:10.619 --> 00:29:11.019
 may

00:29:11.019 --> 00:29:11.660
 may

00:29:11.660 --> 00:29:11.880
 may

00:29:11.940 --> 00:29:12.559
 may

00:29:12.559 --> 00:29:13.400
 may

00:29:13.400 --> 00:29:13.859
 may

00:29:13.920 --> 00:29:14.160
 runners

00:29:14.279 --> 00:29:15.960
 x

00:29:15.960 --> 00:29:16.880
 feet

00:29:16.880 --> 00:29:17.759


00:29:17.859 --> 00:29:18.140
 may

00:29:18.220 --> 00:29:18.940
 traffic

00:29:19.660 --> 00:29:19.859
 attachments

00:29:19.859 --> 00:29:19.880
 in