AFTER A LITTLE WHILE

John 16:16-33 / Keywords 16:22

So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.

 

The Disciples’ Grief Will Turn to Joy

16:16 Jesus went on to say, “In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me.”

17 At this, some of his disciples said to one another, “What does he mean by saying, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me,’ and ‘Because I am going to the Father’?” 18 They kept asking, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We don’t understand what he is saying.”

19 Jesus saw that they wanted to ask him about this, so he said to them, “Are you asking one another what I meant when I said, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me’? 20 Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. 21 A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. 22 So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. 23 In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 24 Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.

25 “Though I have been speaking figuratively, a time is coming when I will no longer use this kind of language but will tell you plainly about my Father. 26 In that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. 27 No, 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 entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.”

29 Then Jesus’ disciples said, “Now you are speaking clearly and without figures of speech. 30 Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God.”

31 “Do you now believe?” Jesus replied. 32 “A time is coming and in fact has come when you will be scattered, each to your own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me.

33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

1. Jesus’ words, “a little while” puzzled the disciples for they didn’t understand his resurrection. In a little while, they would not see Jesus who would be crucified, dead, and buried. The crucifixion would bring grief to them. Then after a little while, they would see the risen Lord and rejoice greatly. Their joy would be lifechanging because Jesus defeated the power of sin and death and opened the way to his kingdom. This shows a spiritual principle: joy and glory come after suffering and pain. Our joy and glory will last forever if indeed we share in his suffering (Rom 8:17). We will remember our pains no more when we see Jesus in his glory. What’s more, God will give us whatever we ask in Jesus’ name. Our joy is complete when we see how lovingly our Heavenly Father answers our prayers.

 

2. When the disciples finally believed that Jesus came from God, Jesus was pleased. He foretold that they would run away when he needed them the most. Yet God was with him and Jesus was victorious. In Jesus, our victory over sin and death is guaranteed. We will triumph in our life of faith in Jesus because our Lord Jesus has overcome the world.

 

Prayer Lord, may we press on as we share in Jesus’ suffering and enjoy his everlasting joy both here and in glory.

One Word Joy comes after a little while