Sorrow Turned Into Joy

John 16:16-31

It would be easy, reading through John, to shake our heads at these disciples of Jesus! Again and again they fail to get it! Jesus speaks to them, then next we find them murmuring, "What is this He says...?".

Even in the final hours of His life, Christ didn't lose patience with them. With the cross looming ahead, He wasn't anxious, but calmly explained what He meant when He said, "A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me, because I go to the Father."

From our perspective, these words are quite understandable! We know that Jesus was telling them about His death on the cross, and His burial in the tomb - where they wouldn't see Him for a little while. On the third day, the stone closing the tomb would be rolled away, and once again - for a little while they would see Him again. Then He would go home to Heaven, home to the Father, the place we may also call home!

For that "little while" that He was in the tomb the world rejoiced, they were free from the conviction His words of truth brought them. At the same time the disciples were grieving the loss of their Teacher, the Messiah. That sorrow turned to joy, when just three days later, Jesus was resurrected from the dead. The joy they experienced was compared to a woman when she gives birth. During the labor and birthing process a woman may feel as if it is the worst thing she's ever experienced, the pain overwhelming! But once that newborn baby is in her arms something amazing happens, she forgets all but the joy she now feels holding her precious child. This is the great joy that the disciples would have, so wonderful that they would feel that whatever grief they'd known was nothing in comparison to Jesus' resurrection.

The resurrection would bring them into a new relationship with God. The disciples and all believers would now be able to go directly to God to ask for forgiveness, instead of through the priests. Hebrews 10:19-20,22,  tells us, "Therefore brethren having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us...let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith.." Also, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.", further explanation of this new relationship found in 1 John 1:9.

When Jesus explained these things to the disciples, they believed He came from God. The religious leaders did not share this belief, and a time was coming when the believer's would be scattered and persecuted for believing the words of Christ. They would have tribulation. Out of this persecution and scattering many more would come to know Christ, as the believer's shared His story of redemption in places where people hadn't yet heard the Good News.

Christ told them, "I have overcome the world."

And because of that we "can be of good cheer", "have peace", and in Him see our sorrow "turned into joy"!