Sorrow Now, Joy Later

Lesson #266

We ended the last lesson with Jesus telling his disciples that they would weep and lament over his leaving, but their sorrow would soon turn into joy. Jesus then gives an example of sorrow turning 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” (John 16:21 ESV). The fact that joy very often comes out of sorrow is seen in Romans 8:28 (NKJV): And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Even when believers experience death in the face of persecution they will experience joy in heaven. When I listen to or read testimonies of those who experience suffering under persecution, there is usually an expression of joy experienced at some time during their suffering. Love, joy and peace are from God and remain with us through suffering because God remains with us. There will be, however, periods of darkness as we adjust to the conditions of suffering and get our focus back onto God.

Jesus continues: “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” (John 16:22 ESV). To witness the death of Jesus on the cross and then to be laid in the tomb, the disciples would naturally experience sorrow over their loss. This period of darkness, when joy seems to escape them, is only temporary, because soon Jesus is raised from the dead and joins them for a short time, providing assurance that he lives and goes to the Father, to be joined by the disciples at their death. This joy that is set before us is something we as believers have that the world knows nothing about. Their joy ends in eternal destruction, but ours is eternal.

Jesus continues: “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” (John 16:23 ESV). “That day” reaches ahead to the time when they would experience a great light of understanding from the Holy Spirit. The days the disciples were with Jesus, were like learning the ABC’s and then words and then short sentences, but when the Holy Spirit comes at Pentecost their understanding will soar and so will their joy. At that time the mysteries of God will begin to unfold before them and will take shape in the formation of the New Testament. “In that day” Jesus has ascended into heaven and the Holy Spirit has come to dwell within believers. In place of Jesus, he now provides the understanding they need.

We will end this lesson at this point and begin the next lesson by covering the remaining part of the verse: “Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you.”

Prayer

Father, with sin came death in so many different forms and with death came sorrow because of loss, a loss which is heightened during persecution. Paul said: “Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ” (Philippians 3:8 ESV). Once Paul experienced Jesus, the loss of all things came within reach. Under the suffering of persecution, it is with great sorrow that we are asked to give up everything to hold onto Jesus Christ, but through that sorrow of loss, the joy we have in Jesus magnifies itself in us. Father, thank you for that joy that no one can take away.