Joy, Peace, and Victory

This morning we are going to wrap up Jesus’ final discourse to his disciples before he goes to be crucified.

Throughout the last several weeks we have looked at how Jesus is preparing his disciples for his departure.

In these last few verses, Jesus is really going to focus on the joy and the peace that the disciples have.

He reassures them that the joy and peace is found in him and him alone.

That doesn’t mean that there isn’t any pain, sorrow, stress, anxiety, trouble, or brokenness in the world.

In fact, we know that all those things are a reality in the brokenness of the world.

We know that things aren’t as they should be.

But when we belong to Jesus we know that there is joy and peace found in him and in him alone.

Here’s the truth that has been known and revealed to many people over the ages.

Jesus changes everything.

A relationship with Jesus can change our outlook.

It reshapes our perspective.

It refocuses our attention.

When we encounter and believe in Jesus we are transformed.

And this morning we are going to look at Jesus telling us just that.

This morning we are going to see that Jesus turns sorrow into joy and turns trouble into peace.

This a great promise of Following Jesus.

Even when things are chaotic, Jesus is Lord.

In verse 16-28, we are going to look at Jesus turning Sorrow into Joy and in 29-33 we are going to see Jesus turning trouble into peace.

Let’s Pray.

John 16:16 CSB

16 “In a little while, you will no longer see me; again in a little while, you will see me.”

Sorrow to Joy

As far as, enigmatic sayings this one takes the cake.

In fact, some people, way smarter than me, can’t agree on what Jesus means by this.

They all agree that the first “you will no longer see me” is talking about Jesus’ death.

His crucifixion.

But it’s the little while and you will see me part where there is disagreement.

Some Believe that this refers to the Second coming of Jesus after his ascension.

Some Believe this is Jesus talking about the giving of the HS.

However, the option that makes the most sense when looking at the context of this verse is Resurrection.

I believe that the little while when they will see Jesus is on Sunday after his crucifixion.

Though b/c John usually speaks on multiple levels in his writing he could be alluding to two or even all three of these options.

Regardless of what he means and how we can understand it, we do know that it caused some confusion with the disciples.

John 16:17–18 CSB

17 Then some of his disciples said to one another, “What is this he’s telling us: ‘In a little while, you will not see me; again a little while, you will see me,’ and, ‘Because I am going to the Father’?” 18 They said, “What is this he is saying, ‘In a little while’? We don’t know what he’s talking about.”

Sorrow to Joy

Needless to say, the disciples are still a little confused by Jesus’ teaching.

Yet not one of them says anything to him.

They aren’t willing to broach the subject with Jesus.

Rather than going to the source to find the answer, they talk amongst themselves and speculate.

I remember when I was in school, especially High School Algebra, when the teacher would say something, rather than asking them directly we would huddle together and try to figure it out on our own.

We were all confused.

None of us knew how to get the answer, but we believed that if we put our heads together than we could figure it out.

Yet the best way to get to the right answer was to reach out to the teacher and ask for clarification.

The teacher didn’t know we were struggling until the test or unless someone said something.

But for whatever reason we were to proud or ignorant to ask the questions.

But Jesus is different than the High School Algebra teacher.

He knows exactly what they are struggling with.

He knows exactly where their hearts are.

He knows exactly what they wanted to ask him.

John 16:19–22 CSB

19 Jesus knew they wanted to ask him, and so he said to them, “Are you asking one another about what I said, ‘In a little while, you will not see me; again in a little while, you will see me’? 20 Truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn, but the world will rejoice. You will become sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn to joy. 21 When a woman is in labor, she has pain because her time has come. But when she has given birth to a child, she no longer remembers the suffering because of the joy that a person has been born into the world. 22 So you also have sorrow now. But I will see you again. Your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy from you.

Sorrow to Joy

Jesus knows about their confusion, but in an act of mercy and grace he doesn’t answer the question in their hearts.

Rather he answers the unsteadiness in their soul.

They think they want the information, but what they need is much deeper.

He identifies their pain.

He identifies their sorrow.

He tells them flat out that they are going to “weep and mourn” as the world, those opposed to Jesus celebrate and rejoice.

The phrase weep and mourn is used to convey the deep hurt and pain that they are going to face at Jesus’ departure.

These words are only ever used in connection with death.

Jesus doesn’t want us to overlook the pain, heartache, and loss that is a reality in this world.

Whether it be sickness or death.

Betrayal or abandonment.

No matter the source of the pain, the pain is real.

But as followers of Jesus we have a never ending fount of joy that we can rush to.

The disciples are going to feel the sting of loss.

They are going to weep and mourn the death of their friend, teacher, and savior.

But Jesus promises them that their sorrow is going to turn to joy.

The heartache is going to turn to rejoicing.

While the world around them is joyful and the death of Jesus they will mourn, but when they see Jesus face to face they will rejoice.

When it comes to sorrow and trouble we need to have look past the reality of what is happening right now and have an eternal vision of what will happen.

This is the picture that Jesus paints when he talks about the woman in labor.

There is pain, but on the other side there is joy.

I was there for all three births of our kids.

And it always surprised me how quickly Corrie got over the pain of the delivery.

The epidural didn’t work with Levi, and so with the other 2 Corrie had an all natural birth.

And all the screaming, crying, and choice words were wiped away when the cry of the baby was heard.

When Corrie held Levi, Declan, and Eden, the cares of the birth Pangs were drowned out by the joy of life held in her hands.

The joy found in the fountain of the gospel is where we should run when we are sorrowful.

The gospel is our joy.

The love of God on display for all creation in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus is our source of Joy.

The creator of the universe loving us is the source of our joy.

So when we are feeling sorrow, pain, hurt, heartache, abandonment, whatever it may be we have to always run back to the fount of the gospel.

It’s when we lose that perspective and we focus on our circumstances that sorrow and pain overtake us.

Jesus promised that through his resurrection there would be joy in the pain.

But we cannot have an earthly perspective for this to be our reality.

We need an eternal one.

We need to know and believe that what happens here on this earth is not all that is.

It is not all that exists.

That there is something greater outside this pain.

And the only way we can get there is if we keep running back to the truth of the gospel.

Listen to some of the Apostles outlooks on the trials that they endured.

1 Peter 1:6-7 “6 You rejoice in this, even though now for a short time, if necessary, you suffer grief in various trials 7 so that the proven character of your faith—more valuable than gold which, though perishable, is refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

Romans 8:18 “18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us.”

2 Cor 4:16-18 “16 Therefore we do not give up. Even though our outer person is being destroyed, our inner person is being renewed day by day. 17 For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory. 18 So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

Having this eternal perspective helps us to see that this life is the worst our lives will ever be.

That on the other side for all eternity we will get to celebrate, rejoice, and love Jesus with all that is within us.

In Fact, this is shown in the disciples lives at the end of John.

John 20.20 “20 Having said this, he showed them his hands and his side. So the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.”

The pain, the sorrow, the mourning that they endured was over come when they saw Jesus.

Their sorrow and mourning was turned to rejoicing.

Because they held onto the truth of the gospel.

That is why in the book of Acts even amongst their beatings, persecution, and even death they rejoiced all the more.

Because joy doesn’t come from our circumstances it springs from Jesus.

Our joy is found in Jesus and him alone.

That’s why Jesus says in v.22 that “no one will take away your joy from you.”

They can’t steal what doesn’t belong to them.

If we continue to run back to the well and source of joy then regardless of how we are treated.

Regardless of what circumstances we find ourselves in.

Regardless of the chaos in our lives we can still hold fast to joy.

Now Jesus says that they can’t steal it away from us.

But we can give it away.

We can give people and circumstances too much power.

We can focus too much on what is happening rather than on the gospel.

And when we do that our joy can be stifled.

John 16:23–24 CSB

23 “In that day you will not ask me anything. Truly I tell you, anything you ask the Father in my name, he will give you. 24 Until now you have asked for nothing in my name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.

Sorrow To Joy

How do we experience and chase after the Joy that is promised to us.

We pray.

We seek communion with our savior.

We approach the Throne of Grace b/c of Jesus’ work.

We ask for Joy.

Joy that is complete.

I said this a couple of weeks ago but it bears repeating.

Jesus wants us to be full of Joy.

He is the source of Joy and joy can only be found in him.

John 15.11 “11 “I have told you these things so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.”

But we will only have joy, we can only have joy when we find it in Jesus.

We cannot have joy apart from prayer.

If we want joy, we must ask for joy in Jesus’ name.

One pastor said it this way, “As disciples we can always be filled with joy b/c we are permanently drilled into the joyous reservoir of Jesus Christ, but there are occasions when God will pour down such joyous rain that our hearts will overflow with joy.”

But what does it mean to ask in Jesus’ name?

How do we ask the Father for joy in Jesus’ name.

Praying in Jesus’ name is not a magical formula that grants us access to God’s favor.

It isn’t an incantation that assures that we are going to receive what we ask for.

Rather praying in Jesus’ name means that we are praying to the Father based on Jesus’ work.

We are praying according to the will of the Father.

We are praying for the things that bring glory, honor, and praise to the father.

Multiple times in this last teaching that Jesus has for his followers he tells them to ask and they shall receive.

It will be granted to them.

Ask and your joy will be made complete.

But asking Jesus and asking in his name does not have self-centered or self-serving motivations.

If we are truly asking in Jesus’ name then we are seeking out his good and his glory.

We aren’t seeking more comfort, more blessings, or more things.

We are seeking more of him.

More that will bring people to Jesus.

More that will conform us to the image of Jesus.

Praying in Jesus’ name is never selfish or self-focused.

It’s praying that our wills align with God’s will and we seek out his goodness and grace.

And as our wills align with his.

As our lives are conformed to our calling then we will have deep and unending joy.

Our joy will be made complete b/c we will be tapped into the source of all perfect joy.

To have complete joy, we need to pray.

John 16:25–28 CSB

25 “I have spoken these things to you in figures of speech. A time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures, but I will tell you plainly about the Father. 26 On that day you will ask in my name, and I am not telling you that I will ask the Father on your behalf. 27 For 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 have come into the world. Again, I am leaving the world and going to the Father.”

Sorrow to Joy

One of the other ways that sorrow turns to Joy at the resurrection is now we have completely different access to the Father.

Prior to Jesus’ death and resurrection people could not go directly to the Father in prayer.

There was always a mediator between God and man.

For most of the Israelite history, this mediator was the High Priest.

He was the one who would stand in the gap and go before the throne of grace on their behalf.

But here, Jesus is saying that he is going to be the one to link us to the Father.

He is going to be the great and perfect High Priest that connects us to the Father.

We no longer need an earthy Mediator.

We have a heavenly one.

And we can approach the Father, not based on our own words or works, but solely based on Jesus’.

Not only that, but we can now be assured that the Father loves us b/c we love Jesus.

And on the bases of that love, the Father will answer and respond to our prayers.

The Father loves us and wants us to have good gifts.

He wants to bless us with the things that will make us think like, act like, and be more like Jesus.

So when we ask him to conform and transform us into the image of Jesus he will do that.

Why?

B/c he loves us.

We can now have an intimate and personal relationship with the Father that was impossible b4 Jesus’ death.

And b/c he is the good, good father we can pray directly to him.

This is a new era for followers of God.

And we should know and see the privilege we have.

Jesus reminds the disciples that the reason this is possible is b/c he came from the Father and is returning to the Father.

One commentator said it this way

The Gospel according to John (3. The Disciples’ Faith (16:25–30))

Here we have the great movement of salvation. It is a twofold movement, from heaven to earth and back again. Christ’s heavenly origin is important, else he would not be our Savior. But his heavenly destination is also important, for it witnesses to the Father’s seal on the Son’s saving work.

Jesus’ going back to the father is the victorious proof that Jesus won the battle over sin and Death.

And it is a completion to the promise that we can find our joy in who he is and what he has done.

But Jesus isn’t done teaching his disciples.

He wants to show them that not only does sorrow turn to joy, but also trouble turns to peace.

John 16:29–33 CSB

29 His disciples said, “Look, now you’re speaking plainly and not using any figurative language. 30 Now we know that you know everything and don’t need anyone to question you. By this we believe that you came from God.” 31 Jesus responded to them, “Do you now believe? 32 Indeed, an hour is coming, and has come, when each of you will be scattered to his own home, and you will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. 33 I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.”

Trouble to Peace

The disciples believe they understand what Jesus is talking about.

Up to this point Jesus has been somewhat cryptic about the things he has taught them.

He has explained some of what he teaches, but here they finally seem to get it.

They finally seem to grasp what he has said.

They at least know the fundamentals.

The groundwork for Christian belief.

They know that Jesus knows everything.

They know that he is sent from God.

They know that he is the messiah.

They know he is “The light of the World, | The Way, The Truth, and The Life, | The Bread of Life, |The Good Shepherd, | The Gate, | The True Vine, | The Resurrection and The Life.”

They know these things and at least claim to believe these things.

But here’s the reality, knowing theological truths about Jesus is not the same thing as believing in the person of Jesus.

It’s one thing to know that Jesus lived, died, and rose again.

It’s a completely new step to believe those claims.

To place your faith and trust in those things.

Knowing about and believing in are different categories.

There are many people that know about Jesus, but they don’t know Jesus. They don’t trust Jesus.

There are many who could give you facts about the Scriptures, but they don’t trust in the Scriptures.

There are many who are simply satisfied with knowing about without believing in.

Now, I want to be fair. There are some who believe in Jesus and just haven’t got to the point where their belief and their actions work in alignment.

This Christian life is a journey.

But we should be pursuing Jesus, not running away from him.

That’s where these disciples are at this moment in time.

So Jesus is going to push back on their words.

Jesus is essentially saying to them “You think you have faith, let’s see what’s going to happen.”

When the rubber meets the road what are you going to do.

He is going to assure them that things are going to get worse before they get better.

They are going to face trials on his behalf.

They are all going to be scattered when Jesus is crucified.

This scattering also fulfills scripture

Zec 13:7 “...Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered...

They are going to abandon Jesus.

He is going to left alone by his followers.

Peter one of his closest friends is going to deny him 3 times.

But Jesus reassures them that even when they scatter he will not be alone.

B/c the Father will be with him.

The Father is not going to abandon the Son.

He is with him till the very end.

But even with this abandonment.

Even though they are going to leave Jesus behind.

He still gives them a glimpse of hope.

A path to peace.

A beautiful picture of the love he has for them.

John 16:33 “33 I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.””

I want you to notice that in this statement where peace comes from.

How do we have peace.

How do we find peace.

We have and find peace in Jesus.

“IN ME you may have peace.”

In this world you will have troubles.

In Jesus you will have peace.

“Whatever the trouble, peace prevails.”

If we are in him.

If we are connected to him.

If we are pursing and chasing after him.

We cannot put our hope for peace in other people.

Or Other circumstances.

We have access to peace right now in the person of Jesus.

Jesus doesn’t sugar coat it.

We will have suffering in this world.

Suffering can be other people.

It could be physical ailments.

It could be death of a loved one.

Disease that riddles our bodies.

It can be attacks from the evil one.

It could be persecution b/c of our beliefs.

It could be family that hates us.

A job that wears us down.

It could be any number of things.

But our peace is found in Jesus.

He is our rest.

He is our comfort.

He is our Joy

He is our peace.

No matter what the world throws at you.

No matter how the world tries to push you down.

No matter what circumstances you find yourself in.

You can find and have peace in Jesus.

Jesus takes our trouble and turns it into peace.

The Jewish idea of Peace that Jesus is driving at there is the idea of Shalom.

Shalom is wholeness. Satisfying life.

Completeness.

So Jesus doesn’t mean that we will have an absence of conflict, but we will find wholeness and completeness in him.

We can endure the troubles of this world b/c our value and worth isn’t found in the the things or circumstances of the world around us, but in a deep meaningful relationship with him.

In fact, Jesus knows that there will be trouble still and so what he points out to the disciples is that he is the victor.

Jn 16:33 “33 I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.””

Those words are the victory cry of our savior.

Be courageous! I have conquered the world.

On the eve of his death, he is already declaring victory.

He knows the battle has already been won.

He wins.

Regardless of what we face.

Jesus has won.

The opposition, the struggles, the suffering that we face in this world is are nothing compared to the victory found in Jesus.

We have peace, We can be courageous, We can have confidence b/c Jesus won.

Jesus is still alive.

Jesus has conquered the world.

So if you belong to Jesus.

If you are following after him.

Trust that you nothing in this world is bigger than Jesus.

That he has already fought the battle and he has secured the victory.

The path to peace and joy is following after Jesus.

You also share in that victory if you belong to Jesus.

Romans 8:31–39 CSB

31 What, then, are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32 He did not even spare his own Son but gave him up for us all. How will he not also with him grant us everything? 33 Who can bring an accusation against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies. 34 Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is the one who died, but even more, has been raised; he also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us. 35 Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Can affliction or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: Because of you we are being put to death all day long; we are counted as sheep to be slaughtered. 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

If you don’t know Jesus.

If you haven’t placed your faith in him.

I pray that you will do that this day.

You will never find true joy, true peace, or true victory outside of Jesus.

Let’s pray.