The Truth about Eternal Focus

John 16:16-24

We are continuing our series entitled Truth.

Studying the Verily, Verily statements of Jesus can give us a quick view of what Jesus emphasized as truth.

When He said Verily, Verily, he is literally saying Truth, Truth.

The repetition shows the emphasis and importance of what he is about to say.

Last week we looked at the Truth about Service and we saw Jesus and the twelve disciples in the upper room after the Last Supper.

Jesus gave them an example to follow by washing their feet.

After this he began to teach them many truths for the next 3 chapters.

Truths about their future home in heaven,

Truths about Jesus being the way, the truth and the life.

Truths about Jesus and His Father’s relationship

Truths about the coming of the Holy Spirit

Truth’s about the true vine.

Truths about the hatred of the world around them for the followers of Christ.

Truths about the ministry of the Holy Spirit.

Then we come to John 16:16, and Jesus is preparing to say farewell to His disciples before he is arrested.

Jesus makes the comment, “A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father.”

It raises some questions for the disciples, they still don’t see it.

It becomes crystal clear after the resurrection, all that He’s saying, but for now they don’t get it.

They begin to talk amongst themselves, “What is he talking about?”

Jesus knows their thoughts, He knew that they wanted to ask him what he meant, so he asked them, “Do ye inquire among yourselves of that I said, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me?”

He tells them that they will weep and lament, but the world around them will rejoice.

They will sorrow…but in the end their sorrow will be turned into joy.

Jesus wanted to teach them the Truth about Eternal Focus.

He wanted them to understand, as He wants us to understand today, that our suffering on earth will be nothing compared to the joy and peace we will experience in eternity.

So there are Three Vital Truths that I think we need to see in this passage today.

Understanding these three vital truths, will more than anything enable us to keep serving the Lord, even when we are hurting.

I. Parting Is Temporary

16 A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father.

20 Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.

One of the most heart wrenching, and painful events we can experience on this earth is the times when we have to part from those we love.

Whether leaving a loved ones home, knowing we will not see them for a long time.

Or the parting of a relationship that you know will not be repaired.

or Whether at the bedside of a loved one departing this world.

The pain of parting seems overwhelming, and feels as though it will never end.

But as we read the Bible we see that Parting is Temporary.

First, one day ...

A. We Will See Jesus

“And then after a little while you will see Me.”

As we grow in Christ, our love for Him grows stronger, and our yearning to see Him face to face grows unbearable.

But we are promised that day when we will see Him there at the right hand side of the Father.

We will See Him with our own eyes.

The one who saved us

The One who has helped us

The One who has guided us all through this life.

Here in these verses Jesus is talking to His disciples about the resurrection, and they would see Him again after he is raised from the dead.

But much like most prophesies in the Bible there is both a near and far fulfillment.

The disciples will see the resurrected Lord, and that is important for the foundation of the church.

But the disciples, all His disciples, all those who follow Him and call Him our Lord will see Him face to face.

We have never seen Him in the flesh...

1 Peter 1:8–9 KJV

8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

1 Peter 1:13 KJV

13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

To gird up the loins - is a figure of speech used to getting ready for battle - he says keep fighting knowing in the end Jesus Christ will be revealed to us.

The Parting is Temporary.

But that’s not all…we are told in Scripture that

B. We Will See Loved Ones

Those who have gone before us who have trusted in Christ as their Savior, we will see them again!

1 Thessalonians 4:17 gives us that great promise of gathering will all the believers with Christ.

1 Thessalonians 4:17 KJV

17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Isaiah 66:22 talks about us living together with our children,and children’s children.

Isaiah 66:22 KJV

22 For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, Shall remain before me, saith the Lord, So shall your seed and your name remain.

We are reminded almost daily of our own mortality, and the mortality of those around us that we love.

Some have gone before us, some are preparing to go before us, and some will go before us in days to come.

But as we take each day, one at a time, we carry with us the promise given to us, though we sorrow now, one day soon our sorrow will be turned to joy!

So Parting is Temporary, we will see Jesus, and we will see our Loved Ones...

But I believe there is something else we will see...

C. We Will See Its Worth

Jesus later uses the illustration of a woman in child birth,

21 A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world.

once the child is born she no longer remembers the anguish once she is holding that baby.

I know this was true for my wife.

She was ready to have a second child much sooner than I was.

I didn’t forget what I saw!!

While going through the pain of loss we cannot fathom how it would ever be worth the loss.

And we would never say that to anyone who is grieving.

But Jesus says, when you are on the other side, I promise, It will be worth any pain you had to suffer.

I know this is a hard saying!

I know when you are in the midst of the pain, you cannot imagine anything being worth this pain…even being united with Jesus Christ.

But we have to remember that our thoughts and feelings are tainted by sin and selfishness…not that those feelings are sin, just that they are influenced by sin.

How many mothers while going through child birth, have said “I can’t do this!”, or “I don’t want to do this anymore.”

But once they are holding their baby in their arms, they cry to their child, “you were worth it.”

Can I tell you today, just as the hymn writer said it so well…It Will be Worth It All!

It will be worth it all When we see Jesus Life's trials will seem so small When we see Christ One glimpse of His dear face All sorrow will erase So bravely run the race 'Til we see Christ

Parting is Temporary

We Will see Jesus

We Will See Loved Ones

We Will See Its Worth.

II. Suffering Is Temporary

20 Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.

21 A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world.

There are many types of pain and suffering, many not connected to parting from loved ones.

The Suffering of Sickness

The Suffering of Stress

The Suffering of Aging

The Suffering of Failure

And many other things.

but we are reminded in these verses that not only is the Pain of Parting temporary...But all of our suffering is temporary.

While He tells us that the suffering will be turned into joy it is important to understand a few things about what He is saying.

A. He Doesn’t Dismiss the Weeping

20 Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.

I have to admit there have been times in frustration that I have dismissed the weeping of my child.

Don’t look at me like that, You’ve done it too!

“Stop crying I can’t understand you.”

“That’s nothing to cry about.”

We’ve said it before - or at least you have thought it.

But, whether we want to admit it or not, in those moments of weakness, we are being dismissive.

But Jesus isn’t doing that here!

And he never does!

Jesus understands loss.

Jesus understands sorrow

Jesus understands pain

He is not dismissing your weeping!

He just softly tells you, just as the psalmist said… “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.”

He Doesn’t Dismiss the Weeping, and

B. He Doesn’t Dismiss the Pain

21 A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world.

He is not making light of the pain of child birth, and neither am I.

He is just saying…it’s going to get better!

Jesus understands pain!

He chose to go from being the Creator of the World, to humble himself to become a man who can feel.

Feel the pain of stubbing of a toe

Feel the loss of a friend

Feel the pain of poverty

Feel the pain of exhaustion

Feel the betrayal of a trusted ally

Feel the pain of temptation

Feel the pain and agony of leaving behind those he loved.

Feel the feeling of feeling forsaken by God

Mark 15:34 KJV

34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

Jesus know your pain, and He is not dismissing it…He is just saying it’s temporary!

Jesus Doesn’t Dismiss the Weeping

Jesus Doesn’t Dismiss the Pain

C. He Just Says, “It Will Be Turned to Joy”

22 And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.

This joy no man will be able to take from you!

Isaiah proclaimed years before, and Jesus read it before the synagogue applying it to himself...

Isaiah 61:1–3 KJV

1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; Because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; He hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to them that are bound; 2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all that mourn; 3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, To give unto them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they might be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.

Take hope those who are weeping - Jesus will turn your sorrow to joy.

Take hope those who are hurting - Jesus will turn your sorrow to joy!

We just need to remember - Parting is Temporary, Our Suffering is Temporary

But the third vital truth we need to remmeber, not only will he turn this suffering to joy, but that...

III. Joy Will Be Eternal

22 And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.

23 And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.

24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.

I am reminded of that day when

all wars will be through

All parting is done

All sin is removed

All danger is gone

on that Day when he creates the new heavens and new earth and gives them to us to dwell with him forever.

And on that glorious day our Joy will be eternal,

Revelation 21:4 KJV

4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Our Joy will be eternal…all things are passed away, behold all things are become new.

We will have...

A. Joy in No More Suffering

22 And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.

No more sorrow, no more crying!

our joy no man can take from us!

but not only that…We will have...

B. Joy in No More Questions

23 And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.

Whether it is because we will have all the answers, or perhaps we just won’t care any longer!

I have many questions now because we are on this side of eternity.

We are this side looking through a dark glass, trying to make heads or tails of what we see on the other side.

But once we are there, we will understand, we will see.

But that is in a future day…Yes

we will have joy in no more suffering,

we will have joy in no more questions

But Jesus gives us a very important truth here at the end, and that is we can have...

C. Joy Now in Availability

He has not left us on our own!

23 And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.

24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.

The door to the throne of God the Father is open wide.

The Father looks at us and says Ask, and ye shall receive.

Oh, we may not get all the answers we are looking for.

We may not get the healing we are looking for…if that is not what His plan is.

We may not get loads of money that we are looking for…loads of money has ruined many of people.

We may not get the fancy houses that we desire…no that day is coming soon enough, He’s preparing it right now for you.

Life will not be a bed of roses…but He will give us what we need.

He will give us what will further His kingdom.

He will give us what will enable us to serve Him better.

He will give us His presence as we go through the pain, the sorrow, the trials of this life.

We just need to trust Him, and see the truth of Eternal Life.

God will use the pain…he will use the sorrow and he will turn it into something beautiful.

A young man who was surrounded by possibility, talent and excitement to serve the Lord found himself in a very trying time in his life.

Recently after marrying the love of his life, he began serving the Lord at a Christian College.

He soon began to notice that he was having problems reading, the vision in his left eye was getting blurry.

He went to the eye doctor to get glasses, and after months of tests the doctor said he needs to do surgery, if what he suspected was true when he woke up from surgery his left eye would be gone.

That is what happened, his eye was taken in the surgery.

When he got home he wore a patch that he had made out of an old pair of black boots to protect his eye.

He went to church the next Sunday, and a little boy he knew ran up to him and said what is that on your eye, He said, “It’s a pirate patch.”

“Are you a pirate?”, the little boy asked.

He said, “Well I guess I am, you can call me Patch the Pirate.”

And there began a ministry that has blessed countless thousands, if not millions of Christian families through the stories and songs of Patch the Pirate, Ron Hamilton.

Now there are over 40 adventures with Patch the Pirate and his friends.

When he got out of the hospital, He knew God was good even through this trial and he wanted to write a song to express how good God was.

So he opened his Bible to the Book of Philippians and began to weave together the song that has blessed so many, Rejoice in the Lord.

God never moves without purpose or plan When trying His servant and molding a man Give thanks to the Lord though your testing seems long In darkness He giveth a song

O Rejoice in the Lord He makes no mistake He knoweth the end of each path that I take For when I am tried And purified I shall come forth as gold

In the last verse of that song he sings...

Now I can see testing comes from above God strengthens His children and purges in love My Father knows best, and I trust in His care Through purging more fruit I will bear

O Rejoice in the Lord He makes no mistake He knoweth the end of each path that I take For when I am tried And purified I shall come forth as gold

Even now suffering with dementia, Ron Hamilton still has a smile on his face, and keeps trusting the Lord.

Last month, even though he struggles to remember or communicate any longer, his wife began to sing to him one of the many children's songs he wrote, Keep Your Sunny Side Up

With a large smile on his face you could see him mouthing the words with her.

Keep your sunny side up, up, up

don’t let your face get long

Keep your sunny side up, up, up

when things are going wrong

Get rid of that hard boiled face

and crack a smile in its place

keep your sunny side up, not down

keep your sunny side up, don’t frown.

The night maybe dark right now, but if you will

keep eternity in view,

keep serving the Lord

God will take these things, and through the purging fire you too will come forth as gold.