The Father’s Joy

// INTRO

Turn in your Bible to John 16.16

Series: The Upper Room

Text: John 13-17

Structure: Chiasm

Pray

Chiasm Structure

A. Setting the example of Unity & Mutual Love 13:1-35

B. Prediction of the disciple’s denial 13:36-38

C. Jesus’ departure tempered by assurance of the Father’s power 14:1-14

D. The promise of the “Helper” 14:15-26

E. Troubling encounter with the world 14:27-31

F. Jesus the vine, disciples the branches 15: 1-1 7

E. Troubling encounter with the world 15: 18-16:4a

D. The promise of the “Helper” 16:4b-15

C. Jesus’ departure tempered by assurance of the Father’s power 16:16-28

B. Prediction of the disciples’ denial 16:29-33

A. Prayer for Unity & Mutual Love) 17:1-26

Two Paths

Scripture lays out two contrasting paths: one that ends in death and one that ends in life. If we read passively, our flesh gravitates toward the darker storyline and everything soon feels hopeless. But when we approach the Bible with hearts fully yielded to the Father, we discover that—even through hardship—God’s narrative always moves toward life and light, overcoming the darkness every time.

SORROW INTO JOY

John 16:16–20 ESV

16 “A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see me.” 17 So some of his disciples said to one another, “What is this that he says to us, ‘A little while, and you will not see me, and again a little while, and you will see me’; and, ‘because I am going to the Father’?” 18 So they were saying, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We do not know what he is talking about.” 19 Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, “Is this what you are asking yourselves, what I meant by saying, ‘A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me’? 20 Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy.

Up to this point, Jesus has been using figurative speech and a lot of examples to help his disciples understand the full picture.

From the time when Jesus proclaimed that one of the disciples would betray and that Peter would deny - we see that Jesus has discoursed without any interaction or questions from the disciples.

Now we see them beginning to deliberate what their teacher has been saying.

So rather than answering them straight forward, he continues in the metaphors.

Key Verse 1: Sorrow to Joy

John 16:20 ESV

20 Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy.

Promise 1: You will be sorrowful

life is going to hand you some situations that will trouble you.

that trouble will, at times, slip into sorrow.

Promise 2: That sorrow will turn into Joy!

Jeremiah 31 Joy

Jer 31 is a fantastic chapter showing the detailed promise and working of God and how he takes your sorrow & mourning and turns it to joy!

Jeremiah is prophesying about the restoration of Israel and Judah after their exile.

Jeremiah 31:11–14 ESV

11 For the Lord has ransomed Jacob and has redeemed him from hands too strong for him. 12 They shall come and sing aloud on the height of Zion, and they shall be radiant over the goodness of the Lord, over the grain, the wine, and the oil, and over the young of the flock and the herd; their life shall be like a watered garden, and they shall languish no more. 13 Then shall the young women rejoice in the dance, and the young men and the old shall be merry. I will turn their mourning into joy; I will comfort them, and give them gladness for sorrow. 14 I will feast the soul of the priests with abundance, and my people shall be satisfied with my goodness, declares the Lord.”

Jeremiah 31:17–20 ESV

17 There is hope for your future, declares the Lord, and your children shall come back to their own country. 18 I have heard Ephraim grieving, ‘You have disciplined me, and I was disciplined, like an untrained calf; bring me back that I may be restored, for you are the Lord my God. 19 For after I had turned away, I relented, and after I was instructed, I struck my thigh; I was ashamed, and I was confounded, because I bore the disgrace of my youth.’ 20 Is Ephraim my dear son? Is he my darling child? For as often as I speak against him, I do remember him still. Therefore my heart yearns for him; I will surely have mercy on him, declares the Lord.

Other Cross References

Matthew 5:4 ESV

4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Isaiah 61:1–4 ESV

1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; 2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; 3 to grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified. 4 They shall build up the ancient ruins; they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations.

Godly & Worldly Grief (Sorrow)

2 Corinthians 7:4 ESV

4 I am acting with great boldness toward you; I have great pride in you; I am filled with comfort. In all our affliction, I am overflowing with joy.

2 Corinthians 7:10 ESV

10 For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.

Godly grief will cause us to repent (return) to God’s way of living (i.e. The Garden of Eden).

Where we walk in communion with him.

There was still temptation in the garden.

It wasn’t until that temptation was acted upon that shame and sorrow were introduced to the picture.

The godly grief that Adam and Eve experienced caused them to return to the Lord. There were still consequences but we see that God continued to bless their life.

The State of Sorrow in Heaven

Revelation 21:3–5 ESV

3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” 5 And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

The Outcome

John 16:21–22 ESV

21 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. 22 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.

Jesus uses the imagery of a woman in labor pains. Though she experieince sorrow and pain, the joy experienced as she’s holding her newborn baby is enough to make her say, “I’d do that again.”

Jesus reassures us that the Joy experienced will be so great that the former sorrow will be forgotten!

ASKING WITH CONFIDENCE

John 16:23–24 ESV

23 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. 24 Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

Jesus again, as he has done throughout this discourse and his ministry - calls us to ask the Father.

This time he point out that as you ask, your joy will be full!

Full

gk. pleroo

:: to make replete (filled or well-supplied), to cram, level up, satisfy, finish, verify, perfect

"To fill completely or bring to full completion—whether by satisfying, finishing a task, fulfilling a purpose or promise, or equipping fully."

Matthew 7:7–11 ESV

7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

When tied together we see that we can ask God because the outcome expected is a positive one.

He is a good father!

IF He is a good Father, then I can trust that His response will be in my best interest, even if I don’t like the answer, I know that He has a better perspective that has the best interest in the end.

John 16:25–27 ESV

25 “I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father. 26 In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to 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.

Jesus opens our eyes to this reality even more and affirms that the Father’s love for us is purely for us.

Based on the work that Jesus was going to do on the cross and his resurrection, our response to believe in Him gives us this access to the Father.

The Basis for Asking

We remember prior words from John 14 that as we love the Father, we gain his heart and perspective and therefore as we ask him, we are actually asking His Will.

REALISTIC OPPOSITION & OVERCOMING

John 16:28–32 ESV

28 I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.” 29 His disciples said, “Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech! 30 Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that you came from God.” 31 Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? 32 Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me.

Jesus now speaks plainly to his disciples and they begin to understand.

Jesus is going away.

He is returning to the Father.

The Helper is coming.

There will be trouble, tribulation, and even sorrow.

However, it will end in complete joy!

OUR FINAL ASSURANCE

John 16:33 ESV

33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Jesus concludes his discourse with these words.

Jesus is… our source of peace

Tribulation is inevitable

Our hearts must rest in truth

Jesus has overcome the world of tribulation

Correlation

Troubled hearts

13:21 jesus spirit was troubled; 14:1 & 27 He says, “Let not your hearts be troubled…”

“In the world you will have trouble [θλῖψις]; but take heart…” —Jesus faces our trouble head-on and answers it.

Peace vs. fear

14:27 “Peace I leave with you… neither let them be afraid.”

“…I have overcome the world.” His victory is the bedrock of the peace He gave in ch. 14.

Love-driven obedience

All throughout the Upper Room (13:34–35; 14:15, 21, 31; 15:10, 12) –we see love = keeping My commandments.

“Take heart” (θαρσεῖτε) echoes the call to loving, confident obedience even under pressure. Our heart is the wellspring of our life.

Hatred from the world

15:18–25 “If the world hates you, know it hated Me first…”

Jesus calls this hatred “tribulation” and immediately anchors it in His finished victory.

The Helper’s presence

In 14, 15, & 16 (14:16–26; 15:26; 16:7–15) – Spirit of Truth promised for guidance and courage.

“Take heart” is now possible because the Spirit (Helper) now applies Jesus’ victory to those of us that are believers.

Hour has come

13:1 “Jesus knew that His hour had come…”

16:32 “the hour is coming—indeed it has come…”16:33 seals the discourse: the hour means suffering and certain triumph, all in one.

From sorrow to joy

16:20–22 “your sorrow will turn into joy.”

16:33 completes that arc: joy is secure because the conquering work is already settled.

Closing Scripture

Psalm 13 ESV

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. 1 How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? 2 How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me? 3 Consider and answer me, O Lord my God; light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death, 4 lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,” lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken. 5 But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. 6 I will sing to the Lord, because he has dealt bountifully with me.

Psalm 21 ESV

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. 1 O Lord, in your strength the king rejoices, and in your salvation how greatly he exults! 2 You have given him his heart’s desire and have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah 3 For you meet him with rich blessings; you set a crown of fine gold upon his head. 4 He asked life of you; you gave it to him, length of days forever and ever. 5 His glory is great through your salvation; splendor and majesty you bestow on him. 6 For you make him most blessed forever; you make him glad with the joy of your presence. 7 For the king trusts in the Lord, and through the steadfast love of the Most High he shall not be moved. 8 Your hand will find out all your enemies; your right hand will find out those who hate you. 9 You will make them as a blazing oven when you appear. The Lord will swallow them up in his wrath, and fire will consume them. 10 You will destroy their descendants from the earth, and their offspring from among the children of man. 11 Though they plan evil against you, though they devise mischief, they will not succeed. 12 For you will put them to flight; you will aim at their faces with your bows. 13 Be exalted, O Lord, in your strength! We will sing and praise your power.