Private Ministry: Your Sorrow Will Turn to Joy (16:16-33)

Introduction:

Last week, we saw Jesus begin with the continued theme of the world’s hatred for His followers, but soon transitioned into a supernatural realm of hope that would be provided through The Work of the Holy Spirit, in John 16:1-15. We saw that unless Jesus goes away, the Holy Spirit will not come, in fact, Jesus would send Him as part of His ascension back to His Father. Jesus made it clear that the Holy Spirit would convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and would be the disciple’s guide to God’s truth.

This morning we will see once again in Jesus dialog with His disciples, how the reality of His departure is evident by the disciples intense sorrow. It becomes most apparent by this dialog with His disciples, that Jesus is giving His farewell discourse where He speaks hope into them as he declares that Your Sorrow Will Turn to Joy (16:16-33).

Text: John 16:16-33

John 16:16–33 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.”

Main Idea: Since Christ has promised lasting peace amidst the chaos of life, our sorrow can be transformed into joy through faith in Him.

I. From Grief to Gladness (16-20)

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

A little while ... a little while. The first part of this statement refers undoubtedly to the crucifixion that will take Jesus away from them; the second part, which is much broader, may refer to the resurrection, the coming of the Spirit (14:18), or to the second coming of Christ (14:3). This has an “all ready” aspect to it, and a “not yet” aspect.

The resurrection fits best for the immediate time of the prophecy, since “that day” will be one in which believers make requests of the Father in Jesus’ name (vv. 23, 24);

the second coming fits best the promise of irrevocable joy following traumatic struggle (vv. 21, 22).

As a result of Christ statement, they therefore began a private Q&A session…

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.”

A little while…a little while - These phrase is not new to the disciples, so as they repeat it, they may be recalling four previous instances in which “a little while” is used in John’s Gospel (cf. 7:33; 12:35; 13:33; 14:19).

John 7:33 ESV

33 Jesus then said, “I will be with you a little longer, and then I am going to him who sent me.

John 12:35 ESV

35 So Jesus said to them, “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going.

John 13:33 ESV

33 Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going you cannot come.’

John 14:19 ESV

19 Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.

I am going to the Father. The disciples have connected what Jesus said in v. 10 with the statement of v. 16, and that has made it more difficult for them to understand Christ’s meaning, since one statement refers to the ascension (and the Holy Spirit’s work) and the other to the crucifixion.

John 16:10 ESV

10 concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer;

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’?

Jesus knowing what they wanted to ask Him, initiated the meaning, which is explained through the remainder of the passage.

Their confusion might be this…if the first little while, and you will not see me refers to Jesus ascension and sending the Holy Spirit (which we saw last week in John 16:7-9), what is the meaning of the second a little while, and you will see me. Jesus begins to explain the first little while is his crucifixion.

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.

Truly, truly, I say to you - Jesus is setting the stage with His typical “sit up and listen” phase…”this is so important”.

you will weep and lament…You will be sorrowful, - In order that the comfort which he imparts may be very real, Jesus first pictures to the disciples their very deep grief in connection with his death. The deeper their grief, the more exuberant will be the joy that follows it.

but the world will rejoice - Jesus predicts that when he is crucified, the wicked world — especially of the hostile Jewish leaders — would rejoice. It would look upon the death of Jesus as a “good riddance,” worthy of a celebration. But its joy will be premature.

your sorrow will turn into joy - The disciples’ sorrow will not be of a permanent nature. While it is present, it will, indeed, be very painful. The friends of Jesus are going to weep and wail (or: “weep and lament”).

Jesus now gives a common illustration that will provide both…

II. Pain and Promise (21-24)

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.

The illustration fits the case exactly. Just as the birth of a child, at first produces sorrow and anguish (cf. Gen. 3:16; Is. 26:17), but that selfsame event after a short interval brings about abundant joy.

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.

so also one and the same happening, namely, the death of Christ, would first cause the disciples to weep and wail, but in view of Christ’s glorious resurrection and in the light of the Holy Spirit’s interpretation, would ever afterward be the source of the greatest and most triumphant joy on the part of all God’s children.

no one will take your joy. The blessings of God’s redemption cannot be canceled by any power, either human or satanic. The gracious purpose of God ensures the ongoing joy of salvation even while in the world.

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.

Truly, truly, I say to you - pay attention, listen carefully

ask (arotao [fut, act, ind] - to ask a question) … ask (aiteo [aor, act, sub] - to plead or petition). There are two different Gk. verbs here, the first ordinarily relating to inquiry, and the second to petition. I believe what Jesus is saying by this distinction is profound:

after the ascension, the disciples will receive revealed truth (arotao) through the Holy Spirit and no longer will lack understanding of Spiritual Truths.

However, prayers or petitions (aiteo) will be directed mainly to the Father in my name (in a spirit of complete agreement with the will and purposes of Christ).

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

Until now you have asked nothing in my name. While Jesus was on earth the disciples had not prayed to the Father in the name of Jesus. But now he was saying that they should do so. Regarding the meaning of praying “in Jesus’ name,” we’ve seen this before in John 14:13-14

John 14:13–14 ESV

13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

Ask, and you will receive reminds believers that frequent answers to prayer will give Jesus’ followers great joy as they see God actively at work in the world in answer to their prayers.

One of the most amazing truths resulting from this Pain and Promise, is the…

III. Revelation of Relationship (25-28)

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.

I have said these things to you in figures of speech - Parables and other symbolic forms of speech (as in this gospel: temple, birth, water, bread, vine, etc.) are vivid, but often ambiguous and therefore easily misunderstood. Jesus has explained some figures (meanings of the parables) to His disciples and will reveal the Father more fully and clearly through the instruction of the Spirit of truth whom He will soon send.

The hour is coming refers to the time after Jesus’ resurrection when he would explain much more directly to them the meaning of all that he had done.

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;

In that day you will ask in my name - Jesus is saying that when he has completed His task, there will be a new relationship in which all we do and ask will be in and through the name of Jesus.

I do not say ... that I will ask the Father on your behalf. Jesus is not saying that He will cease to pray for them. He has been and will continue to be their faithful high priest, as the prayer in ch. 17 will illustrate. But His atoning sacrifice is about to open “a new and living way” by which believers may approach God’s holy presence “through His flesh” in prayer and worship (Heb. 10:19-20).

Hebrews 10:19–20 ESV

19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh,

Jesus now explains why this is possible, it is a new relationship between the disciples and the Father…

27 for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.

the Father himself loves you. The three persons of the Trinity are united in their love for believers (3:16). Believers respond with faith and love toward all three persons of the Godhead.

because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God - the reason God loves them.

28 I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.”

I came…I am leaving - Truly beautiful and full of majesty is the finale of Christ’s Farewell to his disciples. The note of victory prevails. We behold the Son of man in the full consciousness of his triumph. Every word spells exultation over the accomplishment of the task which had been assigned. Every clause is filled with resolute determination to carry out the Father’s will. In principle the battle has already been fought.

We have gone from From Grief to Gladness, and though we now have Pain but there is a Promise , and that promise is the Revelation of a new Relationship with the Father (21-24), Jesus now finally makes clear the result is ultimately…

IV. Triumph Over Tribulation (29-33)

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.”

Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech! - In bold confidence, the disciples are so impressed by the directness and clarity of Christ’s words and by his evident knowledge of the whole plan of God, that they seem to indicate that this is it, they’ve arrived at their final training day, as if they feel they are ready for graduation. For they go on to boldly proclaim their faith…

you know all things…this is why we believe that you came from God - They in their assessment, rightly indicate that Jesus is omniscient. Hence, Jesus must be God. 

31 Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? - in the context of the next verse, Jesus calls into question the genuine character of their faith. It is as if the reality of the coming great trial they are about to face will become the test of their statement.

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.

Behold (idou [interjection] - look see. pay attention) - in response to Jesus question regarding their belief.

the hour is coming, indeed it has come - it is like Jesus is saying that they still have some growth in their faith to experience, and that growth is about to take place through a test of their declaration of belief.

you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. The abandonment of the Messiah by His friends (Ps. 88:8, 18) and the scattering of the sheep when their shepherd is struck down (Zech 13:7) were foreshadowed in the OT.

Zechariah 13:7 ESV

7 “Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, against the man who stands next to me,” declares the Lord of hosts. “Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered; I will turn my hand against the little ones.

I am not alone. In most of His suffering, Christ was not alone. But His cry of distress on the cross—“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matt. 27:46; Mark 15:34)—makes it clear that Jesus endured, as a man, a real separation from the Father at that point. This was the climax of what He endured as our sin-bearer.

However, in the midst of this stark reality, Jesus declares peace in the revealed plan and outcome of God’s sovereignty…

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.”

peace ... tribulation. Jesus concludes His discourse with words of hope and realism. He has promised His peace, which surpasses that available from the world (14:27; Phil. 4:7), but has also prepared His disciples to endure the world’s hatred (16:18–25).

I have overcome the world. His triumph over the world is about to occur on His cross (Rev. 5:5, 9) and will be demonstrated in His resurrection and ascension (Rom. 1:2–4).

In the midst of the suffering and hardship that was to come, Jesus’ disciples, and all following them, can have such “peace” in fellowship with Christ. Fittingly, Jesus’ Farewell Discourse (13:31–16:33) ends on a note of triumph.

So What?

Do we understand that Jesus has promised us trials but also peace in the midst of those trials, as a part of the work He accomplished?

Do we understand, that our sorrows we experience in this life, are a direct consequence of living in a condemned world, and that Jesus promises that we can still live victorious presently, and that someday our sorrows will be turned to joy?

Do we realize that we have access and a relationship with God the Father through our position of being in Christ?

Do we also realize, that because of Christ, and our subsequent relationship with Him, that the Father loves us in the same way He loves Christ?