Sorrow to Joy

John 16:16–24 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.

John 16:15–24 NASB95

15 “All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose it to you. 16 “A little while, and you will no longer see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me.” 17 Some of His disciples then said to one another, “What is this thing He is telling us, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me’; and, ‘because I go to the Father’?” 18 So they were saying, “What is this that He says, ‘A little while’? We do not know what He is talking about.” 19 Jesus knew that they wished to question Him, and He said to them, “Are you deliberating together about this, that I said, ‘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, that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; you will grieve, but your grief will be turned into joy. 21 “Whenever a woman is in labor she has pain, because her hour has come; but when she gives birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy that a child has been born into the world. 22 “Therefore you too have grief now; but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you. 23 “In that day you will not question Me about anything. Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask the Father for anything in My name, He will give it to you. 24 “Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full.

Let’s start by talking about the timing of God. In a little while you wont see me, then again a little while and you will...

2 Peter 3:9 ESV

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

Remember the response of the 3 Hebrews in front of King Nebuchadnezzar? Our God can rescue us, but even if He doesnt, we will not bow. Was God on time in rescuing them? Absolutely! Courage, confidence, faith, joy

When Peter jumped out of the boat, when he began to sink, Was Jesus on time in lifting him out of the water? You betcha! Thankfulness, faith, joy

When the darkness of life seems to swallow us up, sucking the life and breath out of us, Is the Holy Spirit on time in bringing the sweet relief of His presence? Praise the Lord, yes! He is! Comfort, peace, joy

The timing of God is perfect, but in this text Jesus is actually talking about the times of God.

The promises God made Abram included making him the father of many nations, his offspring being numerous like the sands of the seashore, Sarai would be the bearer of the promise and finally, about this time next year, you will have a son. When it came time for the promise to be delivered, He got specific. There came a TIME, a specific moment, for this to happen.

When Israel refused to believe God at Canaan (unbelief) the were told they would wander in the wilderness ‘until all who treated God with contempt’ died in the wilderness. That their punishment would be one year for each day they spied out the land (Num15:34). So not only was this time specific, there were specific things to happen in this time.

In prophecy, there are times, time and half times. Not all prophecy is meant to be known at the time of its proclamation. Daniel prophesied about the Messiah in . He gave the timeline, but figuratively instead of literally. says that God, in the fullness of time, sent Jesus… We look back and put those pieces together. Not all prophecy is meant to be a mystery either. I have time on this earth. Imagine it being poured into a vessel. When the vessel is full, I will continue my life in the presence of God. Everyone has time being poured into a vessel.

Even though only the Father knows the TIME of the judgement of the earth and the return of Christ, He let’s us understand the signs of the times.

So when Jesus said in a little while… it was a puzzle to the disciples. He doesn’t rebuke them for not understanding. But He doesnt explain it to them either. He gives them the analogy of the woman giving birth. And its been said that during labor a woman can almost imagine what it’s like for a man to have a fever. IKR. Sorrow transformed to joy. Not the removal of one for the giving of the other!

Whether considering God’s timing or God’s time,

The upcoming events will cause you sorrow, but the fulfillment of these events will cause you great joy! Its hard to know that difficult times are coming. That’s not necessarily the encouraging message I like to preach. But joy comes in the morning!

(NKJV) — 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

The completion or fulfillment of difficult circumstances is often a source of joy.

YOUR sorrow will be turned to joy!

Maybe you’ve realized this through some sorrow already. Maybe you are still sorrowful because of change or loss or other difficulty. Maybe the joy comes in this lifetime like it did for the disciples through the resurrection. Maybe it comes when this life is over as God takes us to where the throes of depression can never reach us. PawPaw

Zoom out: Symbolism from their time in the upper room.

Washing the disciples feet - the attitude of serving one another would be incredibly valuable in the face of the persecution in the early church.

Description of the “Father’s house” - the promise of something better. Maybe more importantly the closeness of community in God’s presence. Not many mansions, but many rooms. Space is not limited, bring as many as you can with you.

Vine and branches - more important than being connected to each other, be connected to the Father.

Birth of a baby - God will transform hard circumstances into joy. Transform is the key.

The coming of the Holy Spirit would give even more clarity to each of these events as He reminded them off all truth.