Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
This automated analysis scores the text on the likely presence of emotional, language, and social tones. There are no right or wrong scores; this is just an indication of tones readers or listeners may pick up from the text.
A score of 0.5 or higher indicates the tone is likely present.
Emotion Tone
Anger
0.1UNLIKELY
Disgust
0.08UNLIKELY
Fear
0.09UNLIKELY
Joy
0.64LIKELY
Sadness
0.62LIKELY
Language Tone
Analytical
0.44UNLIKELY
Confident
0UNLIKELY
Tentative
0.44UNLIKELY
Social Tone
Openness
0.82LIKELY
Conscientiousness
0.62LIKELY
Extraversion
0.04UNLIKELY
Agreeableness
0.93LIKELY
Emotional Range
0.33UNLIKELY
Tone of specific sentences
Tones
Emotion
Language
Social Tendencies
Anger
< .5
.5 - .6
.6 - .7
.7 - .8
.8 - .9
> .9
Intro
Read Text
Today we are going to focus on JOY
2 types of Joy
Temporal Joy — Joy when you win something
Eternal Joy — Joy that cannot be taken from you (birth of a child, salvation signed-sealed-delivered to you through Christ)
This joy has nothing to do with possessions, the environment, or even physical health.
Much deeper rooted than that.
We can mix these two joys together sometimes or even confuse them with happiness
the difference between joy and happiness is best explained by Elise Boulding:
For the real difference between happiness and joy is that one is grounded in this world, the other in eternity.
Happiness cannot encompass suffering and evil.
Joy can.
Happiness depends on the present.
Joy leaps into the future and triumphantly creates a new present out of it.
- Elise M. Boulding
Have you ever felt like you’ve lost your joy?
world struggles, life struggles, pain, sickness, etc,
maybe tied your joy into your happiness?
which sent hope slipping from your grasp, leaving you empty?
Disciples were at that point in our text this morning
They were confused with Jesus’ words, struggling with all that was going to happen to their leader, teacher, friend.
This conversation between them took place just before he was arrested in Gethsemane
They wondered where the joy was?
Where the hope would be? — they were seeing imminent sorrow — Jesus said there would be
Transition: Jesus spoke to them in a nurturing way — in a comforting way — to assure them of the joy they have through all that was to come.
The Disciples
Putting ourselves in the disciples shoes — these words “you will see me no longer” strike the heart hard!
He is leaving — He is going to die!
But Jesus assures them — “In a little while you will see me again.”
There is a necessity for “the little while” — The impact of this seeing again (the resurrection of Jesus) has huge weight for the disciples.
If Jesus only dies and they don’t see him again — then there’s no joy, hope, no gift of the H.S. to guide them in the proclamation of the faith that one day we (the future believers) will cherish.
If Jesus only dies, then sin & Satan win because death has defeated Jesus just as it has been defeating everyone since Genesis 3.
You can feel their concern & confusion of “you will no longer see me” — there anxiety of losing him - losing their joy - losing their hope
That is why Jesus is is explaining to them the joy that will come through the pain because he will not stay dead!
He is giving assurance to the hope they so desperately cling to
He will lay down His life so that He may take it up again — The resurrection (easter) turns the sorrow into Joy (a joy so deep that it will never be taken away)
Jesus understands their confusion, their anxiety so he explains what will happen
Rome - Pharisees will rejoice over the victory they think they’ve won
Your wailing will enhance their feeling of victory
BUT (big but)
Through your grief it WILL turn to joy!
Very truly I say to you! - Speaking with the utmost authority.
Their beloved Lord and Master will have died a criminal’s terrible death.
The world shall rejoice — this states more than a fact, for this fact shall intensify the sobbing and the wailing of the disciples.
Jesus, their beloved Lord, lies dead, a bloody corpse.
The world has wreaked its murderous will upon him and celebrates in unholy glee.
This shall cut the poor disciples to the heart.
Jesus doesn’t soften one word here.
This is what the first little while means.
And now the second little while: “your grief will turn into joy,”
This does not mean that eventually the sorrow of the disciples shall subside and that in spite of their former grief they shall again become joyful;
but that their very grief, i.e., the very thing that plunged them into such excessive grief, shall turn into joy, i.e., into a glorious cause of joy.
The identical event shall plunge them into grief and then lift them into joy.
A little while, and then the downward plunge; and again a little, and then the upward rise.
To illustrate this Jesus speaks of a woman who gives birth
Here one and the same event first produces the most painful anguish and then the most abounding joy.
The interval between them is short.
Moreover, the ensuing joy is so great that the brief anguish is altogether forgotten.
it’s not one and then the other — but they are connected — The joy never leaves
The approaching time of separation will be a time of sorrow/grief for the Lord will be unseen.
But it is only a little while
It’s like the mother who gives birth
the pain and grief are only for a little while but it is a sorrow/pain that has a goal and a hope.
it is a hope which cannot be taken from anyone
Transition — we too live with the same hope and joy
Us Today
Jesus said:
Notice the difference from v. 16 and 22.
16 — You will see me — intended for the disciples who would see him in 3 days after His death
22 — I will see you again — speaking to us today
not only of the reunion with Jesus on the last day
But He sees us now because He IS Risen!
Whatever pain or sorrow you have gone through or are going through
It is not meaningless or without hope
It has a goal and hope
You can’t always see what it’s doing
That is the 1st little while
But it is working (The Holy Spirit is working) through it
That is the where the Joy lies
In Jesus — in the promise, in His work, in His victory
It is a pain and sorrow that cannot rob you of your joy
The joy is in the midst of it!
Joy pulls you through it and produces hope
Jesus isn’t absent — He didn’t leave you
Jesus says I see you — I’m here
The joy is rooted deep in Christ
Sometimes we don’t see Christ in the grief
But He always sees us — He said - Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age!
Conclusion
No one… Nothing can ever take away Jesus’ love for you, His presence in your life, and your joy that is rooted in Him and His promise!
NO ONE! NOTHING!
Your grief will transform and grow into joy
Grasp the hope that is found in the resurrected Christ!
You can see him as the H.S. works through you and the mess of life.
Jesus has done it all for you!
The words He proclaims in our text this morning are to give us comfort and hope
To assure us of His work for us!
Of His grace that he has poured out upon each one of you!
To turn your life from hopelessness/sorrow — into assurance of forever/joy
< .5
.5 - .6
.6 - .7
.7 - .8
.8 - .9
> .9