John 16:19-22 / Joy

Advent 2020  •  Sermon  •  Submitted   •  Presented   •  34:11
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Intro

John 16:19–22 ESV
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.
John 16:19 ESV
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 is giving them a promise of Joy.
That promise will have a warning attached to it.
Wouldn’t it be great to just get the reward?
Warns them:
Temporary Separation from Christ.
“A little while and you will not see me.”
“(but then) you will see me...
What timeframe was Jesus talking about here?
Obviously points to crucifixion for absence
Perhaps post resurrection/ ascension.
This definitely fits with what Jesus said next...
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.
Warning continued...
Hostile Indifference from the world.
“You will weep and lament...”
“but the world will rejoice.”
Disciples didn’t face a little indifference
It was outright hostility.
One day they threw palm branches
Within a week they yelled “crucify Him!”
Comforts them:
A promise that their Joy will be restored.
“Your sorrow will be turned to joy.”
Then Jesus gives them this interesting parable...
John 16:21 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.
Sometimes, it can be challenging to encourage people who are dealing with situations of grief or struggle.
You hear the cliche´ - “Life is tough.”
That is true - but doesn’t offer a lot of meaning.
This parable is different.
This gives a purpose for the sorrow
Something is happening
and that something involves a time of sorrow
But it will end in JOY.
And This will be lasting Joy
John 16:22 ESV
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.
This ultimately is what sets Joy from God apart
It is a promise of eternal Joy.
We know Jesus’ words were fulfilled
After the disciples saw the resurrected Christ.
NOBODY could take their joy from them!
We can relate somewhat to this situation the disciples were in.
Thankfully we were spared the three days our savior was in the tomb.
But we do understand this temporary separation that we wait for his return.
We know a world that is Hostile & Indifferent.
We are all waiting for everlasting joy at Christ’s return.
We can join with the disciples as we anticipate the coming Christ who will bring this promised Joy.
But there is something we need to understand about this Joy that Jesus promised.
Its tempting to just want the joy.
If the desert will fit on your plate you can have it.
RJ’s birthday we met at buffet he liked
It was time for his dessert. I was asked to take him up.
Responsible adult would encourage moderation.
Not grandparents.
“If it will fit on your plate you can have it.”
I think we might look at life that way and certainly our relationship with God.
Life is kind of a buffet line of experiences
Pick up the good stuff
avoid the bad (if possible)
So while it would be great to accept this promise in a Hallmark Christmas movie… We need to dig a little deeper.
This promise came toward the end of a long discourse.
More importantly (I think) was the setting that this discourse took place.
John 13:31 ESV
31 When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him.
Context is important here.
The “he” is Judas Iscariot - he just left to betray Jesus.
Jesus begins speaking some final words to the remaining disciples
before HE will be taken away.
Jesus would eventually say there was MUCH more He wanted to tell them.

What Jesus chose to say must have been very important!

John 13:34 ESV
34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.
It starts with love...
Jesus went straight away to a command to love.
a Command is not a suggestion.
If it were KJV Ten Commandments
Though Shalt...
Not negotiable.
How should we understand this commandment?
“One another” is referring to other Christians
We know we are to love our enemies (Matt 5:44)
But this isn’t talking about them.
But does that mean that we just care a lot about each other?
I hold resentment to my brother but I don’t with him harm??
Pastor’s Desire for Diversity
Had Lunch the other day with Pastor Tony (down the road)
We both talked about our desire to have churches that grew in diversity.
Diversity is a loaded word in our time.
Many think it means we all need to be different to make other feel included.
I think I’d like to see a church that shows love by allowing other to be themselves.
We stand firmly on the doctrine of scripture
But allow various ways of application.
Today a huge show of love for each other may be to:

Erase the notion that disagreement on an issue make us enemies.

That would at least make us radically different than the world.
Consider v35...
John 13:34 ESV
34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.
How we love each other speaks to the world for us.
How we hate each other does too!!!
John 15:1–2 ESV
1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
Perhaps in walking through a garden..
Analogy two show relationship and function
Vine - Jesus (God the Son)
Sustain the branches
Causes branches to be fruitful
Vinedresser - God the Father
He - removes unfruitful branches
He - prunes fruitful branches
Branches - That (of course) us.
More on that in the next verse.
This point here is pretty straight forward.

Healthy things reproduce.

4 Fruit Trees in our back yard.
2 Pear Trees
2 Peace Trees (we think)
Last year (our first summer in the house)
They were totally covered by other tree growth
We cut the other trees down
We actually found two pears growing on one tree.
Evidence of fruit told us something
This tree might still have life in it.
Dead branches will be cut away
Healthy branches will get prunes back
NOTICE!
There are only two options listed for the branches.
Get cut away
Get pruned
Stay comfortably undisturbed until the Lord comes back …Not an option.
John 15:5–6 ESV
5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.
I’m sure made the connection
We are the branches.
John 15:11 ESV
11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
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