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5.22.22 [John 16:16-23] River of Life (6th Sunday of Easter)
The post-game press conference is standard, but still kind of strange.
We’re used to hearing from coaches and players after competing at the highest levels, but that custom is still a little weird, isn’t it?
It’s one thing to watch grown men and women compete at a kids game.
For many of us, it’s entertainment.
At least it is supposed to be just that.
But it’s a whole new level to listen to them talk about the game.
It’s kind of strange that grown men and women elbow one another just for the chance to ask another adult what they were thinking during crucial moments of the kids’ game they play for a living.
Sometimes, the questions are kind of silly.
You just won the biggest game of your life, what are you going to do next?
Sometimes, the questions are sophisticated, asking the player to break down the in’s and out’s of the big plays.
Other times the questions are more serious, seeking insights into how the athlete faced great challenges and triumphed, or beat the odds.
Reporters ask these kinds of questions because people are interested.
They’re curious what these gifted competitors were thinking and feeling as they struggled to defeat their rivals.
Now, you may not care about sports.
If you don’t, then I can’t imagine anything more tedious than a post-game press conference.
Probably like how I’d feel about watching the After The Final Rose Bachelor Recap show.
But the fact that post-game press conferences and After The Final Rose make it on the airwaves tells us that someone’s curious.
We are all naturally curious creatures.
This morning I want you to imagine that you had a chance to ask Jesus one question after his greatest victory—during the 40 days between Easter & Ascension Day.
After elbowing your way through the crowd, what would you ask him?
Now, if those post-game press conferences are any kind of template, our questions might fall into those three categories, too.
If we could ask Jesus some questions, some of them might be kind of silly, others might be more sophisticated—asking questions about deep things of doctrine and theology.
But I bet if you were only allowed to ask Jesus one question, it would be something pretty serious.
Maybe even really sad.
It might start with Why? or How come…? or What is the reason for…?
Some of us would ask questions that were very personal.
Something no one else would ever ask.
Others of us would ask questions that many others were wondering about, too.
In John 16, Jesus is preparing his disciples for his suffering and death.
He knew these events would grieve them.
They’d have many questions.
He wanted them to have (Jn.
16:23) clarity, (Jn.
16:24) joy, and (Jn.
16:33) peace.
So he began by (Jn.
16:25) speaking figuratively.
(Jn 16:16) In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me.
It might sound like Jesus is talking about a game of hide and seek.
But he tells us exactly what he means.
He (Jn.
16:29) speaks clearly, without figures of speech.
(Jn.
16:28) I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.
The events that Jesus was speaking of were Good Friday, Easter Sunday, and his Ascension into heaven.
Everything in the lives of these disciples would change because of what was about to happen in the next 43 days.
In the end, these events would bring all those who believe in Jesus clarity, joy, and peace.
But not before we all experience grief, pain, and anguish.
It’s a testament to his divine nature that Jesus foresaw this.
Jesus knew that he is about to leave his disciples.
First, for a very short time.
On Good Friday, so many savagely celebrated his crucifixion.
Those who loved Jesus wept and mourned his death.
And then on Easter Sunday morning, grieving women went to the tomb and came home rejoicing declaring: Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed!
(Jn.
16:20) Their grief turned to joy overnight.
Certainly, Jesus had that first grief transformation in mind as he spoke to his disciples.
But it was more than that, too.
There are three things that tip us off.
For one, Jesus speaks about (Jn.
16:28) leaving this world and going back to the Father.
That’s Ascension talk.
Secondly, Jesus says: (Jn.
16:33) In this world you will have trouble, not just you have some troubles right now.
Trouble in this world persists into the future.
And finally, look at his analogy: (Jn.
16:21) a woman giving birth.
This is about more than just emotional sadness.
This is pain and anguish.
Jesus is speaking of the pain, trouble, and anguish that would plague all those who believe in him (Jn.
16:33) in this world.
Jesus told his disciples these things to encourage them as they experienced grief and pain, trouble and anguish in this world.
And we need this encouragement, too, don’t we? Especially as we wrestle with the questions that grieve, pain, and trouble our hearts and minds.
And these words from Jesus are incredibly encouraging.
Jesus does not say to us: You have no reason to grieve.
He doesn’t say: You think what you’re going through is painful?!?!? Look at me on the cross.
That’s real pain!
That’s bitter anguish!
Nor does he say: I’ve got real troubles.
Your problems are petty.
If anyone would have the right to dismiss our grief, downplay our pain, scoff at our anguish, and ignore our troubles it would be Jesus.
But he doesn’t!
Rather our Redeemer is remarkably kind & compassionate.
He acknowledges your anguish.
He comprehends your pain.
He gets your grief.
He doesn’t rebuke it.
He doesn’t shame you for struggling.
And you’re not alone in this pain and anguish either.
God tells us (Rom.
8:22) that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth, right up to the present time.
And not just creation, but all believers (Rom.
8:23) groan inwardly as we eagerly await our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies, our salvation.
We groan, we grieve, we are in anguish because life in this world is not the way that God desires it to be.
Life in this world is filled with sadness and losses, disorders, dysfunction, disappointments, and death.
So many times in this life we are reminded of our weakness, our foolishness, and our sinfulness.
Each of our lives are filled with many reasons to grieve.
You can grieve.
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