Sermon Tone Analysis

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.

Have you ever been in a position where things may not have seemed to be going your way- and had someone say, "It will all work out?" Journey with me for a minute into your past.

Then, close your eyes to the moment in life when someone said, "It will all work out."

Were you confused, frustrated, upset, agitated, or concerned?

Moments like these- are one of the reasons that self-help books fly off the shelves.

Books that promote positive thinking, such as Rhonda Byrne's "The Secret," Eckhart Tolle's "The Power of Now," Dale Carnegie's "How to Stop Worrying and Start Living," and Joseph Murphy's "The Power of your Subconscious mind."

If books weren't enough, we see movies that have also been built around positive mind-framing, such as Will Smith's "The Pursuit of Happyness," the 1980 popular movie "Fame," and even Sandra Bullock's "The Blind Side.".

Books and movies are not the only culprits capitalizing on positive thinking- even religion uses positive thinking.

We can see this by looking at how the Prosperity Gospel – with recognizable names to include Joel Olsteen, T.D. Jakes and Pat Robertson- reinforces a message that equates Christian faith with material and financial success.

Looking at these books, movies, and prosperity gospel preachers all lead us to one overriding theme- that being how "It will all work out."

But the big question is- Does it really always work out?

This morning, we will continue to explore what Christ is teaching His disciples as he is now even closer to his persecution and death.

We can see as today's text opens that Jesus is telling His disciples how they are not going to be able to see him soon, yet He will return.

This statement confuses the disciples as Christ has mentioned in the preceding text that He has been with them since the beginning.

Last week, we saw how Christ was telling his disciples that they will struggle when He is gone- and how He will send a Helper to guide them.

Looking at this morning's text, we will be exploring how Christ is confidently encouraging us since we are not able to see him in a physical form, mainly because the world is against us and Christ has some unresolved business to finish.

We will be looking at three critical points that Christ is making to His First Century Disciples for us Christians today.

This morning, we will see how Christ helps focus us when we lack understanding, are experiencing pain or suffering, and cannot see any purpose in what we are going through.

So, let's take a look at Christ's first point in today's text.

SERMON POINT 1- CONFIDENT ENCOURAGEMENT HELPS PROVIDE US WITH PATIENCE WHEN THINGS ARE NOT OBVIOUS TO US.

· Today's text paints a picture of how the Disciples are confused when Christ tells them that He is leaving but will return.

· We even see the Disciples collaborating to agree on what Christ means when He says, "In a little while, we will see Him no more, and then after a little while we will see Him.

· Scripture is loaded with metaphors that illustrate a biblical message to the 1st Century but for us today.

· One message that Christ conveys to His audience today is that we must be patient in waiting for Him- as He will return.

Let's turn to Jeremiah 29:11 to see what Christ is saying to us to encourage us when He is gone.

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare, not for evil to give you a future and a hope."

We can see how the Hebrew text reassures us that God has our lives in His hands.

Today's text emphasizes how the Disciples were confused.

So let's also turn to Colossians 2:1-2 to see what Christ has to say when we do not understand what He is saying.

"For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all these riches of full assurance of understanding and knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ.

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Today's text shows us how Christ recognizes that we will struggle when we cannot see Him.

However, Christ wants us to know that even though we cannot see him face-to-face, Christians will be able to understand and know Him even when He is not physically present.

Christ can be seen encouraging His disciples that He will return- almost as if He is saying- be patient, my Child- I have work to do and will be back.

So looking at the first point in today's text, we can see by looking at the whole context of the book of John how Christ is telling us that we must be patient because the time has not come yet.

When James Garfield, later to become President of the United States, was principal of Hiram College in Ohio, one father asked him if the course of his studies could not be shortened so that his son might be able to complete his studies in less time.

"Certainly," Garfield replied.

"But it all depends on what you want to make of your boy.

When God wants to make an oak, he takes one hundred years.

When he wants to make a squash, he requires only two months.

This story illustrates the outcome of no patience.

Patience that the disciples were being called to have.

· Time is complicated for humans to comprehend, especially when reading stories about how the world was created in a day or how the hour is coming.

· Today's text shows how the Disciples struggle to understand what Christ says when he says, "In a little while."

· Christ knows that His Disciples will become impatient when He is gone, so He reassures them that He will return.

· Today's text provides confident encouragement to the Disciples that they just need to have patience for the day He will return.

· Contemporary life is loaded with how we all seem to be in a hurry.

· Speed limits have increased, work productivity is now measured formally, and data continues to record our efficiencies in life.

· Today, human nature resonates with a climate of "I need it now" or "I have to fix it now."

· Humans simply struggle with the fact that time is advantageous to them.

Therefore, it is a crucial reason why the cliché "It will all work out has been so well used- more so as an encouragement.

· Imagine how much less worry we would have if we just settled that we can have confidence that it will all turn out good.

· In Christ, we have that confidence- as He tells us in today's text.

One of the main reasons that Humans want to rush time is that our experiences in the present may be painful or that we see pain or sorrow coming our way.

Hurrying time is our natural inclination to either avoid pain or sorrow or stay ahead of the result of time.

Let's look at the Second Point that Christ is making in today's text;

CONFIDENT ENCOURAGEMENT GETS US THROUGH TOUGH TIMES AND HELPS US SEE THE POSITIVE

· The scene is set- Christ announces He is going to be gone and who knows when He is going to return

· Christ knows that His disciples will be sad and be very emotional

· Christ also knows the world will rejoice as the One calling them out is leaving.

· In today's text, Christ seems to be forecasting his death on the cross and resurrection.

· The Bible confirms Christ's death on the cross as painful, which resulted in great hurt and tragedy.

Let's look at what Scripture tells us when we are experiencing pain and suffering.

Deuteronomy 31:8 "It is the LORD who goes before you.

He will be with you.

He will not leave you or forsake you.

Do not fear or be dismayed.

Today's text tells us how the hour is almost near.

Yet, Christ tells us that this pain from his absence will not be permanent, mainly because He will return.

Christ is telling us how his return will be like the birth of a newborn infant- well worth the wait and the pain and suffering.

Christ tells us how we will be rewarded with eternal joy once we have endured the temporary pain and suffering.

However, we have comfort as Christians in knowing that God will be with us.

Turn with me to 2 Corinthians 4:17 to see how Paul tells us why we must endure this temporary pain and suffering.

"For this light momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison."

Today's text announces how Christ not only reassures his disciples that he will return but that their pain and suffering will turn to joy.

As Christ has seemed to be reasonably clear about how his absence is not up for debate- you may be able to see a purpose developing.

Christians know the ultimate objective is that Christ must die so that we can achieve atonement for our sins.

Lastly, Let's turn to Romans 8:28 and see how Paul says God manages terrible things.

"And we know that for those who love God, all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose."

Today's text confidently encourages Christians to be confident in how God has a plan, and if we let God use us as he desires, then our pain and suffering will turn into good.

Hope is powerful.

Perhaps the most powerful thing we have.

Sometimes, it is all we have.

The 7.0 magnitude earthquake that struck the island of Haiti in January 2010 destroyed buildings and killed or maimed tens of thousands of people.

As hope for victims began to fade, the discovery of a survivor in the wreckage of a hotel grocery store renewed the resolve of many.

Rescuers pulled Wismond Exantus from the rubble 11 days after the earthquake.

Exantus told reporters from his hospital bed that the first thing he wanted to do was find a church to give thanks.

He said he spent the time praying, reciting psalms, and sleeping.

He summed up his experience by saying, I wasn't afraid because I knew they were searching and would come for me.

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· Exantus exemplified what God wants from us.

· God's desire is for us to accept our circumstances- whatever they are- so that He can use us to show unbelievers Who He is.

· Christians who accept God's will, and remain focused on Him through their pain and suffering, are God's ultimate tool in revealing Himself.