“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. 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. 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 16:20-22
Devotional Thought For The Day
The Gospel accounts of the life and ministry of Jesus, the Divine Son of God, Savior of the world, begin with such great joy and marvel. We meditate on these accounts during the week of Christmas – the angelic announcements, the virgin birth, the utterances of Simeon and Anna in the temple. Then the record details the beginning of John the Baptist’s ministry – a prophet finally shows up again in Israel after hundreds of years, and he ties his ministry to the great Messianic predictions in Isaiah of a forerunner who prepares the way of the Lord. Then Jesus begins to gather His disciples and starts a three year ministry of miracles, preaching, teaching, advising and counseling – revealing the Father to us. There is such joy and expectation! But almost immediately tensions begin to appear and Jesus clearly reveals to His disciples how it will be with Him and the world, that the “many” would reject Him in unbelief, that He would be persecuted, and ultimately executed as the sacrifice of atonement that takes away the sin and guilt of the world. And yes, He also indicates that His disciples will suffer much of the same at the hands of the unbelieving world.
In these verses Jesus comforts His disciples. He has spoken of His death and resurrection, and also His “ascension” to the Father. He speaks to His followers about the time before He comes again in glory to end this present aeon, to sort believers from unbelievers, and to separate the two so that there is no more conflict and sorrow for His dear children. He speaks about the rejoicing of the world when it appears that they have ended Christ’s mission; He speaks of us weeping, lamenting, and being sorrowful. But He also speaks of our sorrow turning into joy. There are two reasons for this: first, that Christ has risen and that the Father is fully reconciled to us, that it is certain that we are His forgiven and justified people, having His blessing and eternal life, and second, that Christ’s final and complete victory is sure and certain, that God will prevail, that a day is coming when evil will be removed from the presence of God and His people fully and completely forever. Without these great blessings there is nothing, only a steady decline and the grave. With these blessings, with faith in these realities, we have hope and optimism and eagerness for the future.
So it is that our time is this world is mixed, full of both sorrow and joy. The analogy Jesus provides is of pregnancy and delivery. To this day the miracle of reproduction and new life is fraught with difficulty and trials, and at times sorrow. But the joy of new life makes remembrance of the difficulties fade away; and then new difficulties and trials come along. All of this is just the nature of life in a fallen world of sin, subject to the sentence of death. But the assurances of Jesus, the Divine Son of God and Savior of the world, enable us to live through the sorrows, struggles, and troubles with joy – that an even greater “delivery” is coming with His glorious return. Until then we are encouraged by His promises and the blessings of the present – His forgiveness, grace, mercy, presence, protection, and providence over our lives – as we live out our purposes as His dear disciples in the world. This is surely joy and purpose enough for remaining faithful and holding to our course.
But Jesus also encourages us that a new “Christmas” is coming: “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.” Just as His people of old waited for His first coming, so we who are His people today wait for His return in glory. Just as there was great joy and expectation when Jesus was born, and when He began His earthly ministry, there will be even greater joy at His return – for then the tensions will no longer be tolerated and endured, but rather taken away forever. In a very real sense our lives are much like that of Simeon, Anna, and Jesus’ mother – whose heart was also pierced with sorrow over the mission of her Son. We have joy. We have sorrow, and some apprehension. But we also have faith, and certainty as to how things will turn out, and eager anticipation for the “postpartum” joy of Jesus’ arrival [no depression for His dear people, only joy]. What a wondrous time that will be when Jesus sees us again. For now, it is exactly as the apostle Peter described it: “Though you have not seen Him, you love Him. Though you do not now see Him, you believe in Him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” [1 Pet. 1:8,9] May the joy and wonder of Christmas, wonder at God’s great love and salvation, fill our hearts at all times!
Prayer For The Day
Dear Lord Jesus, how easily we are overwhelmed by the sorrows of this world and the preponderance of sin and evil. We lose heart and forget what You accomplished so long ago, the blessings that give us continued life today, and the wonders soon to come in Your glorious return. Help us to live in the glow and joy of Your salvation every day, and strengthen our faith and trust in You. Keep us mindful each day of what is coming, that we will see You again face to face, so that we may indeed rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory. Amen.