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.
John 16:20-24
Jesus mentions that his disciples will not see him, but then in a day or so they will. And that prompts all kinds of questions. Ok, so he’s leaving, but for how long? Is this like a weekend type of thing?
He anticipates their questions.
Think about this way. You’re going to be overcome with grief, and the world will rejoice. Here’s a metaphor for what you’re going to experience: childbirth.
I’ve done some hard things in my life. Plant and lead a church, particularly when I’m young. I’ve had to study a lot. I’ve had to have hard conversations. I’ve had to watch WVU and the Cincinnati Reds for 30 years. That counts for something.
But I’ve never birthed a child. I hear it’s painful. A mother perseveres through that pain, though, because a child is on the other side of it.
When the world is celebrating, you need to know they are doing so prematurely. It might be 28-3, but Tom Brady is still on the other team. The Falcons may be celebrating, but they’re still the Falcons.
You will be grief-stricken, but that grief is not going to last. It’s more like the pain of childbirth than the pain of defeat. When I see you again, it’s going to make sense and you will have a joy that no one can take from you.
I know it doesn’t make sense, but your sorrow will turn to joy. For though I am leaving, I will come back. And hoo boy, when I come back, everything will have changed. Because the resurrection changes everything.
Look around, friends. See how the dragons roar and the enemy dances. See how the nations rage. See how the despots steal, kill, and destroy. See how the wicked prosper. See how the wealthy glory in their comfort. See how the nations run from the message of Jesus – how they revel in sin, debauchery, and wickedness.
Listen, they are celebrating prematurely. Reports of God’s death have been greatly exaggerated. The God they do not see, in whom they do not believe; they will one day see. For he will come to judge the living and the dead. No one will hide from his sight. At that final resurrection, friends, everything Christ’s resurrection accomplished will come to pass.
Brothers and sisters, do you know you will see Jesus? Not just with the eyes of your heart as now you do, but with your physical eyes. You will behold his glory. You will see the One you know through the Spirit. And you will have a joy that no one can take from you.
Mase, he’s talking about the three days he’s in the tomb. Sure, directly. But consider the words of the Apostle Paul: Creation itself is experiencing birth pains. Creation longs for the scourge of sin to be no more.
This Jesus who has ascended into heaven, will he not again descend to the Earth? Nothing could be more urgent. Oh, we need to know what is truly true.