Pastor's Pen Pulpit Truth for the Heart

July 3, 2005

THE PATH TO JOY AND BLESSING

John 16:16-22

Jesus is seeking to build joy into the lives of His disciples. Their knowledge of His leaving them has caused them great sorrow. He told them in verse 16, "A little while and you will no longer behold me; and again a little while and you will see me."

That the disciples did not understand the meaning of His words is evident. We read in verses 17 and 18, "Some of His disciples therefore said to one another, 'what is this thing He is telling us, a little while and you will not behold me; and again a little while and you will see me; and because I go to the Father?' " And so they were saying, "What is this that He says a little while? We do not know what He is talking about!"

Jesus knew their problem as expressed in verse 19 and begins His explanation. Soon they would be filled with sorrow but the world would rejoice. But then their sorrow would be turned into joy. To illustrate this He tells of a woman about to give birth. She is in great travail because of the birth pains. Her hour has come. However, she quickly forgets the anguish when her baby is born.

He then makes the application to His disciples in verse 22, "Therefore you, too, now have sorrow; but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one takes your joy away from you." Jesus is referring to his death - "a little while and you will not see Me" and His resurrection and 40 days of ministry - "again a little while and you will see Me.!"

The lesson is that our Lord brings joy into our lives, not by substitution, but by transformation. In the illustration of the woman giving birth to the child, the same baby that caused the pain also caused the joy. God does not substitute something else to relieve the mother's pain. Instead He uses what is already there but transforms it

In Hebrews 12:1, 2 we see how the Lord Jesus is a wonderful example of this principle. Everything He suffered at the hands of sinful man was designed by His Father to enhance the anticipation of His coming glory. Likewise difficulty and suffering for believers eventuates into joy and blessing. God rarely provides us with a mountain top experience without first taking us through the dark valleys. God takes our trials and transforms them into triumph (Romans 5:35; Hebrews 12:3ff). So, beloved, we can understand the principle when James says, "consider it all joy when you encounter various trials (James 1:2)."

Are you experiencing sorrow and suffering in your life? Remember, those trials are just the precursor to blessing and joy. Have a great week in service for the Master.