Sermon nuggets Tues Oct 7
Theme: Hope
Verses- John 16:20-22
20 I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.
21 A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world.
22 So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.
A Time of Grief.
Grief is adjustment to loss. We grieve over the loss of a loved one to be sure. But our adjustment to loss can include the loss of a house, the loss of a spouse in divorce, a child that leaves home, a job loss, a death of a pet, as well as financial crises. We grieve in different ways for different things in our life.
What if you lose Jesus? What if Jesus were not involved in your life, would that be a loss? For some, I am afraid, would not experience grief because though He is around we hardly notice. A neighbor may move away and she might have brought an occasional conversation, or even a meal, or sharing of pleasantries of the day. But other people and things occupy our time and attention more.
The closer we are emotionally and physically to people, or things, the greater the grief. But let’s face it, every one in this world and everything in this world will someday be lost. Either they will move, get sick, die, or we will. All the important things in this will be left behind. But that is not true with Jesus, if He is in our lives by faith.
The disciples were to start on a path that would be unbelievable. They would minister in the power of the Holy Spirit to unreceptive people as well as hearts that are prepared to hear and receive the truth. They would do miracles as allowed by God. They would never experience the loss of Jesus again since He will be with them in the person of the Holy Spirit. They will talk with Him every day. They will get guidance every day. They will receive power every day. And most importantly even if they could do nothing they will experience His love, presence and relationship every day. And that will not end at death it will only increase in glory.
Having a baby is not fun. Being pregnant is not fun. It is painful. A mother to be experiences weakness, sickness, change of emotions, temperature, and sometimes depression. But when a healthy baby girl or boy is brought into the world those 9 months are worth it. When the little life cries out and one witnesses the miracle of birth sorrow turns into joy.
In the Old Testament book of Isaiah the nation of Israel is pictured as a woman about to give birth. Jesus sees the disciples, all Jews, as faithful Israel on the verge of giving birth. No longer does faithful Israel constitute the 12 tribes but the 12 disciples. The disciples will experience the birth pangs of bringing forth the promised Son of God. The disciples have sorrow now, but just like a joy of a new mother, the disciples will experience joy when Jesus sees them again.
What will it be when the pain of this life is over and we are brought into the glories of heaven in the presence of Jesus? Jesus contrasted grief and sorry for joy. The temporary world is contrasted for the eternal relationship that is ours in the presence of the Lord.
As we witness the ongoing events in our nation and the world there is rejoicing when Jesus is not around. There is happiness when people eliminate any godliness because they want to rule their own lives without the intervention of a divine being that controls their lives. The religious leaders wanted Jesus gone; the political leaders wanted Jesus gone; the crowd wanted Jesus gone. Jesus forces people to confront the painful truth of their rejection of God, so they run from Jesus. Many in the world today are very uncomfortable with Jesus. Nations overseas try to persecute Christians, eliminate the Bible and hate anything Christian.
There is something in this passage that I missed for years. You would think the joy would seemingly be attributed to our seeing Jesus. But that's not what Jesus says. v. 20 ways the joy comes when Jesus see them. vs. 22 “I will see you again and you will rejoice.”
How is being seen by Jesus a source of joy? How does being seen by anybody affect us? It all depends on how we perceive that person seeing us. If we think someone is happy to see us, we'll be happy. If we think someone is sad to see us, we'll be sad. It's usually not that difficult to tell. Someone's face usually gives away how he or she feels.
Initially it was Jesus who saw Peter and James and John. He first saw Nathaniel under the tree. He called people to Himself out of His love and He call us to be His followers. We love because He first loved us. Clearly, being seen by Jesus is a source of joy for disciples of Jesus.
You may be sorrowful, feeling somehow that Jesus is far away, maybe you might feel as if Jesus wouldn't want to see you, you are not worthy, or you are not the way you want to me. This causes us inward anxiety. Jesus knows all about Thomas and his doubts, all about Peter and his failures. He knew all about the heart of the disciples who down deep thought they were really better than the others. He knew all about the anger problem with James and John, the fear, the pride, the selfishness within us, yet He still says you're going to be so happy when He sees us again. So it is true for you and me. After grief comes joy.
The resurrection brought victory from the grave. It brought hope far beyond the disciple’s dreams. They realized that even this world was temporary. We will experiences loss in this world, but Easter reminds us there is joy after grief.
Pastor Dale.
