John 16:16-33
Sorrow to Joy
John 16:16 “In a little while you won’t see me anymore. But a little while after that, you will see me again.”
17 Some of the disciples asked each other, “What does he mean when he says, ‘In a little while you won’t see me, but then you will see me,’ and ‘I am going to the Father’? 18 And what does he mean by ‘a little while’? We don’t understand.”
19 Jesus realized they wanted to ask him about it, so he said, “Are you asking yourselves what I meant? I said in a little while you won’t see me, but a little while after that you will see me again. 20 I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn over what is going to happen to me, but the world will rejoice. You will grieve, but your grief will suddenly turn to wonderful joy. 21 It will be like a woman suffering the pains of labor. When her child is born, her anguish gives way to joy because she has brought a new baby into the world. 22 So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again; then you will rejoice, and no one can rob you of that joy.
The central moment of the Bible is the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The idea of Sorrow to Joy runs throughout the Bible.
Psalm 126:5 Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy. 6 They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest.
Jeremiah 31:13b….I will turn their mourning into joy. I will comfort them and exchange their sorrow for rejoicing.
Revelation 21:4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.
John 16:23 At that time you won’t need to ask me for anything. I tell you the truth, you will ask the Father directly, and he will grant your request because you use my name. 24 You haven’t done this before. Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy.
25 “I have spoken of these matters in figures of speech, but soon I will stop speaking figuratively and will tell you plainly all about the Father. 26 Then you will ask in my name. I’m not saying I will ask the Father on your behalf, 27 for the Father himself loves you dearly because you love me and believe that I came from God. 28 Yes, I came from the Father into the world, and now I will leave the world and return to the Father.”
This isn’t a recipe for guaranteeing answered prayer - but a restored relationship with God.
Hebrews 4:16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.
What did the disciples do after the crucifixion?
John 16:29 Then his disciples said, “At last you are speaking plainly and not figuratively. 30 Now we understand that you know everything, and there’s no need to question you. From this we believe that you came from God.” 31 Jesus asked, “Do you finally believe? 32 But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when you will be scattered, each one going his own way, leaving me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me.
The point isn’t that the disciples had the strength to overcome—it’s that Jesus does.
What Does it Mean to Overcome?
John 16:33 I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
If Jesus has overcome it means that even though there may be sorrow today it is possible to find joy once again!
Psalm 126:5 Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy.
Jeremiah 31:13b….I will turn their mourning into joy. I will comfort them and exchange their sorrow for rejoicing.
Revelation 21:4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.
Trials are real. Sorrows are real. Pain is real. But so is the victory of Jesus Christ!
But take heart, because He has overcome the world….
John 16:33 Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
Jesus doesn’t say those sorrows aren’t real—He says they don’t get the final word because He has overcome.
The cross is central to the message of Jesus. The validity of the Christian faith is that on Friday Jesus died on a cross but on the first Easter morning - the tomb was empty.
Matthew 28:6a He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said…
2 Corinthians 5:21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.
If the Bible shapes our worldview, then the cross shapes the way we see life.
The whole Bible points to the cross— and the cross is God’s ultimate demonstration of love.
Romans 5:8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.
If the cross shapes the way we see life, then everything gets filtered through the love of God.
It’s easier to take heart when your worldview is defined by the cross.
To take heart doesn’t mean fake a smile or deny the pain. To take heart means to trust the One who has already won.
We preach Christ crucified because that’s what’s going to make the most difference in people’s lives.
We need a Biblical worldview - that points to the cross and consumes us with the love of God.
Because of the cross we can live forgiven - we can love our neighbor - we can endure through every season.
If We Live Trusting That He Conquered Sin And Death, And That He Has Overcome The World, We Can Rest In The Life-Changing Confidence That He Will Turn Our Sorrow Into Joy.
John 16:22 You have sorrow now, but I will see you again; then you will rejoice, and no one can rob you of that joy…
33 I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”