From Sorrow to Joy: Exploring Jesus' Final Words
The Promise of Joy in the Face of Sorrow
Accordingly, [Jesus] could see pain, hurt, and tragedy in the full perspective of God’s work without minimizing the reality of their hurtful impact. So, although this verse might not be said to focus precisely on eschatological events, this unified perspective enabled Jesus to view these events in the overall work of God in the history of the world.
—Gerald L. Borchert, John 12–21, vol. 25B, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2002), 173.
This is part 5 of my ‘Jesus’ Final Words’ series, where I explore Jesus’ final words before He is betrayed and arrested in Gethsemane. This post will focus on John 16:16-24.
A riddle?
16 “A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me, because I go to the Father.”
17 Then some of His disciples said among themselves, “What is this that He says to us, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me’; and, ‘because I go to the Father’?” 18 They said therefore, “What is this that He says, ‘A little while’? We do not know what He is saying.”
— John 16:16-18 NKJV
What an odd interaction for John to record. John is relating to us Jesus’ final words, giving us precious glimpses into Jesus’ last words to His disciples before He was betrayed, arrested, and ultimately crucified. Why mention such an exchange?
What do you think Jesus meant by His words?
“A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me, because I go to the Father.”
Do you understand what Jesus means by these words?
Chances are, we have a much better grasp of what Jesus meant because we know the story. Prophecy is better understood in hindsight. Here’s what I take away from this interaction between Jesus and His disciples. He plainly and clearly told them that they would not see Him for a while, but would see Him again, and that He was going to the Father. I doubt that the disciples understood nothing of what Jesus said. What they likely struggled with was fitting what He said with what they expected Him to do. If they expected Jesus to establish a military kingdom, why would He leave?
Often, as we read the Bible, we encounter passages that we don’t understand, especially when they deal with future events. Sometimes we struggle to understand a portion of the Bible because the wording or sentence structure is unfamiliar to us. Sometimes it is because the passage references a custom that is foreign to us. There are also times that we understand what we are reading, but we don’t know how it fits with the image of God we have in our heads and what we expect Him to do.
Some of the challenges of interpreting the Bible are that we are far removed from the text historically/chronologically, since it was written a very long time ago. We are also removed from the text geographically; the stories took place in lands far away from us. Due to the historical and geographical distance, we are also culturally removed from the text.
Another difficulty of studying the Bible is allowing it to challenge our theology. Instead of removing texts we don’t like because they don’t fit the image of God we created, we need to include them and allow them to challenge our preconceived notions. There was more than enough evidence for the disciples to understand that Jesus had to die for our sins. Yet, the disciples ignored all the evidence that contradicted their preconceived notions and cultural expectations of a military king.
Good thing we don’t do that nowadays, correct? We don’t cherry-pick biblical texts that support our desires and political views while ignoring the ones that challenge them. No one can do this for us. We need to be honest and sincere with ourselves as we study the Bible. If we truly desire to seek and know God, we must be open to Him and allow His word to challenge our carefully crafted and cherished views.
There will always be challenging texts in the Bible. They keep us humble. But we do not ignore them, nor do we dismiss the entire Bible simply because we can’t explain every detail to our satisfaction. We believe, and we continue to study, grow, refine, and adjust our views as we mature and learn new things.
Jesus knew
Now Jesus knew that they desired to ask Him, and He said to them, “Are you inquiring among yourselves about what I said, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me’?
— John 16:19 NKJV
It is comforting to know that Jesus is aware of our confusion and ignorance. When we don’t understand, we are not alone or abandoned; Jesus is aware and He is interested in helping us. Jesus will give His disciples more information.
You will weep
Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy.
— John 16:20 NKJV
When you expect Jesus to clarify things, He says something that would perhaps cause more anxiety. Jesus did not tell His disciples what they wanted to hear but rather what they needed to hear. Jesus was clear; the disciples would weep and lament, even though the world would rejoice. Do not expect the majority, or “the world,” to embrace God. The same majority that proclaimed “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD! The king of Israel” (John 12:13b) during Jesus’ triumphal entry (see also Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-11; and Luke 19:28-40) later cried out “Away with Him, away with Him! Crucify Him!” (John 19:15b)
You cannot simply follow the crowd and hope to be doing the right thing. You have to know from God, as revealed in the Bible. According to Jesus, the world would rejoice at His death, and the disciples would be sorrowful. But the sorrow of the followers of Jesus is temporary. The sorrow of those who follow God lasts only for a season. God promises that our sorrow will turn into joy. The same way that Jesus did not remain dead but rose from the tomb, those who follow God will one day be resurrected and receive eternal life! (1 Corinthians 15:51-55; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18)
Yes, we might experience sorrow for a while. It will appear that evil has triumphed, for a while. But we know that the ultimate victory belongs to God. Jesus also makes clear that there will be sorrow and weeping, but that is not the end; the sorrow is always temporary for those who love God. Satan desires for us to give the world the impression that God deceived and disappointed us. But we should look up to heaven by faith and know that Jesus loves us and intercedes for us. We should also open our hearts to the Holy Spirit, Jesus’ representative, and, by faith, rejoice in the light of His presence.
A mother in labor
A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world.
— John 16:21 NKJV
My wife shared a brief testimony about the birth of our firstborn (audio of her testimony available at When Life Doesn’t Go According to Plan). By the title, you can guess that things did not go according to plan. My wife planned to have a natural birth, but there were complications. After pushing for two hours, our son was not coming out, and his heart rate was dropping. My wife was wheeled in for an emergency C-section. If we had not had the emergency C-section, I could have lost both my son and my wife. My son’s birth was so traumatic that I would not have been surprised if my wife decided to stop at one child and never go through having to give birth ever again. Yet, when she held our son in her arms, all the anguish she had just been through seemed to melt away. And sure enough, about a year later, she gave birth to our daughter.
As a man, I cannot imagine the incredible pain and discomfort that a woman experiences through pregnancy and birth. Yet, it seems to me that holding that life afterwards makes it all worth it. Jesus uses birth pains as an illustration for the sorrow that we may suffer for a period that is worth it because of the joy that awaits us on the other side of the sorrow.
Birth Pains - a deeper dive
This figurative image of birth pangs followed by joy in the arrival of a child was not a new image in the Bible. It was used in the Old Testament to refer to the painful experiences of Israel in awaiting the coming of their deliverance in the messianic era. Isaiah particularly employs this image in the suffering of Israel and the promise of hope when the dead will live (Isa 26:17–19; cf. 66:7–9; cf. also 21:3 in his prophecy of the defeat of Babylon). But Micah (Mic 4:9–10), Hosea (Hos 13:13), and Jeremiah (Jer 13:21) also use the image as both an indication of Israel’s suffering for disobedience and as a window of hope. Similarly the image was apparently used by the Dead Sea Convenanters (cf. 1 QH 2:8–10) and was important in the vision of the woman and the dragon in the Apocalypse, but there after the birth the dragon seeks to devour the child (Rev 12:1–4).
—Gerald L. Borchert, John 12–21, vol. 25B, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2002), 174–175.
See also Matthew 24:8 - beginning of sorrows/ birth pains (Exploring Jesus’ Prophecies)
Future Joy
22 Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you.
— John 16:22 NKJV
The sorrow of the disciples is linked to the world’s hatred and rejection of Jesus and the Father. However, the joy that Jesus gives us no one can take away. Maybe you have noticed this. Have you ever had a coworker, family member, or neighbor ask you how you can be so happy or remain positive? A joyful Christian is such a powerful witness. Surprisingly, interacting with a joyful Christian drives some people mad; they become irritated that the Christian is happy for no apparent reason. I find this very confusing, but I have witnessed it.
It is essential to recognize that our joy does not stem from our efforts but rather from seeing Jesus again. This means that we are not expected to pull ourselves up by our bootstraps; rather, our hope comes as a result of divine action. Jesus brings us joy as He reveals Himself to us.
Magical Powers!?
23 “And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. 24 Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.
— John 16:23-24 NKJV
We did it! We found the secret to getting whatever we want from God! With this magical formula, we can bend God to our will!
It may sound silly when I write this, but do we not behave in this way? Do we not try to manipulate God to do our bidding? Pagan religions are about power, control, and manipulation. The religion of the Bible is about relationships, trust, and surrender. The Bible will not teach you how to control and manipulate God. The Bible will help you trust and fall in love with God.
The Bible’s primary emphasis is to reveal to me the character of God. Once I know God’s heart, I decide to follow Him, to trust Him and surrender my life to Him. Not because I am afraid of what will happen if I don’t, but because I love Him and trust Him completely. When I realize the incredible love God has for me and how much He cares, I am able to trust Him through the pain and suffering. I trust God even when I don’t understand what He is doing. I don’t love God because I always know exactly what He is about to do, I love God because I know that, regardless of what happens, He has my best interest at heart.
I am less concerned about what the future holds when I know who holds the future. I can experience joy today not because life is easy or because the suffering has ceased, but because I know that in the end, the ultimate end, God wins, and God loves me.
I ask in the name of Jesus because I know that Jesus gave His life for me. I pray in the name of Jesus not because I want to force the Father to obey me, but because I desire to align my plans with Jesus’ will for my life. I pray in the name of Jesus because I have no claim to the Father other than that Jesus died for me. I have no merits to commend me to God. The value of my life is infinite because Jesus gave up His life to redeem mine. So all that I am is thanks to Jesus, all that I will be is only possible through Jesus, so I pray in the name of Jesus. But make no mistake, I am not bending God to my will; I am surrendering my will to Him.
It is no wonder that the Apostle Paul said the following words
For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
— Philippians 1:21 NKJV
His life was not about pursuing selfish interests and using the power of God to achieve them. His life was dedicated to Jesus, and he was not concerned about death. No wonder Paul was unstoppable. Satan and all his demons could not stop or kill Paul, though he did try. At one point, Paul briefly highlights what his life as a follower of Jesus has been like.
23 Are they ministers of Christ?—I speak as a fool—I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. 24 From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness—
— 2 Corinthians 11:23-27 NKJV
From Paul’s life and that of the Apostles, we see that the goal was not to sue the name of Jesus to accumulate power and wealth while here on earth. A few verses later, Paul clarifies that he will not boast about his achievements.
9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
— 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 NKJV
Takeaway
If you are coming to the Bible to learn how to manipulate God, you will not find what you are looking for. If you are seeking Jesus because you’re hoping for power and control, you’re going to be disappointed. But if you are seeking a personal relationship with a God who loves you deeply and promises to never leave you or forsake you, you will find a love that is stronger and deeper than you could ever possibly imagine. You will find joy and peace that far exceeds your expectations. But what you will not find is an easy or comfortable life. Life will still have its challenges, but you will never have to face them alone, and you will always know that it will all work out for good in the end.
The story of the Bible is one of infinite love and an impossible rescue.
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
— John 3:16 NKJV
Our ultimate joy will not be experienced until we see Jesus again.
Spoiler Alert!
This is how the story ends.
Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. 2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”
5 Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.”
—Revelation 21:1-5 NKJV
Practical Application
Stop trying to control God, and surrender to God. Ask God for His will to be done. Ask God for wisdom. Try following Him this week and see how that experience goes.
