With Dale Ratzlaff
John 16:16-22
A little while, and you will no longer see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me.” Some of His disciples then said to one another, “What is this thing He is telling 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’?” So they were saying, “What is this that He says, ‘A little while’? We do not know what He is talking about.” Jesus knew that they wished to question Him, and He said to them, “Are you deliberating together about this, that I said, “A little while, and you will not see Me, and again a little while, and you will see Me”? Truly, truly, I say to you, that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; you will grieve, but your grief will be turned into joy. Whenever a woman is in labor she has pain, because her hour has come; but when she gives birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy that a child has been born into the world. Therefore you too have grief now; but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.
In our passage, the disciples appear to be very confused by what Jesus is saying, and rightly so. Jesus had previously told them that He was going to the Father and they could not come. Now He says that He will be going away from them for a “little while.” Then, they will see him again in a “little while.” Couple these difficult ideas into their pre-conceived idea about the “kingdom.” Even after the resurrection, the disciples still expected Jesus to set up an earthly, Israel-centered kingdom.
So when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, “Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6).
Not only were the disciples confused as to exactly what Jesus meant, but to some extent, we too, have questions. As often Jesus seems to mix statements regarding the future with more than one event. The immediate context shows that Jesus was referring to the cross/death/resurrection event where they would not see Him for “a little while” and then in a “little while” later they would see Him again. However, His statement, “because I go to the Father” raises questions. Apparently, from the Gospel accounts, Jesus did not go to the Father until the Ascension. On Resurrection Sunday we have this record.
Jesus said to her, “Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God’” (Jn. 20:17).
In addition to the immediate context of the cross, there are two additional possible applications as to “after a little while you will see me.” First, at Pentecost, the disciples “saw” the Risen Christ in the person and the presence of the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, as Jesus promised. Then, we can look forward to the Second Coming of Christ when we will actually see Him again. From our point of view the Second Coming is more than “a little while,” but throughout the New Testament, it is presented as near and soon.
So you also, when you see these things happening, recognize that the kingdom of God is near (Lk. 21:31).
Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near (Rev. 1:3).
Truly, truly, I say to you, that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; you will grieve, but your grief will be turned into joy.
Here Jesus speaks of the cross. That one event first speaks of sorrow and weeping. However, after the resurrection, the cross is transformed from a thing to be abhorred into a symbol of holiness, and victory to be held in high honor. Jesus compares this sorrow/joy relationship with a woman delivering a baby. Pain, no matter how severe, is soon turned into joy.
I remember when I was a freshman at Pacific Union College. The president of the College was Dr. Rittenhouse. Dr. Rittenhouse often spoke at our weekly chapel program in the old Irwin Hall. After 62 years I can only remember one thing from his talks, yet it has proved to be useful and true. Time and again as I recall, he would say, “Forgo present pleasure for future benefits.” As in the case with the disciples, and women in labor, we may have to suffer in the present circumstances no matter how difficult, but because we have the promises of God we can look forward with joy and gladness. Our trials will be turned into joy.
Therefore you too have grief now; but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.
In my short journey, I can testify that many times what at the moment was hurtful, difficult, and seemed contrary to what I thought should be happening, later turned out to be something that brought blessings and even joy. Two things stand out in bold relief in this short statement. First, it is the presence of Jesus that turns grief into joy. Second, the Christian life is expected to be a life of joy and rejoicing. The Greek terms for “rejoice” and “joy” both come from the root word χαρά meaning, joy, a feeling of inner happiness, rejoicing, gladness, and delight. It refers to a state or condition of happiness or blessedness.
The joy that Christians can and should have is unlike that of Old Testament saints. We have the promise that “no one will take your joy away from you.”
Several times in the Psalms, David says he delights in the law of God, and His people shout for joy.
I long for Your salvation, O LORD, And Your law is my delight (Ps. 119:174).
And He brought forth His people with joy, His chosen ones with a joyful shout (Ps. 105:43).
Carolyn and I just finished reading the Psalms for our daily devotions, and we noted the many up and down experiences of David and other writers of the Psalms. At times the Psalms portray the joy and rejoicing of God’s presence, and at others, they cry out wondering why God does not hear and answer. For example, Psalms 13 records both experiences.
How long, O LORD? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? How long shall I take counsel in my soul, Having sorrow in my heart all the day? How long will my enemy be exalted over me? Consider and answer me, O LORD my God; Enlighten my eyes, or I will sleep the sleep of death, And my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,” And my adversaries will rejoice when I am shaken. But I have trusted in Your lovingkindness; My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation. I will sing to the LORD, Because He has dealt bountifully with me (Ps. 13:1-6).
Yet the promise of Jesus to His follows is:
…no one will take your joy away from you.
Sometimes we may look at our experience, as did the writers of the Psalms, and wonder where that continuous joy is. Paul stands out as one who not only experienced many persecutions but also expressed that continuous joy Jesus promised. Writing from a Roman jail, facing possible execution, Paul writes from the perspective of joy.
But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all. You too, I urge you, rejoice in the same way and share your joy with me (Phil. 2:17-18).
James also shows that one may have joy and trials at the same time.
Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him (Jam. 1:2-5).
As new covenant believers, we have the promise that the presence of Jesus, in the person of the Holy Spirit, will never leave us and for that reason, we can live in continuous joy, regardless of our circumstances.
Application
- The prophetic words of Jesus may have more than one application.
- We may often face difficult, even painful, situations. However, trusting God’s word helps us realize that our suffering, misunderstanding, and pain will one day be turned into joy.
- The joy we can have as new covenant Christians can and should be a lasting joy no matter what the circumstances.
- The secret of Joy is the knowledge of the presence of Jesus, now realized by the Holy Spirit that lives within us who will never leave us. He is our Comforter.
Prayer
Father, I thank you for the promise Jesus gave His disciples, which also applies to me. That I will personally see you again and even now I can experience your presence by the Holy Spirit who indwells me. Your presence brings me continual joy. May I focus my heart on the promises of Scripture,
In Jesus name.
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