TEXT: John 16:16-33

SUBJECT: Exposition of John #40: Sorrow and Joy

Today brings us to the fortieth sermon in our study of John's Gospel. The Apostle wrote it to bring his readers to faith in Jesus Christ. Has he? Has he brought you to faith? Has he increased your faith? I hope he has. For Christ's sake. Amen.

Chapters 14 to 17 make up a subsection of John's Gospel. Its theme is fairly obvious; it's about our Lord's death--His imminent death. He has mentioned it before, of course, but not as often, plainly, or urgently as He does here. Nearly every paragraph reminds us once again: His "hour has come".

Our Lord predicts His departure and the things that will soon follow it, vv.16-22.

His "departure" refers to His death on the cross. For three-plus years, He had been with the Apostles daily. But now, He would leave them for a time--for "three days and three nights".

When will this occur? He leaves no doubt: In "a little while". The words should be taken quite literally; He means just that--in a few hours He'll be taken away from the disciples.

They can't understand this. Do you know why? It is not because they are ignorant or unbelieving men. Nor has the Lord taught them in a mysterious and obscure way. The problem is this: They couldn't conceive of a Crucified Lord. I don't blame them.

The Old Testament Scriptures foretold of God's Suffering Servant--Psalm 22, Isaiah 53, and so on. They also predicted His Conquering King--Numbers 23, Daniel 2, and many others. What they didn't do is explain how the two are related to each other. Not even the Baptist could put them together: "Are You the Coming One--he wonders--"or do we look for another?" Who could imagine it? "The Lamb of God" is "The King of Israel". The Man "crucified in weakness" is "raised with power"!

The disciples didn't get it. No one did. Prophecy only becomes clear in its fulfillment. A cautionary note: Don't be too detailed or dogmatic in your exposition of prophecy.

"God is His own interpreter and

He will make it plain".

J.A. Bengel was a devout and scholarly man. About his commentary on Revelation, Spurgeon notes: "This great author was rather too precise in his dates. The end of the 42 months was settled for the 21st of May, 1810, and the destruction of the Beast for June 18, 1836. When so princely an expositor maunders in this fashion it should act as a caution to less able men".

The Savior is about to leave His disciples for a time and then rejoin them shortly.

The reaction will be split. Most people will celebrate His death--"The world will rejoice". The Hebrew Rulers will be giddy. The Lord had been getting the best of them for some time; but now--sweet revenge. The party will last for "three days and three nights", but then--like Belshazzar's long before--it will come to an abrupt and unhappy end.

As for the disciples? They'll feel quite differently. For a time, they'll "weep and lament". Their pain will be intense and prolonged--like a woman in labor. But also, like that woman, their suffering will be followed by a joy that more than makes up for it.

How will the tables be turned? V.22 explains: "I will see you again". The Lord will rise from the dead! This will confound the world and bring His people a "joy that no one [can] take from them".

Others have risen from the dead, of course, and brought much comfort to their loved ones. Mary and Martha, for example. But the joy they felt that day could be lost. I suppose it was if they survived their brother. They must have wept as much at his second funeral as they did at his first. But our Lord's resurrection brings an irreversible joy. Why? Because of what it portends: not a second death at a later date, but the fullness of life! For Himself. And for His people. The "resurrection"--you know--"abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel". Thus, everyone who believes the Gospel enters into life. The "life" is unimaginably wonderful now. And only gets better.

Our Lord's resurrection will change things drastically, vv.23-28. How? It will give all believers direct access to God. For years, the disciples had asked our Lord for everything. From now on, they'll go straight to God the Father.

This was revolutionary. For centuries Israel had labored under the Old Covenant which put a class of men between other men and God. If a man of Judah, for example, wanted to know God's mind, he must turn to a priest who would consult the Urim and Thummim. If a Reubenite wanted to give God an offering, he would take it to a priest (who'd take his cut) and send the rest heavenward.

But now, the old class is abolished and replaced by the priesthood of all believers. The believer can go to God any time, any place, if he has but one thing: the name of Christ. If he sincerely prays, "Father, Jesus sent me...", he'll be heard. And his "joy will be full".

Our Lord won't have to ask for us, for "the Father Himself loves [us]..." Hence, He will give us whatever we need when we need it. Because we're children in understanding, we don't always know what's best, but our Father does. He can be trusted.

If our Father didn't love us, He wouldn't have sent His Son into the world. Nor would He have turned Him over to that scum Judas, Caiaphas, Herod, Pilate, and Satan. But He did. And, if "He spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?"

The Father who sent His Son is about to take Him back. In hours, our Lord will return to His Father in spirit; in weeks, the whole Man will be enthroned at God's Right Hand.

A confession and a warning, vv.29-33.

At last--the Apostles get it. "Now we are sure You know all things, and have no need that anyone should question You. By this we believe you came forth from God". They are but saying what Nathanael said years before: "Rabbi, You are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel!"

The words are true. But are the Apostles? They'll soon see. It is easy to confess Christ among His friends. Before His accusers, though, it's a bit harder. The Apostles will soon "leave [Him] alone" and "be scattered". The Mighty Men of Valor will soon become little girls.

The Lord says this to warn them, but not to discourage them. For His resurrection will not only change "things", but men too. Including the disciples. For three days and night they'll be dreadfully scared and guilty. But when He rises from the dead, they'll have "peace" and find heart. For their Savior--and ours--"has overcome the world".

The powers of the world, to be sure. But something more primal than those. Long ago, a Just Maker put His finest creation under the curse--"Dust you are and to dust you shall return". Adam suffered that fate; as have all his descendants. Until now. For God "does not suffer His Holy One to see corruption". But gives victory over the grave. To Jesus first; and then to all His people.

Believers are often mocked as losers. In ourselves we are. But we're not in ourselves, are we? We're "in Christ". Thus, we are "more than conquerors through Him who loved us". And who is that? None other than "Jesus--the Christ, the Son of God"