11-11-2018 – The Disciples Grief will be Turned to Joy

The following is the bulletin insert--please also see the sermon notes.

11-11-2018

The Disciples Grief will be Turned to Joy

John 16:16-24

Read John 16:16-18... What does “a little while” mean? He used it several times already (John 7:33), “For a
little while longer I am with you, then I go to Him who sent Me,” (John 12:35), “For a little while longer the Light is among you,” (John 13:33), “Little children, I am with you a little while longer,” (John 14:19), "After a little while the world will no longer see Me, but you will see Me; because I live, you will live also.”
John 14:22, “Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, ‘Lord, what then has happened that You are going to disclose Yourself to us and not to the world?’”
Luke 6:16, “Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.” (cf Acts 1:13, in the upper room)
The disciples (John 16:17-18) struggle, knowing Jesus is going to die and go back to the Father.
Read John 16:19-20... The eleven will weep while the world rejoices; but their grief will be turned into joy.
The cross is the provision of God, paying the penalty for all sin for all time, for all those who believe in Jesus.
Read John 16:21-22... Jesus gives an example of how suffering turns into joy (cf. Genesis 3:16, “To the woman [God] said, ‘I will greatly multiply your pain in childbirth, in pain you will bring forth children.”)
Jesus’ disciples’ grief over His death, like the pain of childbirth, will be replaced with joy when He returns.
See John 14:15-27... Jesus is going to send another just like Him, to be with them forever, the Holy Spirit.
Notice again in John 14:16-17, the Spirit will live in them forever; and in John 14:21, 23, God the Father and God the Son will come to them and make Their home in them, i.e., live in them.
Romans 8:9-11 declares that those who belong to God have the Spirit of God in them; in fact, Paul says Christ is in them.
Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”
Read John 16:23-24... Do you understand what Jesus is saying here? In “that day” i.e., in the day they see Him again, they “will not question Him about anything.”
Jesus can’t mean His resurrection, as they asked Him many questions before His ascension (see Acts 1:1-6).
But after the coming of the Holy Spirit, they would have their own resident teacher and member of the Godhead (See John 14:16, 25-26; 16:13-15).
The disciples would finally understand that Jesus’ is God the Son, the One and Only of the Father, that He had to die, to bring eternal life for those who believe in Him.
Another very important truth is (verse 24) that believers can ask the Father, in Christ’s name, and it will be done. This is the third time this evening, that Jesus declares this truth (John 14:13; 15:16).
Note: To pray in Jesus’ name means to acknowledge complete dependence upon the Lord for everything, and to pray according to the person of Jesus Christ, in obedience to the Word and Will of God.
The disciples had not asked for anything in Jesus’ name, because He was with them. But now they are to pray in His name, that their joy may be made full.
We, as Christians are granted the same privilege, for God is our Father, His Son Jesus Christ is our Savior, and His Spirit is in us, forever!
No wonder God’s Word commands us (1Thessalonians 5:16-18), “Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”