The Departure of Jesus - Pt. 2
Rev. Osei Kwabena Nkrahene | September 8 2024 | John 16:20-24
KEY VERSE:
”Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep, lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy.” John 16:20 (ESV)
MESSAGE:
It’s instructive that the Lord Jesus began the segment with the words “Truly, truly” or “Amen, Amen” to emphasize the certainty of what He was going to say.
Jesus then predicted the following for His disciples:
In verse 20, He speaks of weeping, lamenting, and grieving.
In verse 21, He compares this sorrow to childbirth, which is known to be among the most intense pains in human experience, yet it is fleeting and followed by the joy of a newborn baby.
This teaching highlights that Jesus took emotional pain seriously. He didn’t belittle it but addressed it directly, acknowledging that negative emotions do occur and must be confronted. The disciples’ sorrow would be deepened as the world rejoiced while they grieved. This emotional turmoil may have been due, in part, to their incomplete understanding of Jesus’ Messiahship. His repeated teachings about His suffering and ultimate victory didn’t fully resonate with them.
We see this in the account of Cleopas and the other disciple on the Emmaus Road. Jesus rebuked them for not believing what the prophets had said: “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into His glory?” (Luke 24:25-26).
The sorrow of the women who came to the tomb, weeping over Jesus' death, could have been avoided if they had fully understood and believed in His resurrection. As we navigate our own sorrows, let us remember that Christ meets us in our pain, offering us the promise of transformed joy through His ultimate victory FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE:
Jesus knows our pain and struggles. He invites us to come to Him openly with our weaknesses and difficulties, as He has the wisdom and love to heal and guide us. At the same time, the Church must stand ready to provide emotional and spiritual support for both believers and non-believers. We are called to extend the same comfort and care to others PRAYER:
Lord Jesus let your Grace, Word and Spirit help me cope with emotional difficulties and give me grace to help others. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.
THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!!
DAILY word study: SORROW The term "sorrow" (λυπηθήσόμεθα - lypēthēsometha) denotes deep emotional distress or sadness. Jesus predicts that His disciples will grieve His crucifixion while the world rejoices in His apparent defeat. However, He assures them that their λυπηθήσόμεθα (lypēthēsometha) is temporary and will be transformed into joy through His resurrection. This promise underscores the Christian hope that suffering is fleeting and will ultimately be replaced by joy and victory in Christ. Reflections: Sorrow is a profound and real experience, but it is not the end of the story for those who follow Christ. In what ways can you find comfort and hope in the promise that your current sorrows will be turned into joy through Christ’s resurrection and ultimate victory?
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