Sermon 1003 John 16:16-22 Your Grief Will Turn To Joy 1) Weeping may remain for a night. 2) But rejoicing comes in the morning. Easter Sunday 143,

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1 Sermon 1003 John 16:16-22 Your Grief Will Turn To Joy 1) Weeping may remain for a night. 2) But rejoicing comes in the morning. Easter Sunday 143, 145, 162, 397, 157 April 5, 2015 St. John s Evangelical Lutheran Church Frankenmuth, MI 16 In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me. 17Some of his disciples said to one another, What does he mean by saying, In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me, and Because I am going to the Father? 18They kept asking, What does he mean by a little while? We don t understand what he is saying. 19Jesus saw that they wanted to ask him about this, so he said to them, Are you asking one another what I meant when I said, In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me? 20I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. Your will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. 21A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has 1

2 come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. 22So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. Introduction: Great Aunt Muriel lived in California. Every Christmas time, she would fly home to visit. Leading up to her visit, my parents kept building the excitement: Only 2 more weeks until Aunt Muriel arrives. Two weeks to a small child was a long time. But the day came. Aunt Muriel would spend two weeks and celebrate Christmas with the whole family. But then she would return to California. The sadness of saying good-bye touched us all. Jesus told His disciples good-bye and it saddened them. They didn t understand the details of His departures and would ride an emotional rollercoaster taking them from the depths of despair to the heights of heaven. Yet in another of Jesus I tell you the truth statements, He assured His disciples as He does us no matter what one faces in this life because of Him: Your Grief Will Turn To Joy 1) Weeping may remain for a night. A. David penned by the Holy Spirit: Weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning (Psalm 30:5). Jesus reaffirmed a similar thought here: In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me but your grief will turn to joy (vv.16, 20). 2

3 1. At this statement some of Jesus disciples said to one another, What does he mean by saying, In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me, and Because I am going to the Father? John adds capturing their anxiety and anguish: They kept asking, What does he mean by a little while? We don t understand what he is saying (vv.17-18). 2. Obviously, as true God Jesus knew their thoughts: Jesus saw that they wanted to ask him about this, so he said Are you asking one another what I meant when I said, In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me? I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices (v.19f). B. It wasn t as if Jesus hadn t previously informed His disciples about His departures. 1. On Maundy Thursday evening in the Upper Room Jesus again told them that He was going away. One = die on Good Friday and rise on Easter Sunday; Two = ascend into heaven removing His visible presence. 2. Jesus assured the disciples, however, He wouldn t orphan them. At His ascension and Great Commission, Jesus promised He would be with them/us to the very end of the age [Judgment Day] (Matthew 28:20). He already stated in John 16:7: Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. Appropriation: Dear Friends in Christ: 3

4 Jesus says to us, I tell you the absolute truth, you will cry and mourn, while the world will be glad. You will have sorrow (v.20). We all know what it means to cry and mourn since we live in a sinful world and because we are sinful: family, friendships (among peers as teens especially acute), work troubles; sadness, sickness and death. We also feel the smart of the sinful world s hatred: ridicule for following Jesus who takes away the fun of sin, burdening consciences with a bunch of commandments ordering Do this, and Don t do that. Evidence of this mentality is seen in the excuses and reasoning of those who drift away from church and create their own religion, falsely thinking that they are in a right standing with God based on This is what I think instead of listening to This is what the Lord says in the Bible. What does the Lord say? We have sinned that s why we still physically die. John concludes this 16 th chapter of his gospel quoting Jesus saying, In this world you will have trouble (John 16:33). But Jesus also promised, I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace take heart! I have overcome the world (John 16:33). Jesus overcame our sin and sadness by living perfectly to fulfill God s holy demands for our benefit. He died sacrificially as our Substitute. He rose victoriously to assure our victory over sin and death. Paul assures, He was delivered over to death because of our sins and raised to life because of our justification (Romans 4:25). 4

5 Transition: That s why Jesus said, You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy (v.20). 2) But rejoicing comes in the morning. In fact, Jesus uses this illustration: A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. So with you (v.21f) A. Jesus rising from the dead provides peace and joy! 1. In less than 72 hours, Jesus came back to life and the angel declared, He is not here; he has risen, just as He said (Matthew 28:6) like a phone call from a military family member that despite the dangerous mission I m back safe and sound. 2. St. Paul stresses: If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is you faith But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep (1 Corinthians 15:13-14, 20). B. Jesus rising from the dead creates comfort and confidence. 1. Because I live, you too will live (John 14:19), Jesus promises. 2. While Jesus removed His visible presence from us, He s preparing a place in heaven for us: In my Father s house are many rooms. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go there to prepare a place for you I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am (John 14:2-3). 5

6 Appropriation: Dear brothers and sisters in Jesus: Sometimes we may feel overwhelmed by the grief and sorrows of life. Jesus, too, experienced grief and sorrows and mourned at the death of His dear friend Lazarus. Jesus wept (John 11:35) at Lazarus grave although He was going to raise Lazarus momentarily! For our times of grief and sorrow our Savior proclaimed that powerful promise: I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die (John 11:25-26). NOTHING in all creation can change this truth: Jesus lived, died, rose and lives for us! Tom Izzo is a great coach. Most consider him a players coach, since he looks out for his players best interest. But Izzo is no player-coach doesn t run up and down the court and shoot baskets. Jesus gave us the Holy Spirit who is our players coach and Player-Coach. The Holy Spirit works at our side through the word and sacraments: in baptism called to faith and connected to Jesus redemptive life-time & eternal life-time guarantee ; WORD strengthens faith and creates faith read, study and witness. Conclusion: Dear fellow redeemed: A year between Aunt Muriel s visits seemed like an eternity to a child. Years later, Aunt Muriel moved back home and now has gone to her permanent home in heaven prepared by her Savior. While it was sad to say good-bye, it s only a little while before all of us will be reunited with Jesus and all those who have fallen asleep in Him. Those little 6

7 while departures sadden us. But St. Paul says, Brothers, we don t want you to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. After that, we who are still alive will be caught up with them and so we will be with the Lord forever Therefore encourage each other with these words (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14, 18). Because Jesus lives, in all situations in life He encourages us to remember: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy (v.20). Amen. 7