20 Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world
will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. 21 When
a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she
has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a
human being has been born into the world. 22 So
also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will
rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. 23 In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly,
truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it
to you. 24 Until now
you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may
be full. …
32 Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be
scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone,
for the Father is with me. 33 I have said these things to you, that in me
you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I
have overcome the world.”
John 16:20-24; 32-33
In this passage we just read, the disciples are facing
their most pessimistic prospect of their future. The Master they have been following is going
to leave them, soon. They are at the
brink of a breakthrough. A lot are at
stakes. In fact, the political stake is
very high, because, first, they all believe that Jesus is the Messiah that God
has promised to Israel – the Anointed One who would restore the kingdom of
Israel. And secondly, the people’s
expectation is also very high ever since Jesus enters Jerusalem in the manner
of a King. The common people are hoping
that this Messiah will free them from the Roman occupation and once again
establish the kingdom of Israel just like the time of David and Solomon. This is why the disciples are bold and eager
in doing the Lord’s bidding, even though by doing so they have to confront the
establishment, which in this case is the Chief Priests, the Teachers of the
Law, the Pharisees, and all the Religious Leaders of Israel at the time. Soon, they think, they are going to topple
the Roman government anyway. In their
mind, it is a revolution.
At the height of the revolutionary movement that Jesus
has started, He says to His disciples that He is leaving them. It is not leaving them and go to a different
country kind of thing. But it is leaving
them meaning to die and go to heaven kind of thing. Upon hearing this revelation, surely the
disciples’ hearts beat a hundred times faster.
They have left everything in order to follow Jesus. Apart from the Kingdom of Heaven movement
that Jesus has started, the disciples have no future. Besides, they all have been known to the power
that be at the time. It would be
impossible to escape the beating by the authorities once their protector and
Master, Jesus, is gone. Who would heal
the sick? Who would feed the thousands
with a few bread and fish? Who would
raise the dead? Who would speak the wise
words that captivate the hearts of man, even the enemies? Oh, they are exposed now. They have nowhere to go.
Jesus has told His disciples four times about things
that will happen to Him in the near future.
Matthew 16:21 records:
21 From that time Jesus began to show his
disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders
and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.
But for the disciples’ understanding, they believe that the Messiah
cannot die, must not die. They think, it
is impossible for the Messiah to die.
But this prophecy will be fulfilled, as we all have known. Yet the disciples at that time did not expect
it to happen. However, things are
looking gloomier over time. And Jesus
seems to be unstoppable at all. So they
know it in their hearts that Jesus will surely die and He will thus leave them.
And in order to prepare them further, Jesus reveals to
them more details of their future life as well.
Look at John 15:18-21 which definitely will take their hearts away:
18 “If the world hates you, know that it has
hated me before it hated you. 19 If
you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are
not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates
you. 20 Remember the
word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they
persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will
also keep yours. 21 But
all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not
know him who sent me.
Their future prospect becomes worse by the minute. Jesus continues to reveal the details of
their life in the future. John 16:1-4
writes:
1“I
have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away. 2 They will put you out
of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think
he is offering service to God. 3 And
they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me. 4 But I have said these
things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to
you.
No wonder, in our text today, Jesus tells them plainly that: 20 Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world
will rejoice. Yes, the disciples will be in trouble. They will be hated by the world. They will be persecuted by the world. Thus they will lament. They will weep. All the while the world rejoices in their
sorrow. This is the tribulation Jesus is
referring to in verse 33. The disciples’
hearts are deeply troubled. If this is
not the most pessimistic prospect of the future, I don’t know what is.
Brothers and sisters, after 2000 years, after Jesus’s
resurrection and ascension to heaven, we too often still feel pessimistic with
life as the disciples also felt at that time. The suffering that Jesus mentions 2000 years
ago is still with us today. Our
imagination that life would be radically changed to be better, more successful,
healthier, more money in the bank, more happiness, when we follow Jesus, is not
necessarily happening in our lives.
Many, in fact, groan over the suffering they still endure even after
believing and following Jesus for quite some time. We are still: 1) struggling with our liver
disease or heart attack or joint pain or stroke or cancer, 2) so brokenhearted
because of the betrayal of our closest friend, 3) sad when looking at our
account balance in the bank, 4) forced to close down our business and head to bankruptcy,
5) witnessing our kids disobeying and speaking harshly to us, 6) losing our
loved ones to diseases or accidents or disasters, 7) experiencing rejection
over and over again when we proclaim the Lord’s message, and many more kinds of
suffering.
In the meantime, we also
find out that many people who do not believe in Jesus are very prosperous. They are healthy, wealthy, successful, happy,
on top of the world. In this situation,
we often lose heart. We become
pessimistic. We do not believe that our
life will get better. We, then, succumb
to a life without passion, a life with much sadness, a life robbed of joy, and
a life full of desperation. Many resort
to believe that God doesn’t care about them, or that God has abandoned
them. Some even take it to the extreme
as to declare that they no longer believe in God or that they believe there is
no God. Even though such move is
understandable, I sincerely hope that none of you think that way.
Brothers and sisters,
let me read to you again our passage for today’s sermon so as to remind all of
us the promise of our Lord Jesus Christ:
20 Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep
and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow
will turn into joy.
21 When a woman is
giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has
delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human
being has been born into the world. 22 So
also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will
rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. 23 In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly,
truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it
to you. 24 Until now
you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may
be full. …
32 Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has
come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me
alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. 33 I have said
these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have
tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
This promise in John 16 is not only for the disciples of Jesus that are
with Him at the time, but actually also for us.
Listen to John 17:14-21 in which Jesus prays for His immediate disciples
and everyone else who believe:
14 I
have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of
the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I
do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the
evil one. 16 They
are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into
the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sake I consecrate myself, that
they also may be sanctified in truth.
20 “I
do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through
their word, 21 that
they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they
also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
This is the love, grace, and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ.
In particular I want you
to pay your attention to verse: “20 Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep
and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow
will turn into joy.” The
promise of our gentle Mater, Lord Jesus Christ, is that our sorrow will be
turned into joy. This is an amazing
promise. Then Jesus gives an
illustration about a mother giving birth.
Normally, the joy after giving birth to a human being is far greater
than the anguish and pain of being pregnant and delivering the baby. I have witnessed with my own eyes two babies being
born, my own two daughters. My wife’s
pregnancies were not the easiest. Her
morning sickness was terrible. At one
time she had to be admitted to the hospital for dehydration. She could not take in any food nor
water. Her life was in danger and so the
life of the baby in her womb. Oh, and
the pain of delivery, I can’t even fathom.
My wife said it was very painful.
But then after the baby was born, she said that all the pain was no
longer he concern. Her main concern was
the baby. The joy of carrying the baby
for the first time took over. The joy
outweighs the sorrow.
With such understanding,
millions of people get pregnant every year and give birth to babies, all
because we have that belief that all will be well when the baby is born. The joy of bringing a human being into the
world far outweighs the pain of pregnancy and delivery. This is an optimistic way of looking at life.
Moreover, in John 16:33
Jesus augments His promise as He is drawing His counseling to a conclusion:
“33 I have said these things to you, that in
me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart;
I have overcome the world.”
Peace, shalom, this is what He wants all of us to have. The world may come rushing at us in order to
destroy us, but we are all in Christ Jesus, and so we will have peace. This is the true peace. This is the peace that Jesus mentions in John
14:27:
27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to
you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled,
neither let them be afraid.
No, not the peace of the world.
Not peace relying on material wealth, nor worldly power, nor earthly
success, nor the pleasures of the flesh, but the peace of Christ Jesus our
Lord. For Jesus has overcome the
world. He has experienced physical
death, spiritual death, but He is raised on the third day, overcoming
death. Death has no power over Him. In Matthew 28:18, Jesus says: “All
authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” Jesus indeed has overcome the world.
Let me tell you a story of Leo. One day young Leo went to a museum. In the museum he saw two paintings. The first painting was a very serene view of
the meadow. The sky was blue without any
cloud. The green grass moved to the same
direction in a calm way as the wind blew it to the same direction. Some birds were flying around happily in the
sky. The painting gave him a sense of
peace. Leo felt so calm when he looked
at the beautiful painting of a meadow.
This painting is given a title “Peace.”
Then he went to the painting next to it, which was also titled
“Peace.” But the second painting was not
like the first one. The second painting
was the painting of a thunderstorm. The
thunderstorm caused the sea to rage. Its
waves were beating the big rock mercilessly.
The sky was dark. Lightning
touched the raging sea. Leo wondered:
“How in the world this painting is titled peace?” He intensely looked at the painting trying to
make sense. He stepped back farther in
order to see the painting more as one because it was a big painting. But it puzzled him even more. He thought: “No way this terrible condition
could portray peace! The painter must be
either terribly stupid or undoubtedly insane!”
Then something at the right bottom corner caught his attention. He saw something in the big rock which was
beaten so hard by the waves. He quickly
moved closer to the painting. This time
he focused his attention to that which was in the middle of the rock. As he moved closer, he finally saw something
that caused his eyes became so big in amazement. He saw two small birds in their nest sleeping
so soundly like they did not care about the harsh environment surrounding
them. Then suddenly Leo understood
perfectly why the painting was titled “Peace.”
Brothers and sisters, what Leo found in that second
painting was the kind of peace Jesus was talking about. Despite the turmoil and tribulation in the
world, those who have the peace of Christ in their hearts would be like those
two birds in the middle of the big rock amidst the severe thunderstorm. The two birds were not afraid or troubled by
the harsh environment. They slept so
soundly. It was an optimistic life. We could all feel very optimistic when life
has been good to us, when the sky is blue, when the wind blows so softly to one
clear direction, when there is no threatening conditions pressuring our lives,
the green grass waving so serenely at the music of the soft wind, and the birds
are dancing in the perfectly clear sky.
Yeah everyone imagines life in that way so they could be optimistic. But actually, the real people who look at
life optimistically are the ones who despite the troubles in the world and
despite all the sufferings they experience, they keep their faith and hope in
God who has overcome the world. Their
heart does not waver. They hold on to
the promise of God. Life could be cruel
at them, business may go down, health may diminish, loved ones may tragically
die, their own life could be threatened by pain and suffering and real prospect
of death, but their eyes are fixed upon Jesus who was raised to life. They continue to live vibrantly serving the
Lord with joy.
If we find peace only when we encounter the serene
meadow, then when the thunderstorm of life comes wrecking the serene meadow’s
picture, we will quickly lose our peace and with it we can only look at life
pessimistically. But if our peace is
based on Jesus Christ who has overcome the world through his death,
resurrection, and ascension, then no matter how harsh your circumstances are,
you would look at life optimistically and continue to live passionately for
God. Leo understood that day that real
peace was when you were at peace even though the thunderstorm and the sea were
raging. I pray you all have the peace of
Christ in your heart so that your hearts will not be troubled at the tribulation
in the world, but that you may look at life optimistically and live for God
passionately, for He has prepared for us a place in His Father’s house. Listen to the ultimate promise of our Lord
Jesus Christ:
1“Let not
your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house
are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a
place for you? 3 And
if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to
myself, that where I am you may be also.
John 14:1-3
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