John 16:16-33 The
Joy No One Can Take WC McCarter
READ Scripture- This is the Word of God
You Will/Will Not See Me (16-19)
The
disciples are puzzled by the statement that Jesus makes in verse sixteen. Although,
we must admit that it is somewhat strange for Jesus to say, “A little while,
and you will not see Me, and again a little while, and you will see Me.” It was
difficult enough to figure out what Jesus meant in 14:19 when He said, “A
little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you
will see Me.”
In fact, the
disciples have not even spoken since the last question was posed by Judas (not
Iscariot) in 14:22. There he asked, “Lord, how is it that you will manifest
yourself to us, and not to the world.” This definitely has the disciples
talking again and maybe that is exactly what Jesus was provoking. Because they
were so confused, the disciples “murmured among themselves” (Yarborough, 165).
Of course, this isn’t the first time that they murmured or reasoned among
themselves; they had done it on several occasions.
Jesus knew
that they really wanted to question Him. He could most likely see the puzzled
looks on their faces and hear the mumbling around the room. The problem was
that they asked one another instead of the Lord, but Jesus is merciful and sets
up a response by repeating His statement again in verse nineteen. Of course,
what Jesus has said is probably just as confusing to us as it was to the
apostles. The answer which comes next is important.
Your Heart Will Rejoice (20-24)
In verse
twenty Jesus now begins His response to their question. We know that it would
be just a little while and Jesus would be crucified and buried. The disciples
would no longer see Him. After another little while He would be raised from the
dead and the disciples would be able to see Him once again. During that period
of not seeing Jesus the disciples would most certainly weep and lament. The
world, though, would count the death of Jesus as terrific and would rejoice
over the fact of getting rid of what they considered to be a menace to society.
In the last phrase of verse twenty we hear the Gospel message. Christ can turn
sorrow to joy and that is exactly what happened for the disciples on
resurrection Sunday. Jesus would return to them, and their sorrow would be
turned to joy. This is what we will be celebrating in about a month as our
Easter celebration arrives.
Next, Jesus
uses an illustration of a mother giving birth to describe what He has just
said. I think that most, if not all of the mothers in the room know this verse
to be true. I have heard many mothers say, even those who had several
complications, that as soon as their child was delivered the pain goes away. I
have been told that the process is not even remembered when they are able to
hold their baby for the first time. A mother’s heart rejoices to see her child
and no one or no thing can take that joy from her. (We should add that some
women may disagree and say that they remember the pain. Fair enough, but Jesus’
point is that the joyous prospect of a baby being born makes the pain
worthwhile).
The same
would be true of the disciples. They would be sorrowful at the death of their
Friend and Master, but when they saw Him again the pain would be worthwhile.
Their hearts would rejoice and no one would be able to take their joy from them
when Jesus was raised from the dead; that is excitement and that is good news.
No one can steal the joy that you have from meeting the risen Savior! You are a
Christian; you have been born again; you are a child of God; the joy that comes
from that cannot be taken away from you by anyone! Jesus has come
to give us joy. He wants our joy to be full in Him. Do you know the line
in the hymn, “Rejoice! Rejoice! O, Christian, lift up your voice and sing,
eternal hallelujahs to Jesus Christ, the King”? What is the title of that hymn?
He Lives!
The day
would soon come when the disciples would no longer need to ask Jesus about the
things that they were having difficulty understanding. Jesus had said so many
things about His crucifixion and resurrection for which the disciples simply
had no reference. At the time, they could not understand why the Messiah would
die. Yet, after the resurrection they would know. In fact, it was when the
Apostle John looked into the empty tomb that he says he believed. Their
questions would be answered, so in that day they would ask Him nothing. They
would simply believe. An extension of that faith would be an authentic and healthy
prayer life. They would be so immersed in Christ that they could truly ask in
His name, i.e. in full accord with His person. The idea of asking in Jesus’
name was detailed in chapter fifteen, but now it is put in proper order
according to salvation history. It would be after the glorification of Christ
that the disciples would be able to ask the Father for things in Jesus’ name
and receive those things which would cause their joy to be full.
Figurative Language (25-27)
All the
things that Jesus has said throughout the discourse have been said in
figurative language, that is, mysterious and obscure language. Both the riddle
in verse sixteen and the parable in verse twenty-one fall into this category. There
would be a time when Jesus would tell the disciples “plainly” about the Father,
that is, openly and clearly. The time that He foretells will be after the crucifixion/resurrection
and will be marked by the coming of the Holy Spirit. I think that it is mainly
the Spirit of Christ who would speak plainly to the disciples about the Father,
but Jesus most certainly spoke to the disciples after the resurrection and
before the ascension. I find it interesting that Jesus says that He would tell
them about the Father. We may have figured Him to say that He would tell more
about His incarnation, or about His death, or about His resurrection. Yet, He
says, “I will tell you plainly about the Father.” Jesus always directs our
attention to the Father, but in doing so we realize that Jesus is the ultimate
self-revelation of the Father. If you have seen Jesus, you have seen the
Father. If you understand the person of Jesus then you understand the person of
the Father.
We have
talked about praying in Jesus’ name. He has spoken of it at several points
during the discourse. We are now told that in the power of Christ’s name they
would bring their requests directly to the Father. They may not understand it
yet, but the righteousness that Jesus’ would secure for them would be their
means of personally and individually entering into the presence of God the
Father. How would they receive the power associated with Jesus’ name? Verse
twenty-seven tells us that the Father already loved those disciples because
they had loved Jesus and had believed that He came forth from God.
I Have Overcome (28-33)
Verse
twenty-eight is one of those plain statements that Jesus says He will soon
share. In two sentences He describes “the great movement of salvation” (Morris,
630). First, Jesus came forth from the Father. He was in a heavenly abode in a
state of unconstrained glory. He was then commissioned by the Father with a
task. Second, Jesus came into the world. This speaks of the incarnation. This
is what John said in chapter one with the expression, “The Word became flesh
and dwelt among us.” Jesus humbled Himself to become a man and even went as far
as death, even death on a cross. Yet, He was raised from the dead three days
later. Third, after completing the task that He was commissioned to do Jesus
left the world and went back to the Father. The ministry of Christ came full
circle. He was sent out as the unique, self-sacrificing ambassador of God the
Father and He returned to Him after accomplishing the mission.
The
disciples think they understand, and, with a hint of sarcasm, Jesus responds,
“Do you now believe?” The slight understanding that they seemingly had that
night would not be lasting. They would be scattered in fear and sorrow. Jesus
would be without His “friends” as He went to the cross. They make a bold
confession of their faith and almost immediately fail when challenged by a
testing situation. How typical this is of us humans! We are boldly confident,
sure in our faith, and when the first test comes we are weak and vulnerable.
What we realize in the Gospel message though is that when we are weak Christ is
strong. We are not saved based on our righteousness, but on His. When we fail,
we can turn right back to God. We can confess our sins and He is faithful and
just to forgive us and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Although Jesus
would be without these men, He assures them that He will not be alone because
the Father is with Him.
These things
have been said that the disciples may have peace. Jesus has given several
reasons for saying what He has said. He has said that He wants them to believe,
He wants them to have joy, and He wants them to abide in His love. Now He
returns to peace. Peace that surpasses understanding is what the disciples
needed in just a few short moments as the night and next day became chaotic.
The entire discourse has been a means of preparing the disciples, giving them
peace though they would face tribulation.
Until Christ
returns, Christians hold citizenship in both the world and the kingdom of God.
Jesus says that in Him we may have peace and in the world we will have
tribulation. With or without Christ, this world is full of tribulation. The
questions is, are you in Christ? Do you have His peace? The Lord knew full well
that the disciples would abandon Him and scatter and yet He still promises them
peace. He looked forward to their time of restoration. How sovereign,
forgiving, and provisional our God is in Jesus Christ!
Jesus does
not say, “Be of good cheer, you can overcome the world if you try hard enough;”
neither does He say, “Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world, and you can
too.” What Jesus says is, “Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” The
“I” is emphatic. Jesus has overcome the world. How does this fact
help us? Well, we are “in Christ.” We have been empowered by His Holy Spirit,
entrusted with His words, given His righteousness and the benefits of His
sacrifice and resurrection, and are able to pray to the Father in His name. We
are so associated with Him that His victory is ours.
Conclusion and Christian Application
(1) So, my first conclusion is to say
that Jesus is not a Buddha who has lived an outstanding human life and can
offer us no help in our lives. Jesus Christ is the Son of God who put on flesh
and blood so that He could achieve for us righteousness and salvation. Benefits
are showered all over us because of His life, death, and resurrection. Yet, you
cannot stand to the side without any commitment and expect these blessings. You
need to commit to Him, be united with Him, and fully trust Him in order to
fully experience His person and benefits. You cannot overcome the world on your
own, but Christ already has.
(2) You have a joy that no one can take
from you. Despite the world’s hatred, persecution, and sufferings, you are a
child of God who has been promised eternal life without all of these pains.
Allow Christ to fill up your joy, and be satisfied in Him.