December 3, 2017 Pastor Kenton Rahn Dining With Jesus: Lessons from the Upper Room “Transforming Joy” John 16:12-24 Verse 12 – I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. God knows how much we can handle. He knows what we need to hear, and when we need to hear it. Proverbs 16:9 – How does God direct our steps? Through the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Verses 13-15 – But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose it to you.
The Holy Spirit is our guide – literally… one who “leads the way.” • • •
He guides us into truth He discloses (Gk. Anangelei – preaches/proclaims) the words of Christ (cf. Prov 1:20-23) He glorifies Christ – continually points us to Christ
Verse 16 – A little while, and you will no longer see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me. This is a reference to the death and resurrection of Christ. Verses 17-18 – Some of His disciples then said to one another, “What is this thing He is telling us, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me’; and, ‘because I go to the Father’?” So they were saying, “What is this that He says, ‘A little while’? We do not know what He is talking about.”
The apostles are clearly confused. Verse 19-20 – Jesus knew that they wished to question Him, and He said to them, “Are you deliberating together about this, that I said, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me, and again a little while, and you will see Me’? Truly, truly, I say to you, that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; you will grieve, but your grief will be turned into joy.”
The apostles will mourn Christ’s death: weep, lament, grieve. But death doesn’t have the final word: “your grief will be turned into joy.” Verse 21 – Whenever a woman is in labor she has pain, because her hour has come; but when she gives birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy that a child has been born into the world.
An illustration of how God transforms grief into joy. 1. Pain and joy are connected in this life. (Wiersbe: “The same baby that caused the pain also caused the joy.”) 2. Joy makes suffering bearable. (Cf. Rom 8:18; Heb 12:2) 3. God doesn’t waste our pain. Verse 22 – Therefore you too have grief now; but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.
Joy is more powerful than grief. Grief is temporary, resurrection joy is eternal. Verses 23 – In that day you will not question Me about anything. The resurrection wipes away doubt and confusion. We need a resurrection perspective in life. A profound pattern in life = birth, death, resurrection Verses 23-24 – Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask the Father for anything in My name, He will give it to you. Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full.
The relationship between prayer and joy…
© 2017 Campus Bible Church, Fresno, CA 93726 | www.campusbiblechurch.com
