Sunday, June 9, 2013

Sunday´s Sermon


2013.06.09                                         John 16: 1-22
       Sorrow and Trouble transformed into Joy
We are studying the life of Jesus…… As we pick up the text…. Jesus is on His way to the cross…. Everything God does….. He does in victory over sin and trouble…... All of the purposes of God are fulfilled perfectly….. but always because God triumphs over trouble…….
Jesus is preparing the disciples for hard times...…… Sorrow and fear will soon come upon them like a massive flood…… They will soon be discouraged and scattered as their world comes falling down….. He is not only preparing them…… He is also comforting their hearts by telling them what will happen….. He says you will be sorrowful….. but the sorrow is only temporary….. Your sorrow will turn to joy! Jesus is not saying there will be bad stuff and there will be Good stuff….. Jesus is saying I will transform the bad stuff into joy!
As we have been studying the Gospel of Luke ….. I have reminded us that a Large part of John´s Gospel….. happens in the Upper room on the night Jesus was betrayed….. I invited all of us to read John 13-17 in our own personal quiet times with the Lord….. We have seen Jesus telling His disciples what would happen……. That He would be betrayed and crucified…….. And he Warned and encouraged them … to prepare them to endure the grief and sorrow that was soon to hit them…..
Turn to John 16 v 33a….…..
John 16:33b                    NLT        Neues Leben
33b I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.“
33b Hier auf der Erde werdet ihr viel Schweres erleben. Aber habt Mut, denn ich habe die Welt überwunden.
He wanted to give them peace in the middle of the storms…. He said take courage…. I have overcome the world…. The cross was the  worst that Satan was able to do…. The most wicked and evil thing that had ever been done was transformed into victory in the resurrection of Jesus from the dead….. In this text…. Jesus is prophesying His resurrection and victory….
Fortunately for the disciples…. The trouble and sorrow of this night in which Jesus was betrayed…… Is only temporary……
The greatest comfort that could ever be given to a person in sorrow……. is that their sorrow is only temporary…..   Do you remember John chapter 13 v 1…. It reminds us that Jesus has been loving his own to the end…..  Jesus has been dealing with the sorrowing disciples…… all of this taking place the night He is betrayed…..   he is comforting them in  their sorrow…… He is giving them promises and hope…… He is promising them the gift of the Holy Spirit telling them that even after the cross……. He will be with them…..
But they're really not comforted yet….. They're still sorrowing….. and so Jesus moves in these verses to give them the greatest comfort possible….. and that is   that the problem is only temporary…... It will all be over pretty soon……. Jesus says….. Your sorrow will be turned into Joy!
twice in chapter 14 he said let not your heart be troubled….. And  in chapter 16, verse 6 he says  I can see the sorrow that fills your hearts…...he knows they're grieving about losing him…. because it doesn´t fit their understanding of the scriptures……. So Jesus is comforting them…… and finally he says that soon their sorrow will be turned to joy….. because His being taken away from them is only temporary……..
If the disciples had better understood all that Jesus had told them….. They would have already been happy….. They should have been overjoyed……. He had already told them it's better for you that I go away…. …… In John chapter 14…… Turn with me to  John 14….. Beginning in verse 1 Jesus said….
John 14: 1           NKJV Schlachter 2000
1“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.
1Euer Herz erschrecke nicht! Glaubt an Gott und glaubt an mich!
Later in v3….. Jesus said I go to prepare a place for you……. Then in verse 16…… Jesus again says the father will send you another helper (comforter)….   Look at it with me please….John 14….starting at v15
John 14: 15- 18            NKJV
15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.
John 14: 15- 18            Schlachter 2000
15 Liebt ihr mich, so haltet meine Gebote!
16 Und ich will den Vater bitten, und er wird euch einen anderen Beistand1 geben, daß er bei euch bleibt in Ewigkeit,
17 den Geist der Wahrheit, den die Welt nicht empfangen kann, denn sie beachtet ihn nicht und erkennt ihn nicht; ihr aber erkennt ihn, denn er bleibt bei euch und wird in euch sein.
18 Ich lasse euch nicht als Waisen zurück; ich komme zu euch.
I will send the Comforter to you…..  Jesus said….. I´m going to the Father…… Be happy for me…… I don´t want you to be full of sorrow…. John 15:11
John 15:11   NKJV        Schlachter 2000
11 “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.
11 Dies habe ich zu euch geredet, damit meine Freude in euch bleibe und eure Freude völlig werde.
Jesus says…..listen guys….. I have been telling you all this to take away the sorrow and turn it to joy…... But instead of being excited and joyful….. they're still sorrowful because he said that He is going away and they can´t come with them…... Their theology is not clear and they are upset and confused….. Sorrow has filled their hearts…… Jesus is responding to them in His unfailing love here…… He is not rebuking them for their misunderstanding of Messianic theology here….. He is full of compassion for them…..
Application
When our brothers and sisters are having very difficult times….. we need to follow Jesus example and major on grace……. Loving and comforting each other in our sorrows….. Comfort one another…. Bear one another´s burdens….. Galatians 6: 1,2           
So Jesus then tells them that it's only temporary….. He doesn´t want them to stumble…. He says again…. It´s going to get very difficult….. There is great trouble ahead……. Jesus doesn´t water down the truth….. Jesus is as always….. full of grace and truth….. You are going to be filled with sorrow……. I´m going to be taken from you……. But don´t be discouraged….
We are going to spend some time in John´s Gospel today so that we can see the Big Picture……. Jesus spends a great deal of time comforting and preparing His disciples... look at what Paul wrote in 2 cor 1…..
2 Corinthians 1: 3, 4         NKJV     Schlachter 2000
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
3 Gelobt sei der Gott und Vater unseres Herrn Jesus Christus, der Vater der Barmherzigkeit und Gott alles Trostes,
4 der uns tröstet in all unserer Bedrängnis, damit wir die trösten können, die in allerlei Bedrängnis sind, durch den Trost, mit dem wir selbst von Gott getröstet werden
 God comforts us in all of our hard times…. That´s exactly what Jesus is doing this morning for His disciples… turn with me to John 16… v1…..

John 16:1- 22                      NKJV
1 “These things I have spoken to you, that you should not be made to stumble. 2 They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service. 3 And these things they will do to you because they have not known the Father nor Me. 4 But these things I have told you, that when the time comes, you may remember that I told you of them.
And these things I did not say to you at the beginning, because I was with you.

5 “But now I go away to Him who sent Me, and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’ 6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. 7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. 8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 of sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; 11 of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.

12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.
16 “A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me, because I go to the Father.”
17 Then some of His disciples said among themselves, “What is this that He says to 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’?” 18 They said therefore, “What is this that He says, ‘A little while’? We do not know what He is saying.”
19 Now Jesus knew that they desired to ask Him, and He said to them, “Are you inquiring among yourselves about what I said, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me’? 20 Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy. 21 A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. 22 Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you.
John 16:1 -22    Schlachter2000
1 Dies habe ich zu euch geredet, damit ihr keinen Anstoß nehmt.
2 Sie werden euch aus der Synagoge ausschließen; es kommt sogar die Stunde, wo jeder, der euch tötet, meinen wird, Gott einen Dienst zu erweisen.1
3 Und dies werden sie euch antun, weil sie weder den Vater noch mich kennen.
4 Ich aber habe euch dies gesagt, damit ihr daran denkt, wenn die Stunde kommt, daß ich es euch gesagt habe. Dies aber habe ich euch nicht von Anfang an gesagt, weil ich bei euch war.

5 Nun aber gehe ich hin zu dem, der mich gesandt hat, und niemand unter euch fragt mich: Wohin gehst du?,
6 sondern weil ich euch dies gesagt habe, ist euer Herz voll Traurigkeit.
7 Aber ich sage euch die Wahrheit: Es ist gut für euch, daß ich hingehe; denn wenn ich nicht hingehe, so kommt der Beistand nicht zu euch. Wenn ich aber hingegangen bin, will ich ihn zu euch senden.
8 Und wenn jener kommt, wird er die Welt überführen von Sünde und von Gerechtigkeit und vom Gericht;
9 von Sünde, weil sie nicht an mich glauben;
10 von Gerechtigkeit aber, weil ich zu meinem Vater gehe und ihr mich nicht mehr seht;
11 vom Gericht, weil der Fürst dieser Welt gerichtet ist.
12 Noch vieles hätte ich euch zu sagen; aber ihr könnt es jetzt nicht ertragen.
13 Wenn aber jener kommt, der Geist der Wahrheit, so wird er euch in die ganze Wahrheit leiten; denn er wird nicht aus sich selbst reden, sondern was er hören wird, das wird er reden, und was zukünftig ist, wird er euch verkündigen.
14 Er wird mich verherrlichen; denn von dem Meinen wird er nehmen und euch verkündigen.
15 Alles, was der Vater hat, ist mein; darum habe ich gesagt, daß er von dem Meinen nehmen und euch verkündigen wird.

16 Noch eine kurze Zeit, und ihr werdet mich nicht sehen, und wiederum eine kurze Zeit, und ihr werdet mich sehen; denn ich gehe zum Vater.
17 Da sprachen etliche seiner Jünger zueinander: Was bedeutet das, daß er sagt: Noch eine kurze Zeit, und ihr werdet mich nicht sehen, und wiederum eine kurze Zeit, und ihr werdet mich sehen, und: Ich gehe zum Vater?
18 Deshalb sagten sie: Was bedeutet das, daß er sagt: Noch eine kurze Zeit? Wir wissen nicht, was er redet!
19 Da erkannte Jesus, daß sie ihn fragen wollten, und sprach zu ihnen: Ihr befragt einander darüber, daß ich gesagt habe: Noch eine kurze Zeit, und ihr werdet mich nicht sehen, und wiederum eine kurze Zeit, und ihr werdet mich sehen?
20 Wahrlich, wahrlich, ich sage euch: Ihr werdet weinen und wehklagen, aber die Welt wird sich freuen; und ihr werdet trauern, doch eure Traurigkeit soll in Freude verwandelt werden.
21 Wenn eine Frau gebiert, so hat sie Traurigkeit, weil ihre Stunde gekommen ist; wenn sie aber das Kind geboren hat, denkt sie nicht mehr an die Angst, um der Freude willen, daß ein Mensch in die Welt geboren ist.
22 So habt auch ihr nun Traurigkeit; ich werde euch aber wiedersehen, und dann wird euer Herz sich freuen, und niemand soll eure Freude von euch nehmen.
Jesus warns His disciples again about the greif and sorrow that awaits them…… Jesus tells his disciples again that He is going away….. but because he wants to comfort them he says that the parting (trennung) is only very brief……
This is  amazing….. think about it…. Here is Jesus, who has this great suffering still ahead of Him….. He has problems enough in his own heart and mind as he looks forward to  the cross…… Jesus´suffering is totally  beyond their understanding…. Jesus  could have been preoccupied with himself and his own grief….. but instead Jesus is totally selfless……. He ministers to and comforts the disciples….
The disciples are being selfish here…… They are sad and discouraged…… This isn´t fair….. We don´t deserve this…… I didn´t sign up to suffer and grieve…. I´m a child of the King you know…. They are unfortunately a lot like us here…… Thinking about ourselves and our hard times..…. Not looking up to see the sorrow and suffering that is all around us everyday….. Jesus stops to minister to the sorrow of those selfish disciples…... But, that's just like Jesus…... Putting others first….. serving and washing dirty feet….
Jesus goes to them in their confusion and weakness…. because he loves them he ministers to their sorrowful hearts……. But First He warns and prepares them…. V 1-5
John 16:1- 5                     NKJV
1 “These things I have spoken to you, that you should not be made to stumble. 2 They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service. 3 And these things they will do to you because they have not known the Father nor Me. 4 But these things I have told you, that when the time comes, you may remember that I told you of them.
And these things I did not say to you at the beginning, because I was with you.
5 “But now I go away to Him who sent Me, and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’

John 16: 1-5               Schlachter 2000
1 Dies habe ich zu euch geredet, damit ihr keinen Anstoß nehmt.
2 Sie werden euch aus der Synagoge ausschließen; es kommt sogar die Stunde, wo jeder, der euch tötet, meinen wird, Gott einen Dienst zu erweisen.1
3 Und dies werden sie euch antun, weil sie weder den Vater noch mich kennen.
4 Ich aber habe euch dies gesagt, damit ihr daran denkt, wenn die Stunde kommt, daß ich es euch gesagt habe. Dies aber habe ich euch nicht von Anfang an gesagt, weil ich bei euch war.
5 Nun aber gehe ich hin zu dem, der mich gesandt hat, und niemand unter euch fragt mich: Wohin gehst du?,
Jesus says… I don´t want you to freak out here…. In the Greek… σκανδαλζω    skandalizō….. To be scandalized…….. to be made to stumble and fall….. the hatred that the people and the leaders have focused on me will soon be aimed at you….. Because they don´t know the Father….. they will even try to kill you in the Name of God…… Bad times are coming….. You will have great sorrow….. I didn´t tell you earlier because I was with you….. but now I am going away… I´m going back to the Father…….. I´m going to heaven…… verse 6…
John 16: 6- 11                NKJV
6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. 7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Comforter will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. 8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 of sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; 11 of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.
John 16: 6- 11                Schlachter 2000
6 sondern weil ich euch dies gesagt habe, ist euer Herz voll Traurigkeit.
7 Aber ich sage euch die Wahrheit: Es ist gut für euch, daß ich hingehe; denn wenn ich nicht hingehe, so kommt der Beistand nicht zu euch. Wenn ich aber hingegangen bin, will ich ihn zu euch senden.
8 Und wenn jener kommt, wird er die Welt überführen von Sünde und von Gerechtigkeit und vom Gericht;
9 von Sünde, weil sie nicht an mich glauben;
10 von Gerechtigkeit aber, weil ich zu meinem Vater gehe und ihr mich nicht mehr seht;
11 vom Gericht, weil der Fürst dieser Welt gerichtet ist.
Jesus has told His disciples that he is going away many times…… Now they finally understand that soon they will be left alone and sorrow fills their hearts…. But as Jesus had already said…… John 14…. It is good that I go away……. I will pray the Father and He will send you another Comforter…. The Spirit of truth…..  That He may abide with you forever….. look at John 14… v 15….
John 14: 15- 18            NKJV
15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.
John 14: 15- 18            Schlachter 2000
15 Liebt ihr mich, so haltet meine Gebote!
16 Und ich will den Vater bitten, und er wird euch einen anderen Beistand1 geben, daß er bei euch bleibt in Ewigkeit,
17 den Geist der Wahrheit, den die Welt nicht empfangen kann, denn sie beachtet ihn nicht und erkennt ihn nicht; ihr aber erkennt ihn, denn er bleibt bei euch und wird in euch sein.18 Ich lasse euch nicht als Waisen zurück; ich komme zu euch.
Notice here…. Jesus will pray and the Father   will send you another Comforter…. Who is this Comforter? The Spirit of truth….. yes….. The Comforter…. The Beistand ( Fürsprecher… Helfer)…. Jesus is talking about the The Holy Spirit here… Now look down at verse 18….. Jesus is comforting His disciples ….. they are filled with sorrow…… Jesus says….
John 14: 18     NKJV       Schlachter 2000
18 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.
18 Ich lasse euch nicht als Waisen zurück; ich komme zu euch.
Here Jesus says to His  disciples…… I will not leave you alone…. I will come to you….
Back to John 16….. v12…
John 16: 12- 15     NKJV
12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.
John 16: 12- 15     Schlachter 2000
12 Noch vieles hätte ich euch zu sagen; aber ihr könnt es jetzt nicht ertragen.
13 Wenn aber jener kommt, der Geist der Wahrheit, so wird er euch in die ganze Wahrheit leiten; denn er wird nicht aus sich selbst reden, sondern was er hören wird, das wird er reden, und was zukünftig ist, wird er euch verkündigen.
14 Er wird mich verherrlichen; denn von dem Meinen wird er nehmen und euch verkündigen.
15 Alles, was der Vater hat, ist mein; darum habe ich gesagt, daß er von dem Meinen nehmen und euch verkündigen wird.
There´s more….. but you´re not ready yet…. But when the Spirit of truth has come…… he will guide you into all truth…. He will take of mine and declare it to you…. So you see it is good for you that I go away……
Let´s read further…. V 16…
John 16: 16- 22         NKJV
16 “A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me, because I go to the Father.”
17 Then some of His disciples said among themselves, “What is this that He says to 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’?” 18 They said therefore, “What is this that He says, ‘A little while’? We do not know what He is saying.”
19 Now Jesus knew that they desired to ask Him, and He said to them, “Are you inquiring among yourselves about what I said, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me’? 20 Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy. 21 A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. 22 Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you.
John 16: 16 -22    Schlachter2000
16 Noch eine kurze Zeit, und ihr werdet mich nicht sehen, und wiederum eine kurze Zeit, und ihr werdet mich sehen; denn ich gehe zum Vater.
17 Da sprachen etliche seiner Jünger zueinander: Was bedeutet das, daß er sagt: Noch eine kurze Zeit, und ihr werdet mich nicht sehen, und wiederum eine kurze Zeit, und ihr werdet mich sehen, und: Ich gehe zum Vater?
18 Deshalb sagten sie: Was bedeutet das, daß er sagt: Noch eine kurze Zeit? Wir wissen nicht, was er redet!
19 Da erkannte Jesus, daß sie ihn fragen wollten, und sprach zu ihnen: Ihr befragt einander darüber, daß ich gesagt habe: Noch eine kurze Zeit, und ihr werdet mich nicht sehen, und wiederum eine kurze Zeit, und ihr werdet mich sehen?
20 Wahrlich, wahrlich, ich sage euch: Ihr werdet weinen und wehklagen, aber die Welt wird sich freuen; und ihr werdet trauern, doch eure Traurigkeit soll in Freude verwandelt werden.
21 Wenn eine Frau gebiert, so hat sie Traurigkeit, weil ihre Stunde gekommen ist; wenn sie aber das Kind geboren hat, denkt sie nicht mehr an die Angst, um der Freude willen, daß ein Mensch in die Welt geboren ist.
22 So habt auch ihr nun Traurigkeit; ich werde euch aber wiedersehen, und dann wird euer Herz sich freuen, und niemand soll eure Freude von euch nehmen.
Look at verse 16….. Jesus makes a promise here….
John 16:16               NKJV  Schlachter 2000
16 “A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me, because I go to the Father.”
16 Noch eine kurze Zeit, und ihr werdet mich nicht sehen, und wiederum eine kurze Zeit, und ihr werdet mich sehen; denn ich gehe zum Vater.
Now that's confusing….. In a little while you won't see me…..  and then in a little while you will see me because I go to the Father…..
It's just a few hour until He is betrayed….. that´s a little while….. then he says…. in another little while….. you will see me….. This deep sorrow is only temporary because in a little while you will see me…… This is his gift of hope…….. We see this same idea all through the scriptures….. Every where we look we see very difficult times transformed into something Good and Glorious….
You will see me because I go to the Father…..  How in the world are they going to see him because he goes to the Father?   Because when he goes to the Father, whom does he send? The Holy Spirit who is the Spirit of Christ….. Romans 8:9…… And so what is Christ saying? He's saying I'll be back, only this time it won't be in a physical body with you….. it will be in the form of my Spirit where? I will be in you… In you….. He is with you and he shall be In you….. John 14: 20….
And so he's saying, you will see me again; when I go to the Father I will come back to dwell in you…. in the form of the spirit….. Remember that…… Jesus said I'm going to send you another Comforter and he used the word  Allaus, another of the same kind……   The same essence as me…... He sends back his own Spirit…… And so Jesus says I'm coming again in the Spirit…….
Look again at  John 14, verse 17.
John 14: 17, 18            NKJV  Schlachter 2000
17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.
17 den Geist der Wahrheit, den die Welt nicht empfangen kann, denn sie beachtet ihn nicht und erkennt ihn nicht; ihr aber erkennt ihn, denn er bleibt bei euch und wird in euch sein.
18 Ich lasse euch nicht als Waisen zurück; ich komme zu euch.
So what he's saying to them is…..  I'm going to go away….. and because I go to the Father….. I'll come to you…… in the form of my Spirit….. Then I will  dwell within you forever…... That's the wonderful promise that every believer has…... There's no such thing as a Christian who doesn't possess the indwelling Christ…… No such thing…… The Holy Spirit lives within the believer…..
Christ in you the hope of glory….. He says, don't worry, I'll be back….. It's temporary, and this time it will be better…… He's promising them his indwelling presence after the cross and the resurrection…..back to John 16…. Look at verse 14….
John 16: 14a   NKJV    Schlachter 2000
14a "He shall glorify me."
14a Er wird mich verherrlichen
The ministry of the Spirit is to manifest the Lord Jesus Christ through you and me…. The Holy Spirit Glorifies the Lord Jesus! Never man….. John 16… verse 19

John 16:19- 22                     NKJV 
19 Now Jesus knew that they desired to ask Him, and He said to them, “Are you inquiring among yourselves about what I said, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me’? 20 Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy. 21 A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world.
John 16:19- 22           Schlachter 2000
19 Da erkannte Jesus, daß sie ihn fragen wollten, und sprach zu ihnen: Ihr befragt einander darüber, daß ich gesagt habe: Noch eine kurze Zeit, und ihr werdet mich nicht sehen, und wiederum eine kurze Zeit, und ihr werdet mich sehen?
20 Wahrlich, wahrlich, ich sage euch: Ihr werdet weinen und wehklagen, aber die Welt wird sich freuen; und ihr werdet trauern, doch eure Traurigkeit soll in Freude verwandelt werden.
21 Wenn eine Frau gebiert, so hat sie Traurigkeit, weil ihre Stunde gekommen ist; wenn sie aber das Kind geboren hat, denkt sie nicht mehr an die Angst, um der Freude willen, daß ein Mensch in die Welt geboren ist.
22 So habt auch ihr nun Traurigkeit; ich werde euch aber wiedersehen, und dann wird euer Herz sich freuen, und niemand soll eure Freude von euch nehmen.

Verse 19…. Jesus knew what they wanted to ask…. He knew that he needed to help them….. he moves to comfort them….. The Lord knows our problems before we ever say a word….  Jesus doesn't try to deal with them theologically…… they were hurting so bad….. sorrow had filled their hearts….. Instead he ministers to them in love and comfort…… That's a beautiful thought….. He Knew that in three days their Biblical ignorance would be taken care of….. but he was unwilling to wait three days to take care of their sorrow….   
Three days later their sorrow was gone…... Because they saw him again….. He died and rose again…  He could wait the three days for their theology to become clear…. …. but he couldn't wait three days before He  comforted them….. Here we can see how much he loved them.... He didn´t wait for them to understand everything perfectly….. They were suffering and He moved to their need and comforted them …. That's how he deals with us…… Jesus pours out grace and mercy on us….. Look at v 20…..
John 16: 20   NKJV    Schlachter 2000
20 Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy.
20 Wahrlich, wahrlich, ich sage euch: Ihr werdet weinen und wehklagen, aber die Welt wird sich freuen; und ihr werdet trauern, doch eure Traurigkeit soll in Freude verwandelt werden.
Now that is Jesus….. What a loving Savior……  Jesus is totally concerned… with the comfort and the tender care of his beloved children…...  Look at v 20….. you will weep and lament…. But the world will rejoice…. you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy
The German translation is perfect here…. Verwandelt werden…. Transformed….
Jesus says I will transform your sorrow into Joy…..
Then to explain …. Jesus uses an example from real life…. Childbirth….
John 16: 21,22                       NKJV 
21 A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. 22 Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you.
John 16: 21,22                 Schlachter 2000
21 Wenn eine Frau gebiert, so hat sie Traurigkeit, weil ihre Stunde gekommen ist; wenn sie aber das Kind geboren hat, denkt sie nicht mehr an die Angst, um der Freude willen, daß ein Mensch in die Welt geboren ist.
22 So habt auch ihr nun Traurigkeit; ich werde euch aber wiedersehen, und dann wird euer Herz sich freuen, und niemand soll eure Freude von euch nehmen.
Jesus say think about the grief and pain and sorrow in childbirth….. It´s horrible….. I´ve heard it…. Even that very painful experience is transformed…. It is transformed into Joy…. Jesus says…. And you will rejoice….. Your hearts will be filled with joy…. And your joy no man can take away from you! 
This is the transforming joy that Jesus gives to everyone of His own……. This joy is permanent and it´s roots are in the Cross…… You see the transforming power of the cross….. not only redeems us from our sins….. It transforms every disaster in our lives….
Our sorrow is going to turn into joy because of the Cross…….
Notice this…... He is saying the very event that caused your grief…… will be the same event that causes your joy…... The birth that caused you so much pain and sorrow…. is the same event that gave you so much joy…… The cross which will cause you so much sorrow…. Will be for your joy…… And not your´s only…… The victory of the cross will be the joy and salvation of all who come to Him…..
He doesn't say I will take certain events that made you sorry and replace them with certain events to make you happy……
He says your sorrow will be turned into joy…... Did you know that that's what God wants to do in our lives?
Jesus  takes the sorrow and turns it into joy…. Casting all you cares on Him….. because He cares for you!The thing that plunges you into grief will be transformed into joy……. And it happened……. Jesus soon death on the cross…. His being taken away was the cause of their deep sorrow…. It was transformed into their greatest Joy…. It´s all true….. Jesus is the suffering servant…. The Messiah … the redeemer…… We are forgiven….. That's their joy….. These grief filled disciples went on after the resurrection and the Day of Pentecost praising God….. Rejoicing and  preaching the cross…...
Close
Peter puts this all together well in 1 peter 5…… He was there … he was filled with sorrow at the loss of Jesus presence in his life……
Jesus said… it´s only temporary……. I´ll come to you! Peter learned to submit to the will of God…. Even when he didn´t understand….. turn to 1 peter 5 in closing…
1 Peter 5: 5- 11     NKJV
5 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for“God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”

6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because[c] your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. 10 But may[d] the God of all grace, who called us[e] to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. 11 To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Peter 5: 5- 11    Schlachter 2000
5 Ebenso ihr Jüngeren, ordnet euch den Ältesten1 unter; ihr alle sollt euch gegenseitig unterordnen und mit Demut bekleiden! Denn »Gott widersteht den Hochmütigen; den Demütigen aber gibt er Gnade«.2
6 So demütigt euch nun unter die gewaltige Hand Gottes, damit er euch erhöhe zu seiner Zeit!
7 Alle eure Sorge werft auf ihn; denn er sorgt für euch.
8 Seid nüchtern und wacht! Denn euer Widersacher, der Teufel, geht umher wie ein brüllender Löwe und sucht, wen er verschlingen kann;
9 dem widersteht, fest im Glauben, in dem Wissen, daß sich die gleichen Leiden erfüllen an eurer Bruderschaft, die in der Welt ist.
10 Der Gott aller Gnade aber, der uns berufen hat zu seiner ewigen Herrlichkeit in Christus Jesus, er selbst möge euch, nachdem ihr eine kurze Zeit gelitten habt, völlig zubereiten, festigen, stärken, gründen!
11 Ihm sei die Herrlichkeit und die Macht von Ewigkeit zu Ewigkeit! Amen.
God wants to take the sorrow in your life and turn it to joy….. He reminds us of our redemption…… He reminds us that no matter how bad it is at the moment…. Our future is secure…… We will be transformed…. We will be like Him….. We will see Jesus as he is….. Glorious day!
You know what the source of our joy is? The cross….. Don't ever forget it….. The cross is the source of our joy…… Not our circumstances….. Circumstances are not the source of our joy…..  Jesus did everything right up to his death to assure us full joy……. he sent his Holy Spirit to live within us….. just because he wanted us to be joyful……  
Jesus can take the sorrow of life and make it joy……. This morning we rejoice in the cross…… Let's pray……

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