John 16:16-33, Lasting Joy

Main Body

Setting The Stage

Main Proposition

As Christians we must have eternal joy rooted in our position in Christ and courageously lived out in the peace that comes through Christ's victory.

Point 1, We must have eternal joy (V. 16-22)

Don't Be Confused (V. 16-18)

• When Jesus says "a little while and you will not see me," He refers to His coming ascension. The time after the resurrection when Jesus ascended to heaven. At this point Jesus has repeatedly told His disciples that things are about to change. The disciples did not fully understand what was going to change, but it should have been clear that changes were coming.
• When Jesus said and "again a little while and you will see me, because I go to the Father", He refers to the coming of the Holy Spirit. Jesus and the Spirit are one, and the Sprit would reveal all things.
• The disciples are naturally confused. What can Jesus possibly mean by telling them that because He goes to the Father, they will see Him? Wouldn't a departure to the Father mean they would not see Him? Have you ever thought to yourself, "If I could only see Jesus!" "If God would only come out and tell me what to do!" The disciples spent 3 years walking and talking with Jesus. Yet, it seems, that they only really knew Jesus once he departed. Do you want to see Jesus? Then don't be confused, The Holy Spirit, the revealer of Truth, gives us the ability to see Jesus!

Sorrow is expected (V. 19-20)

• Notice that throughout this entire discussion, Jesus knew what was going on. When a teacher teaches a class there are always side conversations taking place, inside jokes, comments, and discussions that the teacher is only aware of. The best teachers are able to track most of these side conversations and incorporate them into the larger class discussion but even then the teacher generally has to guess. Jesus knew the inside confusion and discussion and brings it directly to the front of the conversation. We must realize that in our times of doubt, sorrow, and grief, our Lord knows. Jesus knows that you have questions and Jesus can provide you peace in the midst of doubt.
• Notice the use of weeping and mourning in verse 20, this carries the idea of death. Jesus is insinuating his coming crucifixion. Jesus then introduces the ultimate cosmological paradox. God took the shame and scandal of the cross and turned it into joy. In defiance of all logic, death turns from weeping to joy and a necessary precondition to life.

Sorrow is Temporary (V. 21-22)

• Good Friday can only be called good because of resurrection Sunday! In verse 21 Christ provides a brief illustration. That of a women in childbirth.
• In verse 23 Christ promises that the joy will be permanent.

As Christians, we must live a life that is marked by Joy.  Not a joy rooted in the particular circumstances in which we find ourselves but rather an eternal joy independent of our circumstances.

Point 2, Our joy should be rooted in our position (V. 23-28)

Direct Access to the Father (V. 23-24)

• The Christian life is marked by direct access to the Father, mediated by Christ. As Christians we do not have to work through a priest or other officer. Instead, we have direct access to the father.
• Notice that this direct access to the Father, mediated through Christ was something new. Prior to this point the disciples had not had this level of access.
• Notice the result. Your joy will be complete.

A Better Understanding (V. 25)

• Jesus used proverbial speech, figurative speech, and parables to communicate his message. The illustrations Jesus used were carefully constructed and served to teach some of the most important messages the disciples (and we today) can learn. However, as was evidenced throughout the time Jesus walked with the disciples, the disciples were notorious for being confused. Now Jesus provides a new way, He will speak plainly to the disciples through the work of the Holy Spirit.
• Notice that John 16:13-14 teaches us that the Holy Spirit is not the teacher, but rather the Holy Spirit speaks what he hears.
  • 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. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.

The Authority and Merit of Christ (V. 26-28)

V26

• Have you ever been part of a bureaucracy? Sometimes the purpose of a bureaucracy is to keep people from bugging someone at the top with the small things of the bottom.
• Jesus tells his disciples that they are not part of big bureaucracy whereby the Father shields Himself from the disciples by placing the Son between Himself and the disciples. Instead, on par with Romans 8:34, the Son intercedes on our behalf to grant us status before the Father. That status allows us direct access to the Father.
  • Romans 8:34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.

V27

• God's love is not abstract and theoretical but intimate and relational.

V28

Finally, Jesus provides a summary statement "I came forth from the Father and have come into the world. Again, I leave the world and go to the Father." No matter what, Jesus wants His disciples to remember that he is the guarantee, the first fruits of what is to come.

As Christians, our joy should reflect our positional stance before God as joint heirs with Christ.

Point 2, Our joy comes because we have peace (V. 29-33)

Not Rooted in Ourselves (V. 29-30)

• Notice the irony. Have you ever jumped to a conclusion in someone's story or conversation only to find out you had no idea what you were talking about? (If you don't think you have ever done that then you might be oblivious.)

No Fear of Abandonment (V. 31-32)

V31

• Recall Genesis 3:9 where God asks Adam "where are you?" It is not that God did not know, but rather that God is asking Adam for Adam's own sake. Similarly Jesus asks "Do you now believe?"
• The disciples proved their ignorance in their declaration that now Jesus was speaking to them plainly. Jesus uses this question to point out their folly.

V32

• Jesus counters by affirming His complete knowledge but goes on to challenge the self-confident disciples that their allegiance will fail and He will be left alone, but He is never alone because the father will be with him.
• When no-one else was with Jesus the Father remained. In other words, despite complete abandonment, Jesus was exactly where he was supposed to be.

Ultimate Victory (V. 33)

• Jesus uses a ινα clause to proclaim His purpose in the message "that in me you may have peace."
• Jesus concludes the passage by affirming trials and persecutions. However, he uses a strong adversative "αλλα" (but) to transition to his message of victory. "Be courageous, I have overcome the world."

As Christians we must courageously place our confidence in Christ, realize the peace that results, and be assured of victory.

Conclusion

Lacking Joy

• Are you lacking joy?
  • Imagine spending three years of your life investing in a project only to have the rug taken out from under you and the project fail. Three years wasted, that is what the disciples might have thought. Christ, in His foreknowledge addresses the issue by telling his disciples not to allow their Joy to be circumstantial, but instead their joy should be eternal.

Teaching or Transformation

• Klink summarizes well the situation "The disciples' condition seems to have resulted from a minimization of their own depravity and Christ's real ministry. They thought that Christ was simply the one who would teach them and not the one who would transform them. Like so many in the Gospel, they did not see the necessity of the cross or death that needed to occur in their flesh.". Do you see the necessity of death in the flesh?

Victory

This was the farewell speech Jesus gave his disciples. He concludes the farewell speech with a statement of victory. Do you live victoriously or do you walk around already defeated?