TURNING SORROW INTO JOY PART ONE

 

John 16:16-24

 

One of the most natural questions in the world is to

ask how joy relates to sorrow in our lives.

 

The Psalmist wrote, “Sing praises to the LORD, O you his saints, and give thanks to his holy name. For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.” Psalm 30:4-5. Do Christians have a new kind of experience on this side of the cross, which the psalmists did not have on that side of the cross? The Apostle Paul’s testified in the New Testament that he found joy together with his suffering. “as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.” 2 Cor 6:10 We know the Old Testament writers pointed to the Messiah, the Saviour; and the New Testament writers reveal He is here, and redemption has been made through the Son of God. The Scriptures are not silent when it comes to sorrow and joy, the pages of Scriptures is filled with great sorrow and great joy.

 

For example:

 

Psalm 126:5-6 read, “Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy! He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.”

 

Paul said, “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.” Rom 12:15

  

John Piper wrote, “Just because Paul says in another place, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice” (Phil 4:4), don’t plan the funeral as though it were a festive wedding. And just because Ecclesiastes 7:2 says, “It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting,” don’t throw a blanket of gloom on the bride’s joy by bringing your weeping to the wedding celebration. “For everything there is a season . . . a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance.”(Eccl 3:1, 4).

 

Since Jesus’ disciples didn’t yet grasp the reality of His upcoming death and resurrection, they struggled to understand what He meant when He said, “A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again, a little while, and you will see me.” You’re confusing us Jesus, are you leaving, or are you staying? When I see this passage one question comes to mind, “Can we find joy in our sorrow, can we find joy in our suffering?” Because for many, the lack of hope leads the ultimate agony in suffering, because when we cannot see the light at the end of the tunnel, this life becomes darker. If we cannot see the end, life becomes overwhelmingly bleak. We read, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick.” Prov 13:12. The mind becomes uneasy, the heart sinks and fails, and the man is dispirited and ready to despond. What happens, is he/she, give up all hope of enjoying the desired blessing; whether it be deliverance from any evil, or the possession of any good

The lack of hope eliminates the joy

 

I say that because Jesus gives reference to that in (v6) “sorrow has filled your heart.” “Filled” gives the idea of that sorrow has pushed out every other emotion, it denominated their hearts. Personal grief, and sorrow, made it hard to receive any other information, especially as the hour was drawing closer to Jesus’ death. 

Think about what the disciples must have felt when Jesus was being crucified on the cross. What was going through their minds as Jesus suffered the physical torture, because that’s all we can relate to. We have no idea the suffering He was exposed too, when the sin of the world was placed on Him, as the Father crushed His only begotten Son.

For the past three chapters Jesus has filled their hearts with the truth about suffering, and the truth about joy. He has prepared them for this day; and to their own shame everyone of them fled after Jesus was arrested; and Jesus said this would happen even here in this chapter. (v32) Peter denied Him three times, even when Peter said he would go with Him to the end.

Thomas’ hope was shattered into a million pieces  when Jesus died. Jesus was killed by the hands of sinful religious people, and as they wept with great sadness the world rejoiced, as if the house fell on the wicked Witch of the East.

 

This continually happens today; it is more evident in this post-modern, digital age.  The world rejoices when a Christian falls in sin or grieved with sadness. The world loves when Christian institutions, churches are shut down or have scandals in the news. The world rejoices in the perversion of this world system, and frowns upon what is good and acceptable to God.

 

Paul was clear about this when he described the natural man and woman. “They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God's righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.” Rom 1:29-32

 

They delight in those who commit sin; and hence, encourage them in it, and excite them to it. As the world looked on in joy; for the disciples when He gave up His last breath life, it felt like it was over for them, and they didn’t know what to do from here on out. Which is sad considering what Jesus said to them, in secret, in private, in the upper room, for those many hours to prepare them for this day and the future.

 

Jesus wants us to have hope and joy.

 

But the disciples were filled with great sorrow, a misery that cannot be full described. But Matthew’s gospel describes something that would change their worst day in history. “Three days after His death describes an ecstasy of joy as the women when to the empty tomb. “But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples.” Matt 28:5-8

 

The Greek word for “great joy” is “mega” as in a “megaton" This is an indescribable amount of joy, none of us can really describe what it was like when the sisters went to the disciples, they bursting in with “mega joy” The only thing that comes to mind about this kind of excitement is when the Jay’s won the world series. I know this is a terrible example, but the excitement was electrifying. Or maybe it’s the mega joy when you see you child come into the world for the first time. I have wept with a great joy for every child the Lord has given us at birth. It is a joy that is indescribable, as with the sisters who came to tell the disciples about the great news.

 

Can we find joy in our sorrow, and can we

find joy in our suffering?

 

The answer is yes, as Jesus explains here, in answering to their confusion, Jesus prepared them for His departure by comparing the cross to the agony and joy of childbirth. (Let’s read the text v16-v24)

 

Understand!  “will be turned into joy” The Lord was not saying that the event causing their sorrow would be replaced by an event producing joy, but rather the same event (the cross) that caused them to mourn would be the cause of their joy. The dark shadow of sorrow and grief casted by the cross, would fled by His resurrection, and the coming Holy Spirit. For the disciples, and for us, we look to the cross for joy; because this is our source of great joy, its an unending source of joy. Paul wrote as reminder, “But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” Gal 6:14

 

What Paul is saying is that the cross is

foundational to our Christian joy.

 

But here, the disciples were so confused they ask one another, “What does He mean by a little while?” (v18) He is leaving, He is coming back, when next year, a month, we are confused. Sadly, they demonstrate the heart of the natural man or woman, “We are by nature blind, and we’re deaf.” Jesus is referring to His death, and resurrection, which is hours away, as Jesus instructs them late into the night. The Greatest teacher speaks up, because He can hear them questioning one another out of fear to ask Him. (v19-v20) In Matthew’s gospel as Jesus hangs on the cross, we are told, “And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads” Matt 27:39. Jesus said, “Truly, truly”: “I say to you, you will weep and lament.” When they find themselves, after the crucifixion, in despair, then they will display their sadness in their tears and in their lament. We read further along in John’s gospel we see what happens when Jesus has died and returned to them. “On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, There they are. “You will weep, and you will lament.” Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” John 20:19. As you weep and lament the lose, the world will not share in your suffering, “The world will rejoice.”

 

In other words, Jesus says, “I want you to know that while you enter into the reality of sadness and disappointment and so on, you should be aware of the fact that what’s going on around you, they will not be sharing it with you.” But know this! “You will sorrow, but your sorrow will turn into joy.” (v20b, v22) Your earthly sorrow, pain and suffering, will be turned into joy and what you endured for the sake of Christ the reward is a joy that is completely full. You will not only rejoice at my resurrection, but even in my death, now the object of so much grief to you, will be to you a source of unspeakable joy. It will secure for you peace and pardon in this life, and eternal joy in the world that is to come.

We can have joy in the midst of sorrow

 

When we turn to Christ, when we find satisfaction in Christ, knowing that He provides us with His Spirit, who helps us, comforts us, and produces His joy within us. This is a joy that the world no’s nothing of, otherwise the world would have sorrowed alongside the disciples did when Jesus was crucified. “Joy” according to the Scriptures is a feeling of good pleasure and happiness that is dependent on who Jesus is, rather than on who we are, or what is happening around us. Joy comes from the Holy Spirit, abiding in God’s presence, and from hope in His word.

 

If we took a quick run through the Scriptures, we would see….

 

God is the giver of joy……. “For gives wisdom and knowledge and joy.” Eccl 2:26

It is a fruit of the Spirit….. Gal 5:22

The gospel is to be received with joy….. “having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit.” 1 Thess 1:6

Joy is promised to the believer….. “For you shall go out with joy, and be led out with peace.”..” Isaiah 55:12

We shall receive the fullness of joy from the LORD….. “You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy.” Psalm 16:11

Joy is experienced by the believer…… Psalm 97:11

Joy is increased to the humble…… “The humble also shall increase their joy in the LORD.” Isaiah 29:19

Joy is the believer’s hope in God…. Psalm 89:16

Joy is the believer’s hope in Christ….. Rom 14:17

Joy is the believer’s hope for salvation….. Psalm 21:1

Joy is the believer’s hope in deliverance from bondage….. Psalm 105:43

Joy is our supply for grace…. Isaiah 12:3

 

Joy is for our hope of glory…. “Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. “ Romans 5:3

 

The joy we are to have is in abundance…. 2 Cor 8:2

The joy we have is unspeakable and full of glory towards God…. 1 Peter 1:8

The joy we have is in awe and wonder of Him….. Psalm 2:11

 

Joy in Christ is our hope as Paul wrote, “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” Rom 12:12

 

We have joy even in our sufferings, “as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing…” 2 Cor 6:10

The believer is to worship with this joy…. Psalm 42:4

Joy is to bring hope in His mercy, for those who fear Him…… Psalm 147:11

 

Joy shall be the final reward of believers at the judgement day. “..Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ “ Matt 25:21

Jesus was telling His disciples these things to comfort and prepare them for what is to come. Always remember as Jesus comforts His confused disciples, that nothing can dislodge our joy in Jesus Christ. Nothing can dislodge this boulder of joy in all that God is for us in Jesus. It cannot be broken in pieces, and it cannot be sucked out into the sea. Tearful joy gives way to tearless joy. From sorrow to joy as we rest in the finishing work of the cross, and the eternal promises found in Christ alone. The principle is simply….. our God brings joy to our lives, not by substitution, but by transformation. The illustration of the woman giving birth makes this clear, her sorrow will soon to mega joy. Suffering in child birth was the woman’s path due to the curse. “To the woman he said, “I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children.” Genesis 3:16. But that sorrow, because of the curse, not the child, but because of her rebellion would bring about a megaton of joy in the end of that suffering. As Jesus said, “she no longer remembers the anguish, for the joy that a human being has been born into the world.” (v21) I can attest to that! My wife is my hero, when it comes to pain, and I have witnesses that suffering 6 times, but joy is birthed out of suffering.

 

Our Lord does not mean that after a woman gives birth, she cannot remember any pain of childbirth. (Ask any mother) Rather, Jesus is saying, “That the joy of a new child thrusts that pain into the background.” As one theologian wrote, “And when the waves recede, as the pain of a mother in child birth eventually did, the rock shimmers again in the sunlight with laughter.”

The same is true for you believer. 

Our sin, due to our rebellion against God, is thrown into the background of His grace when He paid the price for my sin and called me out of darkness. The Psalmist wrote, “as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.” Psalm 103:12. Micah wrote about God’s pardoning grace, “Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love. He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.” Micah 7:18-19. Our/my sin never to rise against us to condemnation, but shall in the Day of Judgment be sunk in the abyss of hell, as if they had never been. Paul wrote, “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree.” Gal 3:13. This doesn’t mean our sin memory has been erased, but its in the background as a reminder to where we find true joy. 

As Voddie Baucham said in his message on “Brokenness”. “You can’t have the memory of my sin. I won’t let you take it. It reminds me of God’s goodness to me. It reminds me of His grace in my life. It reminds me of where I was and where I never want to be again. It reminds me that His work in me may not be complete but it is effectual. I’m not who I ought to be but, hallelujah, I’m not who I was.” 

It’s my sin, that no longer eternally condemns me, because Christ, “Paid it all, all to Him I owe.” I know my sin is ever present, but God has replaced that sorrow over my sin, with joy in Christ. Joy should mark our lives, the events of the cross brings grief, but the resurrection brings joy. Hence the fact, joy should be the mark of the believer’s heart. The fruit of the Spirit is, “Joy” and the Spirit is the one who will give us this joy when He comes to comfort our broken hearts. The reality of what Jesus is saying here is that no one will be able to take that joy away from you. (v22) This means its permanent, nothing can undo the work of grace that was brought to you in the gospel. Jesus says, and does all this, as He is about to face His own unimaginable suffering for their joy. It is the power of the cross where I joy begins and leads us into His sovereign arms in the future. In the meantime, its this joy that we comfort one another in our afflictions as Job said to his friends. “The blessing of him who was about to perish came upon me, and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.” Job 29:13 

My prayer for each and everyone of us is that

the world may be amazed by our joy.