How Can You Have Joy in a Troubled World? | John 16:16-33 | Mikey Brannon
How Can You Have Joy In A Troubled World?
Grace Christian Fellowship
John 16:16-33
Introduction:
Today we will continue and hopefully finish John 16 from where Darien left off
last week. If you recall, we are nearing the end of what we call the farewell
discourse. It is a long section of Scripture taking place in the upper room with
Jesus and his disciples just prior to his arrest, mock trial, conviction, and eventual
crucifixion. It is in these last moments that Jesus pours into his disciples his final
thoughts, his final instructions for what is to come.
I loved the way Darien framed this last week as he talked about a coach who had
trained his team, but all of the sudden before the big game he was gone. In fact I
remember in 2017 when Alabama was playing Clemson for the National
Championship game and Nick Saban fired the offensive coordinator just days
before the game because of distractions around Lane’s newly acquired job at
Florida Atlantic. Here was Lane who was the play caller and the mastermind
behind the offense and in the biggest game of their lives he was gone. Alabama
would go on to lose that game. To a much greater degree this must be how the
disciple feel as Jesus tells them he is going away and that he is going to be killed.
But Jesus is so full of compassion in these verses. He has every right to be focused
on his own task. After all he is the one who is about to go through this agonizing
death, but his focus is on his disciples. He doesn’t want them to worry. He wants
them to have greater faith. He wants them to have true joy that is bigger than their
circumstances. So let’s pick up in verse 16 as we answer the question, How can
you have joy in a trouble world.
In verses 16-21 I want us to see that (I) the sorrow is temporary
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16 "A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you
will see me."
All through the Bible we get the concept of messianic timing. It was the God
ordained time in which things were to occur. We see Jesus say things like “my
time has not yet come”. Jesus is trying to communicate to the disciples that the
time is near for his death. It is but “a little while away”.
I think it is difficult for us to really put ourselves in the place of the disciple
sometimes. These were just common men. Fishermen or tax collectors or whatever
they were. And all they have known to this point is to follow Jesus. They just
followed him. Tried to learn from him. They had no idea what is would be like
when he was gone.
In fact even that they haven’t really accepted. Their minds our clouded by
preconceptions of Judiasm. They don’t always follow what Jesus is teaching. And
they probably deep down hope that Jesus is going to establish some sort of earthly
rule that will provide them some security. We will see this in the garden when
Peter is ready to wage war to prevent Jesus from being taken.
But Jesus also says “in a little while” you will see me (again). Jesus want’s his
disciples to realize that the sorrow is only temporary. One of the things that my
wife, Brooke, always says is I can do anything as long as I know there is an end in
sight. Right, we just need some assurance that the difficult thing won’t last
forever. We need hope.
[Jhn 16:17 ESV] 17 So some of his disciples said to one another, "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 am going to the Father'?"
Now stop right here do you see something in verse 17 that was not in verse 16. We
now have this phrase “because I am going to the father”.
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You see there is some debate around what the little while is. Is Jesus talking about
he is going to die, but the he is going to be resurrected in 3 days? Is that the little
while? Or is he talking about something else. I think the key to understanding is in
that phrase that we get from the disciples “because I am going to the father”. Look
back at verse 6.
[Jhn 16:7 ESV] 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 go, I will
send him to you.
So I believe the “little while and you will see me” is referring to the coming of the
Holy Spirit. That is the context of this entire chapter, the coming of what Paul
calls in Romans as “the Spirit of Christ”. So because I go away to the Father “not
his death, but his ascension”, the Holy Spirit will come like we see in Acts 2 at
Pentecost. Which really fits with the rest of the entire chapter.
Jesus wants them to know that the sorrow they will have is only temporary
18 So they were saying, "What does he mean by 'a little while'? We do not know
what he is talking about." 19 Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to
them, "Is this what you are asking yourselves, what I meant by saying, 'A little
while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me'?
Now I’m right on the line of being Gen X and Millennial, and sometimes when I
think back to my childhood I realize just how different we were built. I never
forget on teacher I had in shop class. Much of it was not about shop by the way.
Have you ever heard that there is no such thing as a dumb question? Well he
didn’t subscribe to that. I’ll never forget one day in class this guy in the back of
the room raised his hand and asked a question. I don’t remember what the question
was but it must have been a dumb one, because what I do remember is how that
shop teacher responded. He said real calmly, little man, did you know people
might think you’re a dummy, but they don’t really know for sure. But the moment
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you open your mouth and ask a question like that, everybody knows you’re a
dummy.
Proverbs 17:28: "Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he
closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent".
Now our disciple didn’t have Mr. McCreless but maybe they did read Proverbs
because nobody wants to ask the question. But Jesus is determined to show them
the temporary nature of their sorrow so he gives them an illustration.
[Jhn 16:20 ESV] 20 Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the
world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy.
Jesus knows that these disciples are headed for sorrow. The road will not be easy.
But ultimately they will have joy. And you as a believer has this very same
promise.
[Rom 5:2-5 ESV] 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this
grace in which we stand, and we rejoice (definition find deep and abiding joy) in
hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings,
knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character,
and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's
love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given
to us.
God is not allowing us to go through difficult seasons for no reason. He is
sovereign and in control of all things. And while we may not know His exact
purpose we can be assured that He is doing something in and through our trials.
Our sorrow is temporary but our joy is everlasting. Jesus further explains it this
way.
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[Jhn 16:21 ESV] 21 When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her
hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the
anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world.
Jesus compares the suffering and the joy to a woman who is giving birth. Now, I
can tell you I have several children and I am somewhat of an expert you could say
in observing this phenomenon. I can tell you that the process appears from my
vantage point to be very, very difficult. But I will never forget the moment when
the first time in my life I heard the doctor say, I can see her head. It was as if in
that moment for the first time I really understood that I was about to be a Dad. I
was completely and totally responsible for another human being. I was filled with
an overwhelming amount of joy. And I remember when they handed my daughter
to my wife and she held her and she just smiled and cried these tears of joy. As
great as the pain and the suffering was, it was in that moment completely gone and
it was replaced with joy. And that joy of being a parent never goes away. Sure
there are difficult times, but it is lasting.
That brings me to my second point, (II)True Joy is Eternal
[Jhn 16:22 ESV] 22 So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and
your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.
This reunioun with Christ or the Spirit of Christ creates in us a joy that cannot be
taken from us by anyone.
Now this Jesus points to 2 characteristics of this Joy. There is joy in having direct
access to God in Prayer.
[Jhn 16:23-24 ESV] 23 In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say
to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. 24 Until
now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy
may be full.
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I will admit that I got hung up a little bit here. What does Jesus mean ask nothing
of me? Is he saying don’t pray to Jesus? No, that’s not it at all. You have to think
about this in the context of the disciples. Up until this point in their lives all they
have known about following Jesus has been to follow him. And if they were in
need they would ask him. Jesus would talk to the Father for them, and then things
would happen. In fact all of John 17 is going to be exactly that, Jesus praying on
behalf of the disciples to the Father.
So Jesus now because I am going away, things are going to be different, you now
have direct access to the Father. And he gives a promise, ask it in my name and
you will receive it. And then we get a “so that”. Why does the Father answer these
prayers? So that your “JOY” may be made full!
Now, what does it mean to pray in Jesus name?
First of all, it is our identity. We recognize and declare that we are in Christ. But
more importantly is aligns our motives. That is to say that if I pray for something
in the name of Jesus I am saying, Father I am asking this because I believe it is the
thing that Jesus would also pray. Not out of selfishness or ambition, but I truly
believe it is a desire of Christ for this thing to happen.
So not only is access to God in prayer a characteristic of joy, but also true Spiritual
Discernment. (25)
[Jhn 16:25 ESV] 25 "I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour
is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you
plainly about the Father.
I think one of the most profound parts of Scripture is in comparing the disciples
that are presented in the gospels. Often they appear confused, without direction,
they don’t understand, they have no vision of the Kingdom. They are being
repremanded for being out of line. But then Acts 2 happens.
And all of the sudden, these disciples are presented in a completely different light.
Teaching with authority. Some are writing Scripture in connection with the Holy
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Spirit. Preaching deep theological Kingdom truths. All of this after Jesus has
ascended!
Remember what Darien said last week in John 16:13
[Jhn 16:12-13 ESV] 12 "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear
them now. 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth,
for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak,
and he will declare to you the things that are to come.
Not only is the Holy Spirit called the Spirit of Christ as we saw in Romans, but he
is called by John in this chapter as the “Spirit of Truth”. And knowing the truth is
a great source of our Joy.
So why does the Father want to answer our prayers, and why does he want us to
know the truth through discernment? Because he loves us. Verse 27.
[Jhn 16:27 ESV] 27 for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me
and have believed that I came from God.
If you want to please the Father, or better yet if you want to be loved by the
Father, then he asks us to love His Son. How do you do you love the Son?
[Jhn 14:15 ESV] 15 "If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
I want to be careful here, because I believe that you are saved by grace through
faith. Not of works lest any man should boast. There is no amount of good deeds
that can get you to heaven or earn one ounce of favor with God. But I do want to
make a connection between faith and obedience in light of John 14:15.
[2Co 13:5 ESV] 5 Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test
yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in
you?--unless indeed you fail to meet the test!
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How do you know if you love Christ? How do you know if you are in the Faith?
What is the test. If you love Christ, you will desire to know his Word, and you will
desire to keep his commandments. You will not do it perfectly, you will fail, just
as I fail, but in you will be a desire to love God and to love people. There will be a
desire to flee from Sin. And when you fall into sin you will be broken unto
repentance. You are not saved by obedience, but obedience is an outpouring of a
life that is in Christ.
Some of you this morning may not know if you belong to Christ. Scripture calls us
to examine ourselves. It doesn’t ever say did you pray a prayer. Did you go
through confirmation, were you baptized? None of that. It always lands right here,
is your life bearing the fruit of the Spirit. And if it isn’t then you have cause for
great concern. If this is you then scripture is clear, believe on Jesus Christ today,
and repent and place your faith in him.
[Jhn 16:28-30 ESV] 28 I came from the Father and have come into the world, and
now I am leaving the world and going to the Father." 29 His disciples said, "Ah,
now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech! 30 Now we know
that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we
believe that you came from God."
In these verses we can see ourselves. We see the first elements of faith in that they
have an intellectual understanding of what Jesus is saying, but their faith is very
weak. Just like us.
We can read the truth of God, we can write in our journal. We can even pray about
some Scripture that we have read and think. That’s awesome God thank you for
showing my that truth. It can be a delightful experience to have with the Lord, and
I don’t want to take away from that. BUT, when do you really understand a
passage like this?
[Jhn 15:19 ESV] 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its
own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world,
therefore the world hates you.
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It’s not really when you read it. On a deeper level you understand it when you
experience it. When do you really understand a passage like “Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me”.
It’s not when you read it, when you understand it, it’s really when you live it.
I think Jesus’ tone in verse 31, is dripping with irony.
[Jhn 16:31 ESV] 31 Jesus answered them, "Do you now believe?
In fact if I were paraphrasing this verse into modern language it might go
something like, “oh do you now?”. They do understand to a degree, but the trials
that lie ahead of them are about to take this small faith and grow it into something
that is unshakable.
Peter who not long after this very moment will go on to deny Jesus 3 times. I don’t
know that man, I never heard of him. Who will hear the rooster crow and realize
that he has failed in his own power. The failed Peter who Jesus would return to
and ask the question, Peter do you love me? Peter do you love me? Peter do you
love me? I can almost here Jesus say after all that? Now Peter, now do you believe
me? And Peter would have said, Oh Lord, now because I have gone through all of
this, now I really believe!
It is that Peter, not failed Peter, but tested Peter, the redeemed Peter who goes on
to write this:
[1Pe 1:6-7 ESV] 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary,
you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your
faith--more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire--may be
found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
The test is coming vs 32.
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[Jhn 16:32 ESV] 32 Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you
will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not
alone, for the Father is with me.
They will fail. It doesn’t mean they aren’t believers. The test is for a purpose, to
strengthen, to grow.
Why am I telling you all this, Jesus says?
[Jhn 16:33 ESV] 33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have
peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the
world."
Listen Church, Jesus doesn’t just speak these words to the disciples in the upper
room. I believe he has in mind, all of you, and me. And any disciple that would be
called to him. To believe in Jesus is to be at odds with the world. And there is a
promise here that in this world. In this evil system that you find yourself a part of.
you will have tribulation. You will have trouble. You will have sorrow.
Jesus says take heart, I have overcome the world. This is the victory. Only Jesus
can say this. Only he has the power. If I say cheer up, buck up, hang it there it is
meaningless, because I don’t have the power to do anything. Not the case with
Jesus. The creator, God himself, says, I know your trouble, but rest in me, because
I am the One that holds it all. We have nothing to worry about because of that.
Lord’s Supper
Invitation
o Are you going through a trial? Pray this morning that God would grow
your faith.
o Maybe this morning you know another believer who is going though
trials and God is showing you an opportunity to encourage them and
support them in the midst of it.
o Maybe this morning you have examined yourself and you have
concerns that your faith is not real.