S) "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."
John 16:22 (NASB)
O) Jesus had, apparently, confused His disciples by telling them that in a little while they'd no longer see Him, and also in a little while they'd see Him again (vv.16-19). He was speaking, as we now know, of His burial and resurrection. As He warned them, the world was going to celebrate, while they grieved. But, like a woman who has given birth, their grief would turn to joy (v.21). Then, the glorious promise, that our joy cannot be taken from us.
A) This verse is really displaying a key difference between what we should call joy, as Christians, as opposed to happiness. Really, this has everything to do with foundation. Lots of things make me happy, but they are all temporal, circumstantial things. There's nothing wrong with that, at all. Likewise, many things can make me sad, but again they are finite happenings. However, my joy is to be built on something much bigger than life circumstances or daily events. My joy is dependent on nothing further than the resurrection of Christ Jesus, my Lord. Certainly, there are complex implications to that, all of which shine on a different facet of the same glory. For example, the righteousness of Jesus is cause for great joy, because that made His sacrifice acceptable (), and His righteousness was proven in the resurrection. Likewise, His blood shed for me is cause for great joy, but that blood being shed was only worthy because of His righteousness, which was again proven in His resurrection. So, His death, burial, resurrection, and ascension is, altogether, cause for great joy in my life. Those facts will never change, because He is eternally resurrected, eternally victorious, eternally alive. So, my joy can never be taken, because Jesus lives! That means it is possible for me to be sad about one thing, and at that same time, be joyful about my Savior. I can be happy about one thing, and joyful altogether separately.
P) Father, thank You for my joy. Thank You for the grace at work in the cross, and all it means. Let me dwell on this great grace more often, that I may also dwell on the reason for my joy. Even in the face of great sadness, help me to display my joy in Your grace, that it would be a testimony to Your glory, about the salvation given through Jesus Christ. Thank You for this joy, which cannot be diminished or stolen. Thank You for this joy, that is secured in the unchanging work of Jesus Christ. To You be all glory and praise. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.
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