John 16:12-22 (Rev. 21:1-7)
Joyful Sorrow
Distance makes the heart grow... colder. We may know the original saying, emphasizing distance apart as a bonding experience. Of course, some couples have overcome great distances to stay together, challenging circumstances, and the like. But these aren’t the rule. Rather, they’re the exception to the rule, which is, out of sight, out of mind. I can’t tell you how many friends I no longer talk with because we both moved several states away. This is why those big celebrations in life are a double-edged sword. We often think about high school graduations, or college graduations as high points in life. Indeed, we celebrate our accomplishments and everything we’ve achieved over the past years. But few people ever talk about the other effects of graduation, which is often the leaving behind of friends and family. I remember high school and college very fondly. The friends I made, the fun times we had together, the people who made the rough spots more tolerable. And in those years of struggle, we form bonds that we wish would last a lifetime. Now, I won’t be all doom and gloom to say that of course some relationships can stand the test of time and distance. However, many of our good intentions of meeting up, of staying in touch get lost in the trials of everyday life. And I’ll say, I often look back and think of those people I’ve left behind and feel great sorrow for the loss of such a relationship. Sorrow is the pain of losing relationships, disappointments, and other misfortunes.
In our Gospel lesson today, Jesus prepares his disciples for the initial sorrow they’ll have at his departure. Jesus can’t stay with them right now, but must leave them behind. Likewise, Jesus tells us sorrow will be common to us in this life, but it won’t last forever. Rather, he teaches us:
THERE MAY BE SORROW NOW, BUT JESUS SHALL BE OUR JOY FOREVER!
I.
We return to the Thursday of Holy Week again as Jesus teaches his disciples about the things that are to come. And of course, it’s clear to us the events that Jesus is warning them about. As Jesus said, “A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see me,” John 16:16. Jesus is here speaking of his death and resurrection. Jesus will be taken away from the disciples for “a little while” as he goes to suffer and die. However, Jesus also tells them, “A little while, and you will see me.” Jesus knew he would rise on the third day and would be with them again. However, this isn’t perhaps the only possibility. In the larger scale of events, Jesus knows that even after his resurrection, this time of Easter that we celebrate, his time with the disciples is short. It’s only forty days that Jesus remains on earth following his resurrection. It’s this week that the church celebrates Jesus’ ascension into heaven. We know that the time is coming to say goodbye to Jesus… in a sense.
It’s this temporary nature that we’re stuck in. As a child, I always thought things would last forever. But the biggest lesson of growing up is that nothing stays forever. Friends move away. Jobs come and go. Things break; people die. And we’re left having to say goodbye time and time again. This sorrow that encompasses life is sometimes overwhelming. We yearn for the things that last. We yearn for stability and familiarity. And this world will give us just enough to satisfy us for a moment before it rips it all away. This is why Jesus said, “You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy,” John 16:20. Sometimes it’s hard to move on after losing something precious to us. Sadly, even longtime friendships can decay over time. This is one of the many effects that sin has on us. Sin has given us sorrow. Sorrow over the lost friends, lost opportunities, lost family, lost love. It’s sin that has taken eternity away from us, our longing for longevity and lasting relationships. In this world, there’s no such thing as forever. It’s only ever a matter of time before we must say goodbye to all that we love and hold dear.
II.
But do you know what else is temporary? Our sorrow! Our pain and misery. Our sin and even death! As we prepare for Jesus’ ascension, Jesus isn’t disappearing on us forever. As he said, in “a little while” we will see him again! Even so, Jesus’ departure doesn’t leave us lonely, but rather Jesus gives us the Holy Spirit who becomes our companion throughout this life. As Jesus said, “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,” John 16:13. The Spirit is forever present bringing the things of Christ to us. By the Spirit’s presence, Jesus remains with us too. Though we can’t see him, though we can’t touch him, we know he’s still here. For this is what turns our sorrow into joy. It’s the hope of pain and suffering being brought to an end. It’s the hope of eternity with Jesus. It’s the victory of Jesus being brought to us through the work of the Holy Spirit.
There’s no doubt that we’ll have plenty in this life to make us sorrowful. There’ll be sorrow now, but Jesus shall be our joy both now and forevermore! It’s our faith in Jesus which allows us to know that any goodbyes we have now, are only for a time. Jesus has opened a new and living way through his death and resurrection for us. Jesus has suffered all of our sorrows. He has borne our griefs in this life. He has paid for all of our sins. It’s for this reason he can promise us that we will have joy. This is why our faith is ever forward-looking. As John records in Revelation, “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more,” Revelation 21:1. We look in hope towards eternity, knowing that when Jesus returns, “He will wipe away every tear from [our] eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore, for the forming things have passed away,” Revelation 21:4. Indeed, there in eternity, we’ll never have to say goodbye again. We’ll never have to bury a parent or child, a brother or sister, a friend, or anyone else we love again. Rather, we’ll dwell with family and friends, with all believers, and above all, in the very presence of God for all eternity.
Jesus is our joy in this life and the life to come. For he unites us together in his body, through his death and resurrection, that our sorrow in this life may be the joy of eternity. So, may we look ahead to Jesus’ coming when all our sorrows shall disappear and we shall have joy in Christ forevermore! In Jesus’ name! Amen!