You Will Grieve, But...

Jesus showed remarkable patience with and confidence in his disciples. So often they were slow to understand, but He simply clarified the truth He was entrusting to them, knowing that, eventually, they would understand. Here’s an example from John 16.

Some of his disciples said to one another, "What does he mean by saying, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me,’ and ‘Because I am going to the Father’?" They kept asking, "What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We don’t understand what he is saying." Jesus saw that they wanted to ask him about this, so he said to them, "Are you asking one another what I meant when I said, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me’? I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no-one will take away your joy. (John 16:17-22 NIV)

I hate getting bad news and I’ve had my share, maybe more. We probably all feel like that. Put yourself in the place of one of the disciples on the occasion quoted above. Jesus was speaking to you all, but you don’t understand. You poke your neighbour who seems to be nodding knowingly and whisper "What does He mean?" You are keeping your voice low to avoid detection. After all, nobody wants to feel like the stupid one when everyone else is understanding.

Then, before your friend can respond, Jesus looks at you and blows your cover "Are you asking each other what I mean..." Perhaps you nod slightly or simply avert your eyes. Whatever you do Jesus proceeds to explain. This is where things go from bad to worse. From simply not understanding to getting really bad news. "I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices." Wow! What a way to brighten your day. Everyone else is going to be in party mode and you’re going to be suffering. This is not what you were hoping for, not what you were expecting.

Jesus pauses ever so slightly and drives the point home in other words. "You will grieve..." Another strategic pause, then a little smile as He finishes the sentence, "...but your grief will turn to joy." Ah, relief. Grief while He’s absent, joy on His return. Pain over, health forever. Shame forgotten, weakness overcome, suffering ended, the party begun.

In this declaration of Truth, Jesus holds out hope to all who suffer. He acknowledges that suffering happens. Suffering is real. Suffering is unpleasant. And then, joy of joys, suffering is temporary. His vivid illustration of childbirth drives the point home. The pain happens. It is real. It is unpleasant (OK, worse than unpleasant). It is temporary. The joy of holding the baby overshadows the pain of having the baby.

One last word. This joy is the kind that no one can take away. It can’t be lost, destroyed or stolen. This is the joy of the Lord—our strength.