John 16:20
By: Alexander Rico
Most assuredly I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned to joy. (John 16:20, NKJV)
Jesus speaking here in verse 20 of John chapter 16 is laying out the emotions that would no doubt later take over his disciples. Why? Well, he is a short time away from his arrest in the garden of Gethsemane, and ultimate death there on the hill of Calvary. At this point, his disciples have been with him for many years, and he understands that soon he will be with them no more, and thus, they will be saddened!
However, though telling them this sad news, he tells them to rejoice in it. Why, you ask? Well, how many of you have ever seen a Salmon after it has laid its eggs? For those of you who have not, they are said to die shortly after. In dying they gave life – just as Jesus gave life to us as believers.
Jesus was pointing out to his disciples that though he was going to die, through him, many would come to have life.
Is that not a better reason for us today to be joyful? Because of him, we can come boldly to the throne of grace and receive forgiveness for our sins. John 3:16, For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
Through Christ’s death on that cross, we have life and that more abundantly.
Many of us today have joyful sorrow. We are saddened by the fact that Jesus had to endure such a painful death for our sins yet, we are joyful that he didnt simply throw in the towel.
Imagine if on Good Friday, Jesus looked about at all the pain he was about to endure and run away from it. Sure, the disciples may have been joyful that he was able to stay with them, but in the long run they would be missing the main and best reason for his purpose on this earth.
He came to die, and not just simply die, but to die and rise again on the third day.
What are four main reasons we can rejoice in Jesus’ death?
- Because of his death, we can live eternally with him in heaven. That whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:15)
- Because of his death, we can have our sins forgiven.There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:1-2)
- Because of his death, we have the Helper, The Holy Spirit. 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 depart I will send Him to you. (John 16:7)
- Because of his death, we can overcome all situations because he has already overcome the world. These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)
I see many people a lot of times look at the death of Christ as just another moment in the Bible, another period or event of time-meaningless! But, they see it as simply the end of one person’s life.
This Easter, this Christmas, more importantly, in our daily walk with the Lord we can and need to rejoice as a body in the fact that Christ did not give up, and did not turn away on us in our fallen state. We can have joy because Christ died for us.
Max Lucado stated this in his book entitled, He Chose the Nails, – “when he died, so did your sin. When he rose, so did your hope.”
Because of Jesus, we can have hope in our tomorrows, we can have peace in our today’s, and joy in our future, because our Lord has taken our burden and has given us a fresh start, and a place with him forever in paradise.
Christ, being God laid down his life for us, so that we may have the opportunity to have our sins forgiven, and have a new life through Him, and that hope of Heaven.
How do you receive this gift of eternal life?
Well, the Bible tells us, That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart, God raised him from the dead, you will be saved!! For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved!! (Romans 10:9, 10)
So, what are you waiting for? If you’d like to accept Christ; then by all means, please join me in this simple prayer of acceptance, asking Jesus into your heart, mind, and soul.
Lord Jesus, I confess that I am a sinner, and take this time to confess all my sins and ask for your forgiveness. Come into my heart, my mind, and my soul. Take complete control, and be LORD of my life. In your precious holy name, AMEN.
If you prayed that prayer along with me, I’d like to announce that today, the moment you accepted Christ into your life the Bible says, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner represents. (Luke 15:10)
So, even though you thought that there was no reason to celebrate, today there is a rocking party going on in heaven because you accepted Christ.
Now, after receiving Christ into your heart, and life, there are several things you should do to continue to grow in a relationship with God.
- Read the Bible This is God’s love letter to you. It also provides us with a foundation for relationships with others, and tells us about attitudes, motivation and truth. It is important to know, and enlist the principles in the Bible into your life, they keep you on the right way and allow us to make sound judgments concerning people and doctrine.
- Prayer In any relationship communication is important, priority factor. God desires to communicate with each of us. Prayer is not just a forum for requests. God wants to hear our feelings, hurts, ambitions and joys. Through this he is able to change and refine those parts of us that need it.
- Fellowship Get plugged into a church or local group that studies the bible. As we begin to share with others what we have learned from the Bible and prayer, we encourage others to grow and ourselves. Fellowship as God planned it is not a clicke or special club designed for gossip. We must be careful to keep our conversations with others honest. It’s best described as a fire. One coal alone dies down quickly, but a mound of coals burn white hot, just as one Christian alone will struggle to stay “on fire”, while a group together keeps each other hot.
- Witnessing Go into the world and preach the good news to all creation. (Mark 16:15). Jesus gave this as a command, not an option. God has chosen all Christians to be agents of His gospel. We are either missionaries or mission fields. That does not mean that everyone should travel to different countries, but it does mean that no matter where go we should be prepared in life and in word to be ambassadors for Christ. Pray for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given to me so I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel. (Ephesians 6:9)
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