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Mar 26, 2023

John - The Joy (click for resources)

Passage: John 16:16-22

Speaker: Brian Land

Series: John: Come and See

Category: Grace Brevard

How common it is for us to feel like the disciples when they said of Jesus: “We do not know what he is talking about.” Sometimes it is because we are confused by what he is saying; sometimes it is because we are confused (and upset and sad) about the plans and situation that we are going through. The Valley of the Shadow of Death seems far to commonplace in this broken world, and we understandably plead for relief or shake our fist in complaint. Instead of scolding our unbelief or fears, Jesus reaches back out to us with comfort and promise. He doesn’t marginalize our pain but meets us where we are, acknowledging the sorrowful place, and assures us that “in just a little while we will see him again” – for the disciples he was literally going away to the cross and the grace, and would return 3 days later. For us it is the truth that he already has conquered death and will carry us through the valley. Jesus meets us in the darkest, most sorrowful and impossibly confusing places of our broken world with the assurance that he has already gone to and through the apex of darkness, and has brought back with him the keys to the Kingdom.

Theme: How common it is for us to feel like the disciples when they said of Jesus: “We do not know what he is talking about.” Sometimes it is because we are confused by what he is saying; sometimes it is because we are confused (and upset and sad) about the plans and situation that we are going through. The Valley of the Shadow of Death seems far to commonplace in this broken world, and we understandably plead for relief or shake our fist in complaint. Instead of scolding our unbelief or fears, Jesus reaches back out to us with comfort and promise. He doesn’t marginalize our pain but meets us where we are, acknowledging the sorrowful place, and assures us that “in just a little while we will see him again” – for the disciples he was literally going away to the cross and the grace, and would return 3 days later. For us it is the truth that he already has conquered death and will carry us through the valley.

Jesus meets us in the darkest, most sorrowful and impossibly confusing places of our broken world with the assurance that he has already gone to and through the apex of darkness, and has brought back with him the keys to the Kingdom.

CENTRAL PASSAGE: John 16:16-24

 16 “A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see me.” 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’?” 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’? 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. 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. 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.


DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

What’s one of the most joyful times you’ve ever experience?

What do you do when you are super joyful? Dance, sing, laugh...?

Collaborate together to write a short definition of JOY.

Talk about the difference between joy and happiness.

What are some regular/normal things that bring you joy?

What are things that steal your joy?
(think about why the disciples were un-joyful).

Talk about how an inordinate pursuit and valuation of happiness can actually inhibit your joy.

In 16:20 Jesus, in trying to turn sorrow into joy, begins by saying “Truly, Truly” -- how is it that TRUTH is the source of joy?
Truth about what? (Read Isaiah 51:11-12 - about Israels return from exile)

That then means that “falsehood” steals joy. What false belief about ourselves, our problems and this world send us into a dark spiral?

How does pain and joy interweave (as seen in 16:21-22)

Think about how the darkest even in history, Jesus’ crucifixion, could turn into the greatest source of joy that will never be taken away?

Read Hebrews 12:1-2 - what is Jesus’ Joy?

How can knowing that Jesus rejoices over us then bring US joy?