Your Heart will Rejoice Again
Your Heart will Rejoice Again
In my Bible reading this week, I came across a passage in John that reminded me that this sorrow is but for a brief time and of the promised joy we will see with the return of our Lord and Savior. In this year of our Lord two thousand and twenty, we have not had a lot to be joyful about. Although we have witnessed miracles in the births of Sutton and Carter, overall this year has turned everything upside down and has stressed us all to the point of breaking. Any level of joy seems brief and far between.
In John chapters 14 - 16, Jesus is teaching His Disciples for the final time before His arrest. Jesus has washed their feet, explained He is the only way to the FATHER, tells them of the coming HOLY SPIRIT, tells them He is the vine and every branch must produce, and Jesus warns them about the World’s hatred. But in the passage of verses 20 through 22, Jesus is answering a question that the Disciples had not yet asked Him.
Starting in John 16:19, we read; 19 Now Jesus knew that they desired to ask Him, and He said to them, “Are you inquiring among yourselves about what I said, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me’? 20 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 into joy. 21 A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. 22 Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you.
Jesus always meant what He said and said what He meant. Even when he spoke in parables, Jesus wanted us to learn from His teachings and what better way to instill a memory than through an image. For some of you who have experienced the fear and anguish of your wife giving birth, there is a lasting memory of your wife giving you the look of a killer one minute and looking like the angel you married in the next. With Jesus’ analogy of that memorable event, Jesus is reminding us that He will return again someday and our hearts will rejoice with a joy that no one can take from us. That is what this year has felt like, that everything is sorrow and it is draining our joy. But as a Christian, is that really true? Are we allowing the events of this world to drain our joy?
In Luke 21:25-28; Jesus is speaking in the Temple and He tells them of His return: 25 “And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; 26 men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”
What an image. To see Jesus in the clouds descending before us. That is our Joy and that should be shouted from every roof top: “JESUS IS COMING, ACCEPT HIM, AND PREPARE TO LIFT YOUR HEADS FOR YOUR REDEMPTION IS NEAR!” I do not make this statement as a doomsday declaration, but as a witness to the world that Jesus is coming back and they must believe in Him to accept Him.
Returning back to John 16; Jesus is telling the Disciples of His coming death when He speaks of their sorrow while the world rejoices. That is another observation this year where good is bad and right is wrong. Where the lives of the elder, the sick and the recovering are not valued enough to inconvenience a person to wear a mask while in public. Where we hear groups of rioters justifying violence. Where millions have lost hope due to the loss of their jobs, the loss of their homes, and the loss of their loved ones.
Jesus is returning and with Him there will be a joy we have never experienced. Why is it so hard to tell our family and friends of such a coming joy? Pastor Tom spoke of the four men who did everything they could to ensure their paralyzed friend could be healed by Jesus. Those men were willing to risk their lives bringing their friend to Jesus. Why are we not as concerned for our unsaved family members, our friends, and our co-workers? If we are, then why are we not doing everything we can to bring them to Him today?
To take action is as simple as telling them their current sorrow will end and will be replaced with a mighty joy in Jesus Christ’s return. That if they are willing to confess their sins, turn from their evil ways and accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, they can enjoy an everlasting joy in Heaven. And through our witness, we will find our joy in doing the Lord’s Work and knowing that we are fulfilling the Great Commission for our returning Savior.