Then some of His disciples said among themselves, "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 go to the Father?" They said therefore, "What is this that He says, 'A little while'? We do not know what He is saying."
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.' 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.
"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. 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."
There are no doubt some who wonder the same thing as the disciples: What is this He says? Maybe, rather, it is, What is this she says? What is this thing that's so important about Jesus? What about sin, forgiveness, righteousness, power of the Holy Spirit, knowing, receiving, accepting Christ? Or even sorrow turning into joy? And joy that cannot be taken away?
It's all about Jesus. He is the only way to God the Father. He is the Door, the light to our path, the straight and narrow Way, the Alpha and Omega, First and Last, Beginning and End, our Good Shepherd, our righteousness, our Savior and Lord. His name is above all names. He is omniscient, omnipresent and omnipotent. He was and is and always will be. He is love and His love is eternal. He is accessible to all when and only when we call on His name for the forgiveness of our sins and enter into relationship with Him.
Jesus was going to leave His disciples. They still did not know where He was going exactly. To His Father. A concept difficult to understand. They would be filled with sorrow but that would eventually turn into joy when He returned. And what's this about about a woman in labor? Okayyy.
Adam and Eve were in relationship with God. Relationship. We know what that means. Let it sink in: kinship, the state of being related, a feeling of being close or connected. We marry, we are in relationship. It is intimate. God desires that for all of us. Can't imagine it? Try a little harder. It IS possible.
He desires that He be our husband...and that goes for men too, in a spiritual sense. You love Him, you want to spend time with Him, you want to talk with Him and listen to Him. And since the Bible says the husband is to be the head of the house, we all are to be submissive to Him. But this submission is not like one might think. It's not oppressive submission. Only good comes out of this because He knows best. Oh, how can anyone explain this to someone who doesn't know Jesus??
Jesus was about to leave His disciples, and the world. Spoiler alert: we know He came back. Oh, the joy. The joy for His followers and for all down the road who would hear of this Man, take heed, join the ranks of other true believers, through receiving Christ. ...that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. (Romans 10:9, 2Corinthians 5:17) He becomes the joy that will not be taken away. The gift of His forgiveness, righteousness in Him, and eternal life...for those who are obedient to His command to be born again.
He comes into our lives and we take Him in. While we still have trouble in this world, it is He who has victory over it...in the end. There will be an end someday and those who do not have this relationship will be forever lost and permanently out of favor with God. They will not be with Him in paradise, like many believe. That is only given to those who commit their lives to Jesus. He waits for all to come to Him, receive Him by faith, assurance that He is who He says He is...and taking that assurance seriously. If you do this, in a little while you will receive the joy everlasting.
Lord, only You can properly work in a person's life toward their belief. My words are inadequate. It is by Your Spirit we are drawn. I pray that Your Spirit would be recognized by those who don't fully understand. You drew me, you can draw others. Time is short. But then you know that.
John 1:12 - But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God.
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