March 29, 2023

John 16: 22 “Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.” (NIV)

A leader’s execution is not a usual recipe for heartening his followers.*

The world is full of joy thieves: illness, death, rejection . . . Satan. Jesus’ words here, addressed to his disciples, refer to specific circumstances, but they offer us the same hope: joy that can’t be stolen.

In chapters 13 through 17 of his gospel, John records Jesus’ predictions regarding his betrayal and death – surely causes for sorrow – as well as his message of comfort and hope. His disciples may not have comprehended the future that Jesus was trying to prepare them for, but later they successfully navigated through the storm of grief to claim the promised joy.

We find no record that the disciples ever regretted what they had experienced. Acts 4: 33 provides a snapshot of their actions and attitudes following their time with Jesus: “With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all.”

Jesus encouraged his disciples by telling them that he would see them again, but it was a temporary physical reunion that he was predicting. Of course they would rejoice when they saw him again – alive. But Jesus doesn’t hand out joy that doesn’t last. In John 17: 13, Jesus prayed that his followers would receive “the full measure of my joy within them.” That prayer was answered when he gave us his Holy Spirit – himself – to dwell within us forever (John 14: 16). Before his physical departure from the world, he reminded us of our reason for joy: “Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28: 20)

Now there’s a promise you can hang your hopes on!

Oh, write that on every tombstone, “I will see you again.”*