Lesson 45

Lesson 45

In A Little While

John 16:16-33

How many times, when speaking to your children, have you used the phrase "in a little while"? When will be get there? In a little while. When will they get here? In a little while. When will supper be ready? In a little while. When can we open our presents? In a little while.

In a little while. How long is that? It promises to be soon. But it also seems to be uncertain. A little while.

In our text for this message, John 16:16ff, Jesus and His disciples use that phrase some seven times. In fact, there are a number of references in this section of scripture to time. There is a contrast drawn between "now" and a time that is coming in a little while. Verse 22 - "Now"; verse 23 - "in that day"; verse 24 - "hitherto" (up to now); verse 25 - "the time cometh"; verse 26 - "that day"; verse 30 - "now"; verse 32 - "the hour cometh".

What is it that is going to happen in a little while. Let's move through the passage and allow the Spirit to teach us and guide us.

A Prediction, 16:16.

The passage begins with Jesus making a prediction. Really there are two. First, in a little while, you will not see me, Jesus says. He is speaking of His arrest, His trial, His crucifixion, His death. Throughout this evening, Jesus has been reminding the disciples over and over that He is going away; He is going to the Father. He says it once more.

But then, Jesus makes a second prediction. He says, "Ye shall see me." Here is a prediction of resurrection.

A Question, 16:17-19.

The disciples didn't understand what He was telling them. So what else is new, right? But, then we understand some of this stuff because we have the advantage of hindsight. If we had been in the upper room with Jesus that night, we wouldn't have understood either. They polled the group to see if anyone could come up with the answer but for some reason they were reluctant to put the question directly to Jesus. And so, in verse 19, He made it easy for them.

An Amplification, 16:20.

You are going to be full of sorrow; you will weep for a little while; you will more for a moment. On the other hand, while you are weeping, the world will be rejoicing. The world, that is, the world system that is under the control of the prince of this world, Satan, hates Jesus and will rejoice at His death and departure, 15:18. But please remember, that just as your sorrow will be temporary, "for a little while", the world's rejoicing over Jesus' death will also be temporary, "for a little while."

The end of this amplification, at the end of this verse comes one of the sweetest, most wonderful statements in the Bible. Jesus says to His disciples that in a little while "your sorrow shall be turned into joy." Think of it. Not just the end of sorrow but the promise that sorrow will be transformed into joy.

An Illustration, 16:21.

Verse 21 gives a great illustration of this. Sorrow for a little while which is suddenly transformed into joy. A woman when she is in travail, when she is experiencing labor pains is sorrowful. Ain't that the truth. Childbirth is painful. Labor is the pits. At the childbirth classes they tell you that during labor you will experience some discomfort. What an understatement! They give you breathing techniques which are designed, in my opinion, to distract you from the pain. But when the moment arrives, especially the first time when there is a natural fear of the unknown, a woman is sorrowful. And with a large percentage of her oxygen going to the baby, she says things to her husband and about her husband, things that she really doesn't mean. (You understand, of course, that I am speaking in the abstract and not about any woman in particular). It is obvious to everyone in the vicinity that there is sorrow in childbirth.

But immediately after the baby the has been delivered, there is joy. She loves her husband again. She forgets the anguish because of the joy of having brought a child, a son or a daughter, into the world. In fact, she forgets the pain so well that before long she wants to do it over again. In childbirth, the sorrow of labor pains is turned into the joy of delivery. And Jesus tells His disciples that this is the way it's going to be for them.

Verse 22 - sorrow now - joy in a little while, joy that will last forever. Joy that cannot be taken away by men, by circumstances, by happenings.

An Explanation, 16:23-27.

There are some reasons for this coming joy.

First, there is the joy of mysteries understood. "In that day," Jesus says, "you will ask me nothing", v. 23. Verse 25 - Things that have been proverbial will become plain.

Second, there is the joy of prayers answered, v. 23b -24, 26-27. God answers prayer in response to our asking in Jesus' name (23-24), because of our faith in and our love Christ (27) and because He loves us (27). Answered prayer brings fullness of joy.

A Summarization, 16:28.

Jesus says that he came from the Father, He came into the world, in a little while He will be leaving the world and returning the Father. This is accomplished through His death, burial, resurrection and ascension.

A Confession, 16:29-31.

We understand, v. 29. "You've spoken plainly, Lord. We know what you are saying."

We are sure, v. 30a. They understand and verbally acknowledge Christ's omniscience. "You know all things." If only God knows all things and Jesus knows all things, then who is Jesus? Jesus is God.

We believe, v. 30b-31. "We believe that you have come forth from God." Do you indeed believe? loves her husband again. She forgets the anguish because of the joy of having brought a child, a son or a daughter, into the world. In fact, she forgets the pain so well that before long she wants to do it over again. In childbirth, the sorrow of labor pains is turned into the joy of delivery. And Jesus tells His disciples that this is the way it's going to be for them.

Verse 22 - sorrow now - joy in a little while, joy that will last forever. Joy that cannot be taken away by men, by circumstances, by happenings.

An Explanation, 16:23-27.

There are some reasons for this coming joy.

First, there is the joy of mysteries understood. "In that day," Jesus says, "you will ask me nothing", v. 23. Verse 25 - Things that have been proverbial will become plain.

A Summarization, 16:28.

A Confession, 16:29-31.

We understand, v. 29. "You've spoken plainly, Lord. We know what you are saying."

We are sure, v. 30a. They understand and verbally acknowledge Christ's omniscience. "You know all things." If only God knows all things and Jesus knows all things, then who is Jesus? Jesus is God.

Verse 22 - sorrow now - joy in a little while, joy that will last forever. Joy that cannot be taken away by men, by circumstances, by happenings.

An Explanation, 16:23-27.

There are some reasons for this coming joy.

First, there is the joy of mysteries understood. "In that day," Jesus says, "you will ask me nothing", v. 23. Verse 25 - Things that have been proverbial will become plain.

A Summarization, 16:28.

A Confession, 16:29-31.

We understand, v. 29. "You've spoken plainly, Lord. We know what you are saying."

We are sure, v. 30a. They understand and verbally acknowledge Christ's omniscience. "You know all things." If only God knows all things and Jesus knows all things, then who is Jesus? Jesus is God.

We believe, v. 30b-31. "We believe that you have come forth from God." Do you indeed believe? The disciples were constantly confessing Jesus as their Lord and God. Later, in his epistle, John would say that it important, essential, that we confess Christ as God come in human flesh. 1 John 4:2-3 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God. I'm afraid that we have it wrong. In our emphasis of eternal security, we seem to imply that you must only confess Christ as Lord and Savior only once and thereafter, no matter how you live you go back to that event and think that you are saved. The truth is though that if you are genuinely saved and Christ has come into your heart to abide eternally, you will constantly be confessing Christ both with you lips and with your life. And here, the disciples illustrate this by confessing their belief in Christ's deity again.

A Conclusion, 16:32-33.

In Jesus' final words of this upper room discourse, He tells that no only that He is going away but they shall be scattered. This is a fulfillment of an Old Testament prophecy. "Smite the shepherd and the sheep shall be scattered" (Zech 13:7). And then Jesus adds that He will be alone, but not really for the Father will be with Him. The closer that Jesus gets to the cross, the more and more alone He gets. The crowd leaves Him, the disciples leave Him, Peter denies Him, and finally from the cross Jesus will say, "My God, my God why hast thou forsaken me?"

The purpose of all that Jesus has to His men is to give them peace. His words would seem to unsettle them but in truth are intended to give them peace. The peace is not normal, natural human peace. It is supernatural peace. It is Christ's peace. From the world they should expect tribulation. The word means pressure, persecution, anguish. affliction, trouble. The world gives God's people tribulation but Jesus Christ has overcome the world! In Christ, we too are overcomers.

Jesus Christ is God come in the flesh. He died and rose again and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He has overcome the world. He turns our sorrow into eternal joy. He answers our prayers. He explains life's mysteries. He gives us supernatural peace in the midst of tribulation. My prayer is that today you will trust Him and confess Him as your Lord and Savior.