What Jesus said to them in John 16:16-18 was
truly puzzling. What exactly did He mean? Unlike the disciples, we don’t find
this puzzling, only because we are looking at these verses after the death,
resurrection and ascension of Jesus. The disciples were puzzled because what we
know today had not happened as yet. Here Jesus was not referring to the coming
of the Holy Spirit as some had supposed. He was referring to His impending
death, resurrection and ascension. We all know that He died on the cross and
was taken down and buried. But on the third day He rose again. During His
absence in the tomb, there was deep confusion, anguish and sorrow among His
disciples. Then they were told that He arose from the dead and appeared to different
groups of His people at different times. He would be with them to encourage
them and then would disappear and appear to another group. Jesus here was
foretelling that moment in an encrypted way. Hence, His disciples were puzzled
and inquired of one another the meaning of Jesus’ statements.
The Lord knew their confusion, so He
volunteered to help them unravel their confusion, using the illustration of a
woman in labor and anticipating the coming of her child. Excruciating pain,
blood, sweats and tears are usually experienced by a woman in labor. But the moment the baby is delivered the
experience of anguish and stressful emotion would be transformed into one of
joy and elation. Similarly, the disciples would be going through a great time
of anguish immediately following His death, but that would change very soon
because He would appear to them after His resurrection.
Few of us can fully appreciate the misery the
disciples had experienced then. They saw their Master maligned and suffered horrendous
tortures and agony that defied any description. They saw everything to the very
hour that He breathed His last on the cross. He must have appeared totally helpless
and powerless. They must have known that His body was taken down by Joseph and
buried in his newly acquired tomb. Deep anguish must have overtaken and
overwhelmed them. It was truly a scene of deep sadness, despair, hollering and weeping
and listlessness. Hence we cannot imagine the disciples’ indescribable joy,
when they learned three days after His death, that He was alive again. From the
depth of despair they were launched to the height of great joy. In Matthew 28:8,
we are told that Mary and Martha on learning of Jesus’ resurrection, though
afraid, went hurriedly with great joy to tell the disciples. We cannot imagine
the rapturous joy that must have taken place when the two ladies charged into
the room with the great news. Their misery was transformed into ecstasy. The
joy they experienced that moment could not be fully described.
We must note that the disciples experienced
everything that Jesus said to them here. He promised a joy that nothing can
take away. For us, as we faithfully journey with Him in life, we can also experience
the joy of His resurrected presence. We can also experience the joy that no
other can give and a joy that no one can steal. But bear in mind that there are
moments where joy must rise from ashes of sorrow. The reason all these are
recorded is for our learning. We must know that in this world trials and
tribulation will be experienced, hence it is imperative that we must cultivate
a joyful mindset no matter what. Remember this: if the devil cannot steal your
joy, he cannot take away your peace. And our faith in a good good Father!
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