Pastor’s Corner: “Joyful Minority”
John 16:20-21 (NLT) – 20 I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn over what is going to happen to me, but the world will rejoice. You will grieve, but your grief will suddenly turn to wonderful joy. 21 It will be like a woman suffering the pains of labor. When her child is born, her anguish gives way to joy because she has brought a new baby into the world.
Jesus spent His last evening before the Cross comforting His disciples. Jesus understood that it’s easier to endure a season of trial if there’s an end in sight, so He spent time talking to His followers about the future. At this point, Jesus was just hours from the Cross. Still, He reassured His disciples that the time of their suffering would come to an end and would be replaced with joy. In every sense, Jesus was preparing these men for what was about to transpire.
Although Jesus encouraged His disciples, He didn’t sugarcoat what was about to happen. The disciples were about to enter a time of suffering. He told them they would weep and mourn and warned there would be others who would celebrate His death (John 16:20). Undoubtedly, the world’s gloating would intensify their pain.
Jesus compared what was coming to a woman giving birth. The pains of childbirth are agonizing but must be experienced. But after a woman gives birth to a child, she is so overjoyed with the baby that she quickly forgets the suffering caused by the labor (John 16:21). In the same way, the disciples would experience intense grief, but when the reality of the risen Christ was manifested to them, their joy would be so intense their suffering would seem minimal.
Jesus said, John 16:22 (NLT) – 22 So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again; then you will rejoice, and no one can rob you of that joy. I love this scripture! Jesus’ words over 2000 years ago still have significant relevance today. As Christians, we do not pretend that we will not face difficulty and suffering in our lives. But, neither are we overwhelmed and overtaken by this sorrow. When we face seeming hopeless situations, we need to be reminded of our SAVIOR who overcomes the world! John 16:33 (NLT) –33 I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” This joy cannot be stolen! It may appear that being on the side of God puts you in a minority group like Joshua and Caleb among the twelve spies (Numbers 13) but the truth is, there would always be joy in the end. Numbers 14:30 records that eventually only these two were able to access the promised land.
God wants you to keep in mind that there is an earthly and eternal joy awaiting you if you take a stand for Him. No doubt, you may suffer persecutions from the sinning majority, but through it all, you must resist the urge to join them because their judgments are not always correct on matters of godliness. Matthew 5:11-12 (NLT) – 11 “God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. 12 Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.
For Christians, all suffering has an expiration date. No matter how dark our days may seem, the Bible teaches that all grief will come to an end and will be replaced with eternal peace and glad- ness. In the book of Revelation, the apostle John wrote: Revelation 21:4 – He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. — AMEN!
In His Grace,
Pastor Hamilton