Jubilate 2008

Jubilate 2008

TEXT: John 16:12-22 16

“A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see me.” 17 So some of his disciples said to one another, “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 am going to the Father’?” 18 So they were saying, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We do not know what he is talking about.” 19 Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, “Is this what you are asking yourselves, what I meant by saying, ‘A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me’? 20 Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. 21 When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. 22 So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.

In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

Mothers are amazing people. For 9 months they carry a little baby inside them. Nine months of one inconvenience after another. Morning Sickness. Swollen feet. Bladder issues. Varicose veins. Back aches. An extended waist line. Cravings. Hot flashes. Nausea. But the greater trial is yet to come.

When the first contraction hits there is a new pain for sure. But it’s the kind of pain that says, “I’ll all be over soon.” I’ve been there for the delivery of all six of my children. Each and every one of them was an event that I’ll never forget. Someone has said that delivering a child is like taking your bottom lip and pulling it over your head. It hurts. Its no fun. You cry. You holler. It’s agonizing. But them its over. And the cry of a little baby transforms your tears of labor into tears of joy.

Jesus knows. “When a woman is giving birth,” Jesus says, “she has sorrow because her hour is come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been brought into the world.” Yes, Jesus knows.

But He didn’t make reference to a mother in labor simply to let us know that he can relate to mothers. His sermon was a sermon of preparation. He was preparing His disciples for the crucifixion of the Son of God. Jesus was going to die. And the sight of it was going to make grown men cry. Crucifixion was going to make them sick with sorrow. They would cry and cry until their head was throbbing and no more tears would come out.

They would watch as He was bound and led out of the Garden while praying. They would see Him falsely accused in rigged courts of law. They would cower as Roman whips tore His flesh. And they would cry, and weep, and mourn as He was nailed to a tree and murdered. It would be a time of sorrow, weeping and lamenting.

And when the events of Good Friday had finished, the disciples would go into seclusion. They would hide for fear of the Jews. IN hiding they would not see Jesus. For a little while, for three days, Jesus would lie in death’s strong bands. For a little while, it was necessary for the disciples to mourn, to be sorrowful. For a little while the disciples would lack understanding. They wouldn’t get it.

It was all part of the plan… God’s plan. A plan that was designed in eternity but plotted in time. It was a plan that included a deliberate and premeditated time of sorrow and sadness. God knew that there would be great sorrow. He wanted it that way. Sorrow was necessary.

There are too many preachers today who would like to woo you with the false notion that if you really and truly have authentic and saving faith, that you will live a problem free and happy life. It’s not true. It’s absolutely not true. And this is why…. For sinners a time of sorrow and sadness is absolutely necessary.

Look at the events of Holy Thursday and Good Friday. These events were necessary. Jesus prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours be done.” The Father’s answer would come when Judas showed up with some soldiers. IN other words the Father’s answer would be, “My will is that you suffer for a time!” And that “little time” would come to about 18 hours: the time from His arrest to His last breath. Even the sinless Son of God must endure a time of sorrow and sadness.

Why was it necessary? … LOVE. The Father’s will was driven by His love for humanity. It was necessary that the God-man, Jesus, suffer and die so that humanities’ debt of sin might be completely and totally absolved.

And after Jesus cried out, “It is finished.” No one saw Him for a while, but after three days they saw Him again. “It is the Lord” they cried. “He is risen.” The little time of sorrow had ended and the eternal roar of rejoicing had begun.

IN a fallen world there will still be times of sorrow. You will miss loved ones who inherit eternal life before you… but only for a little while. You will suffer the ridicule of this world for Jesus sake… but only for a little while. You will endure hardships of every kind… but only for a little while. The cross of Jesus has already made certain that your suffering will only be for a little while… THEN, your sorrow will turn to joy and your hearts will rejoice.

"My God has all things in His keeping;

He is the ever faithful friend.

He gives me laughter after weeping,

And all His ways in blessings end.

His love endures eternally:

What pleases God, that pleases me." LSB 719:4

In the Name of Jesus. Amen.