What Jesus Did : John 16:16-22 - The Dark Night before Dawn
by Phil Ware
The Dark Night before Dawn - John 16:16-22
"After a short time you won't see me. Then after another short time you will see me again." Some of the followers said to each other, "What does Jesus mean when he says, 'After a short time you won't see me. Then after another short time you will see me again'? And what does he mean when he says, 'Because I am going to the Father'?" The followers asked, "What does he mean by 'a short time'? We don't understand what he is saying." Jesus saw that the followers wanted to ask him about this. So Jesus said to the followers, "Are you asking each other what I meant when I said, 'After a short time you won't see me. Then after another short time you will see me again'? I tell you the truth. You will cry and be sad, but the world will be happy. You will be sad, but your sadness will change to happiness. When a woman gives birth to a baby, she has pain, because her time has come. But when her baby is born, she forgets the pain. She forgets because she is so happy that a child has been born into the world. It is the same with you. Now you are sad. But I will see you again and you will be truly happy. You will have a happiness that no one can take away." (ERV) Full TextKey Thought
Jesus knows that darkness will descend on himself and those he loves. He has tried to prepare them. They cannot imagine what the next four days will entail. They will go from excruciating agony to inexpressible joy. So often we face the dark night. We need to remember that the Holy Spirit who lives in us is our assurance of a dawn of joy, blessing, and triumph.
Today's Prayer
Give me courage, O Lord my Father and God, to trust in my darkest moments that you are the Father of the Dawn and the gracious God who raises triumph out of defeat and joy out of sorrow. Please bless the following people who now face darkness in their lives ... Strengthen them and bring them the dawn of joy in your grace. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Today's Verses in Context
"After a short time you won't see me. Then after another short time you will see me again." Some of the followers said to each other, "What does Jesus mean when he says, 'After a short time you won't see me. Then after another short time you will see me again'? And what does he mean when he says, 'Because I am going to the Father'?" The followers asked, "What does he mean by 'a short time'? We don't understand what he is saying." Jesus saw that the followers wanted to ask him about this. So Jesus said to the followers, "Are you asking each other what I meant when I said, 'After a short time you won't see me. Then after another short time you will see me again'? I tell you the truth. You will cry and be sad, but the world will be happy. You will be sad, but your sadness will change to happiness. When a woman gives birth to a baby, she has pain, because her time has come. But when her baby is born, she forgets the pain. She forgets because she is so happy that a child has been born into the world. It is the same with you. Now you are sad. But I will see you again and you will be truly happy. You will have a happiness that no one can take away. In that day you will not ask me for anything. I tell you the truth. My Father will give you anything you ask for in my name. You have never asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive. And you will be truly happy. "I have told you these things, using words that hide the meaning. But the time will come when I will not use words like that to tell you things. I will speak to you in plain words about the Father. In that day you will ask the Father for things in my name. I am saying that I will not need to ask the Father for you. No! The Father himself loves you. He loves you because you have loved me. And he loves you because you have believed that I came from God. I came from the Father into the world. Now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father." Then the followers of Jesus said, "You are speaking clearly tous now. You are not using words that are hard to understand. We can see now that you know all things. You can answer a person's question even before he asks it. This makes us believe that you came from God." Jesus said, "So now you believe? Listen to me. A time is coming when you will be scattered. Each of you will be scattered to his own home. That time is now here. You will leave me. I will be alone. But I am never really alone, because the Father is with me. "I told you these things so that you can have peace in me. In this world you will have trouble. But be brave! I have defeated the world!"-- John 16:16-33 (ERV)
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