John 16:16-33 Grief; Then Joy

John 16:16-33 NIV
Jesus warns his disciples that shortly they will no longer see him. Then, after a while, they will see him again. They will grieve and then they will rejoice? They are confused. They haven't a clue what he is talking about. He appears to be talking in riddles, again.

Lest we forget what we've read in preceding chapters let's review. Jesus tells his disciples these things in the Upper Room on the eve of his crucifixion. He is about to be betrayed. He is about to be put to death. Emotions will run high in the coming days. They will run and hide in fear as they grieve his death. Yet, in just a few more days they will be rejoicing when they find him risen from the dead.

Jesus likened what they would be going through to a woman giving birth. First, pain; then, when the child is born there will be rejoicing. It is this way with many of the trials we go through. It may feel as the world is coming to an end for us. We may even think that we do not want to endure another day on earth. But, as we journey through the dark shadows that we must endure, we find at the other side a beautiful rainbow and the Son shining. We rejoice.

Do not be afraid for God is with you. Take heart. Even though you will encounter trouble in this world; God has a good plan for you. Rejoice, for He has overcome the world and in Him you will know peace.
God's Peace - Pr. J

Jeremiah 37 - Light After Darkness

Jeremiah is thrown into prison for preaching the word of God. Of course, he is arrested under the pretext that he is a traitor. He was not.

This seems to be a not so uncommon an occurrence when the truth is told. The enemy will do what it can to make it look like you have done something wrong other than speak the truth. It might be your neighbor or even a family member who will falsely accuse you. It might even be your own government. The fact that you are speaking the truth so that the people might be saved will be overlooked and you may end up being branded a criminal, even a traitor. You may be imprisoned.

But, that is the chance truth-tellers must take in order to help their neighbors; in order to save them. Jeremiah was put into prison for speaking the truth. Jesus was put to death for proclaiming it. Not everyone wants to hear the truth and come out into the light. Not everyone wants to be released from the bondage of darkness. They would prefer to drag the rest of the world into their own dark little world. But, remember this when someone drags you into deep, dark dungeons: "...weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning." (Psalm 30:5b NIV). There is light after darkness....

"Light after Darkness," a hymn for this morning written by Frances R. Havergal, in 1879:

Light after darkness, gain after loss,
Strength after weakness, crown after cross;
Sweet after bitter, hope after fears,
Home after wandering, praise after tears.
Sheaves after sowing, sun after rain,
Sight after mystery, peace after pain;
Joy after sorrow, calm after blast,
Rest after weariness, sweet rest at last.
Near after distant, gleam after gloom,
Love after loneliness, life after tomb;
After long agony, rapture of bliss,
Right was the pathway, leading to this.

God's Peace - Pr. J