Getting to Know Him...John Chapter 16

Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna and Mikayla,

I think I really got to know the Father a little better this morning! Isn't that one of the main purpose of Bible Study...to KNOW Him. Understanding truth is important but getting to know Him in the process...priceless.  Here are the verses that really hit me in the heart today.

John 16:19-22

Now Jesus knew that they desired to ask Him, and He said to them, “Are you inquiring among yourselves about what I said, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me’? ²⁰²¹ A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. ²² Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you. Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy.

Having been through childbirth four times I really looked at this one in hopes that I would understand the essence of what Jesus was saying to His disciples here.  These are some of His last words to them before the cross and you could hear and feel His love for them. When I first was told that I would not remember the pain of childbirth I did not believe the teller...I was right not to believe...I do remember the pain of childbirth and I thank God that I do.  After the first delivery, I embraced the pain more willingly...why? Because I saw how the sorrow and suffering I experienced was transformed into the greatest joy my heart has ever known.  My four daughters! God does not substitute something to replace our sorrow with joy...He takes the very instrument that is causing the sorrow and uses it to transform it miraculously into great joy. 

Now the next example is not my own but as a parent and grandparent I could really relate to it.  When our children are crying over a broken toy or over a playmate that has gone home, we do not always immediately go out and buy them another toy or call another playmate over to play.  That would produce an immature, spoiled child that would expect all his problems to be solved either by things or by a person...a child definitely not equipped to handle the real world.  Instead as a parent you transform the situation by teaching them how to cope with loss and disappointment. This is the way of maturity.

The way of transformation is the way of spiritual maturity...it is the way of faith and patience. It is not an easy road...but the other is a road where satisfaction is never found and peace is never obtained.  Jesus tells us He has overcome the world at the end of Chapter 16...in that same verse He reminds us that we will have tribulation and sorrow here..but in Him (where we live, move and have our being) we will have peace...so be of good cheer.  So in your time of tribulation, look ahead...be mature...do not be short-sighted.  Remember Romans 8:28. Remember Joseph's hopeless situation...they meant it for evil but God meant it for good and brought victory.  The cross is the greatest example.  The darkest hour of history...the hour where Jesus suffered pain and agony unimaginable...became the brightest hour...the cross which previously had been accursed..became a symbol for hope, glory and victory.

Jesus uses our deepest pain and sorrow to bring us our greatest joys.  Trials into triumphs! Our job is to be patient and to wait on Him and allow Him to do the work...What a picture of the heart of our Father.  He even uses the inevitable and unavoidable sin and suffering of this fallen world for His glory and our good. How kind of Him...How good of Him...How merciful and compassionate of Him!  We fight as those who have already won...Jon Courson tells us we begin at the finish line.  So be of good cheer!

Love
Mom