IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Daily Bread

After a Little While

Date: Jul. 2, 2024

Passage

John 16:16-33

Your Sorrow Will Turn into Joy

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. 23 In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. 24 Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

I Have Overcome the World

25 “I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father. 26 In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; 27 for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. 28 I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.”

29 His disciples said, “Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech! 30 Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that you came from God.” 31 Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? 32 Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. 33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Daily Bread

Key Verse: John 16:22

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.

Jesus’ words, “a little while” puzzled the disciples for they didn’t understand his resurrection. In a little while, they would not see Jesus who would be crucified, dead, and buried. The crucifixion would bring grief to them. Then after a little while, they would see the risen Lord and rejoice greatly. Their joy would be life-changing because Jesus defeated the power of sin and death and opened the way to his kingdom. This shows a spiritual principle: joy and glory come after suffering and pain. Our joy and glory will last forever if indeed we share in his suffering (Rom 8:17). We will remember our pains no more when we see Jesus in his glory. What’s more, God will give us whatever we ask in Jesus’ name. Our joy is complete when we see how lovingly our Heavenly Father answers our prayers.

When the disciples finally believed that Jesus came from God, Jesus was pleased. He foretold that they would run away when he needed them the most. Yet God was with him and Jesus was victorious. In Jesus, our victory over sin and death is guaranteed. We will triumph in our life of faith in Jesus because our Lord Jesus has overcome the world.

Prayer: Lord, may we press on as we share in Jesus’ suffering and enjoy his everlasting joy both here and in glory.

One Word: Joy comes after a little while

Daily Bread

A Covenant Sealed in Blood

Exodus 24:1-18

Key Verse: 24:8

And Moses took the blood and threw it on the people and said, “Behold the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words.”

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