FRIDAY, DAY 33 OF LENT 2025

John 16:16-33

This morning I realized that all Jesus' teaching recorded for us in John 13, 14, 15, 16, & 17   occurred during and after the final Passover dinner that Jesus celebrated with his disciples in the Upper Room during the evening before his betrayal. That makes these passages even more compelling. 

In our reading today, beginning at verse 16, Jesus tells them, "A little while and you will no longer see me; again a little while and you will see me." 

The disciples question that statement to each other, repeating, "What is this he's telling us: 'A little while and you will not see me; again a little while and you will see me'...."

And Jesus addresses it again: "Are you asking one another about what I said, 'A little while and you will not see me, again a little while and you will see me'? Then he adds, "Truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn, but the world will rejoice. You will become sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn to joy...." 

He relates what they will experience to the pain of childbirth that is followed by the joy of a child being born, with the pain no longer remembered, and then he says, "So you also have sorrow now. But I will see you again. Your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy from you...." 

Jesus knew what was coming, and he was preparing both himself and them. Having these verses, seeing so clearly how he loved his disciples - and by extension, how he loves us - shows his tenderness and compassion. He was not focused on his pain - but on theirs. What a remarkable model of extreme agape love. 

At the end of Chapter 16, after their declaration of belief, followed by his telling them they will all desert him Jesus tells them, "I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world."

Their courage was going to be severely tested, but by telling them all of this in advance, they had his words to comfort them when they looked back - a time in 33 A D that was coming their way very soon. Knowing what is coming adds even more heaviness to my already heavy heart. But I do take comfort in knowing Jesus knows. He knew both his and their circumstances then, and he knows mine now. Thank you, Jesus, for caring so deeply, and for meeting each of us at the level of our needs, when you were denied that in your hour of deepest sorrow.