John 16:17-22: a reflection

17Some of his disciples therefore said to one another, “What is this that he says to us, ‘A little while, and you won’t see me, and again a little while, and you will see me;’ and, ‘Because I go to the Father’?” 18They said therefore, “What is this that he says, ‘A little while’? We don’t know what he is saying.” 19Therefore Jesus perceived that they wanted to ask him, and he said to them, “Do you inquire among yourselves concerning this, that I said, ‘A little while, and you won’t see me, and again a little while, and you will see me’? 20Most certainly I tell you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy. 21A woman, when she gives birth, has sorrow because her time has come. But when she has delivered the child, she doesn’t remember the anguish any more, for the joy that a human being is born into the world. 22Therefore you now have sorrow, but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.

As Jesus prepares his disciples for his coming death and departure, he does not deny the sorrow they will feel, but gives them a promise about what that sorrow will become. You will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice, he says; you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy. And he compares it to a woman in labor, whose anguish gives way to joy when her child is born: You now have sorrow, but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you. The sorrow was real, but it was not the end; it would be turned into a joy that no one could take away.

Notice the promise: your sorrow will be turned into joy. Jesus does not tell his disciples they will feel no sorrow; he acknowledges they will weep and lament. But he promises that this sorrow will not be the end, that it will be turned into joy, as a woman's labor pains give way to the joy of a child born. And this joy, once it comes, will not be taken away; no one can rob them of it. The sorrow was real but temporary; the joy would be lasting and secure. Their grief was not the final word; it would be transformed into a joy that could not be taken from them.

That promise is worth resting in, for Christ can turn our sorrow into a joy that no one can take away. We pass through real sorrows, griefs, losses, dark times that feel final; but Jesus promised his disciples that their sorrow would be turned into joy, a joy no one could take away. Christ does not always spare us sorrow, but he can turn it into joy, and the joy he gives is lasting and secure. When you are in sorrow that feels final, remember Christ's promise that he can turn sorrow into a joy no one can take away, as labor gives way to the joy of birth. Hold onto Christ's promise that your sorrow can be turned into a lasting joy no one can take away, even when the sorrow feels final, as he told his disciples their grief would become a joy that could not be taken from them; for Christ can transform our sorrow into joy, and the joy he gives is secure, a joy no one can take away.

Lord Jesus, as you prepare your disciples for your coming death and departure, you do not deny the sorrow they will feel, but give them a promise about what that sorrow will become. You will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice, you say; you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy. And you compare it to a woman in labor, whose anguish gives way to joy when her child is born: you now have sorrow, but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you. The sorrow was real, but it was not the end. Show me the promise: your sorrow will be turned into joy. You do not tell your disciples they will feel no sorrow; you acknowledge they will weep and lament. But you promise that this sorrow will not be the end, that it will be turned into joy, as a woman's labor pains give way to the joy of a child born. And this joy, once it comes, will not be taken away. The sorrow was real but temporary; the joy would be lasting and secure. Let me rest in that promise, for you can turn my sorrow into a joy that no one can take away. I pass through real sorrows, griefs, losses, dark times that feel final; but you promised your disciples that their sorrow would be turned into joy. You do not always spare me sorrow, but you can turn it into joy. When I am in sorrow that feels final, help me remember your promise that you can turn sorrow into a joy no one can take away, Lord, as labor gives way to the joy of birth. Help me hold onto your promise that my sorrow can be turned into a lasting joy no one can take away.