Scripture
Sadness Will Be Turned to Joy
16“In a little while you won’t see me anymore. But a little while after that, you will see me again.”
17Some of the disciples asked each other, “What does he mean when he says, ‘In a little while you won’t see me, but then you will see me,’ and ‘I am going to the Father’? 18And what does he mean by ‘a little while’? We don’t understand.”
19Jesus realized they wanted to ask him about it, so he said, “Are you asking yourselves what I meant? I said in a little while you won’t see me, but a little while after that you will see me again. 20I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn over what is going to happen to me, but the world will rejoice. You will grieve, but your grief will suddenly turn to wonderful joy. 21It will be like a woman suffering the pains of labor. When her child is born, her anguish gives way to joy because she has brought a new baby into the world. 22So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again; then you will rejoice, and no one can rob you of that joy. 23At that time you won’t need to ask me for anything. I tell you the truth, you will ask the Father directly, and he will grant your request because you use my name. 24You haven’t done this before. Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy.
25“I have spoken of these matters in figures of speech, but soon I will stop speaking figuratively and will tell you plainly all about the Father. 26Then you will ask in my name. I’m not saying I will ask the Father on your behalf, 27for the Father himself loves you dearly because you love me and believe that I came from God.[1] 28Yes, I came from the Father into the world, and now I will leave the world and return to the Father.”
29Then his disciples said, “At last you are speaking plainly and not figuratively. 30Now we understand that you know everything, and there’s no need to question you. From this we believe that you came from God.”
31Jesus asked, “Do you finally believe? 32But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when you will be scattered, each one going his own way, leaving me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me. 33I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
Translation notes (1)
- 16:27 Some manuscripts read from the Father.
33I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
“Why do bad things happen to good people?” This is one of the biggest questions people have about faith and one of the things that causes doubts among many people. This question is understandable. Life brings many difficulties and hardships, and these hard times cause us to wonder why life brings so much pain. Some of us may even be tempted to blame God when hardships come. The truth is, Jesus never promised a problem-free life. Instead, He promised that we would have trials in life. He also promised that He has overcome the world, and we can have hope because of that.
Scripture makes it clear that this world is full of pain and hardship, and that is because of sin. Jesus made it clear that this life will bring troubles. In John 16, He talked to His disciples about the hardships that they would face. He told them, “For you will be expelled from the synagogues, and the time is coming when those who kill you will think they are doing a holy service for God” (verse 2). This was not good news, but it was the truth. Because of sin, this life will bring difficulties and hardships, and His disciples were not immune from these hard times. Despite these difficulties, Jesus taught that peace was possible. “Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows,” He said, “But take heart, because I have overcome the world” (verse 33). Yes, this life brings many difficulties, but peace is possible even in the middle of difficulties and doubts. How? We find peace in His promise: “I have overcome the world.” This is the very best news.
The same promise Jesus offered His disciples is true for us today. Yes, we will have trouble as long as we live in this world. Pain will come. Trials will come. We have this promise despite all of these things: Christ has overcome the world, and because of this, we can have peace, even on our darkest days.
Moving toward action
John 16:33 is a verse that we should all memorize. So, take time today to begin memorizing this verse, and let it be a reminder and an encouragement to you. Because of sin, we will have difficulties and pain throughout our lives. But, because of Jesus and His resurrection, Christ has overcome the world, and that changes everything.
Going Deeper
John 16:16-33 (NLT)
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