[The following is a manuscript of my message delivered on the fourth Sunday morning in Advent, the 22nd of December, 2019 at Pilgrim Reformed Church. Look for the video of our services on our Vimeo channel: http://vimeo.com/pilgrimreformedchurch.]
As the time for Jesus to make the ultimate sacrifice approached, He tried to explain what would soon transpire. He had talked about this before, using parables and terms His followers might be able to understand. But they just didn’t get it, and His fate was closing in, so Jesus made it a bit more straight-forward. He knew how His passing would affect these men who had walked with Him these three years. So He wanted to comfort them and let them know they would see Him again, and that then they would know true and everlasting joy.
Please listen and follow along to what Jesus told His disciples, and through them speaks to us as to what we can expect in this life and in the next. This comes from the Apostle John’s Gospel account, chapter 16 verses 16 through 24, reading from the New King James Version of our Holy Bible…
Please listen and follow along to what Jesus told His disciples, and through them speaks to us as to what we can expect in this life and in the next. This comes from the Apostle John’s Gospel account, chapter 16 verses 16 through 24, reading from the New King James Version of our Holy Bible…
16 “A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me, because I go to the Father.”
17 Then some of His disciples said among themselves, “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 go to the Father’?” 18 They said therefore, “What is this that He says, ‘A little while’? We do not know what He is saying.”
19 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’? 20 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. 21 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.
23 “And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. 24 Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full."
--John 16:16-24 (NKJV)
Let us pray… Father God, You sent Your own Son into this world to offer us salvation. Through Jesus, all the sorrows we experience in this life will be forgotten and turned into joy when we next see Him, but only if we truly believe in Him and follow His command. Help us, please Father, to love and to serve others, to show them Your goodness, to tell them of Your Son. Help us to spread at least some measure of joy across the earth as we serve with gladness and joy in our hearts.
Speak to us now, Father, through Your Spirit, with the message we need to hear this morning. Show us how we can better serve You and Jesus. This we pray in the precious name of Your Son, Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.
Let me read to you from a short article that appeared in the May 1993 issue of the magazine, Turning Point:
Men have pursued joy in every avenue imaginable. Some have successfully found it, while others have not. Perhaps it would be easier to describe where joy cannot be found:
Not in Unbelief - Voltaire was an infidel, an unbeliever, of the most pronounced type. He wrote: "I wish I had never been born."
Not in Pleasure - Lord Byron lived a life of pleasure if anyone ever did. He wrote: "The worm, the canker, and grief are mine alone."
Not in Money - American millionaire Jay Gould had plenty of that. When dying, he said: "I suppose I am the most miserable man on earth."
Not in Position and Fame - Lord Beaconsfield enjoyed more than his share of both. He wrote: "Youth is a mistake; manhood a struggle; old age a regret."
Not in Military Glory - Alexander the Great conquered the known world in his day. Having done so, he wept in his tent then said, "There are no more worlds to conquer."
Where then is real joy found? The answer is simple: in Christ alone.
Real joy is found in Christ alone. You’ve probably figured out by now that I enjoy words, their meanings and origins. One dictionary definition of "joy" is the emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying.
There are times when we should be filled with joy, yet find ourselves overcome with grief. When a loved one who was a true believer passes away, we should rejoice that they are free of this life and its turmoil and now safely with Jesus, but the most overwhelming emotion we feel is grief and pain. And all too often when we do feel joyful, our happiness quickly turns to anguish or sorrow.
Last week we looked at how the peace Jesus offers is not like what the world can provide. That’s because any peace the world might give quickly deteriorates back into turmoil, while the peace we receive from Jesus is everlasting. And the same holds true for joy, real joy. Any joy we might feel from worldly things quickly fades away as life reasserts itself. But Jesus promises that the joy we believers will receive when we see Him again will not fade, nor can it be taken from us. Everlasting peace, everlasting joy.
It was around this same time, just before Jesus was arrested, that He tried to explain some of this using parables. One I’m sure you’re familiar with involved the servants and the talents. The master was about to leave for an extended trip and entrusted some talents into his servants’ care. Two invested the money and returned a profit to their master, while the third did nothing with his share.
The Apostle Matthew recorded Jesus as He told what the master said to the two that put to good use the resources entrusted to them. This comes from Matthew’s Gospel account, chapter 25, verse 21…
21 "His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’"
--Matthew 25:21 (NKJV)
The fullness of joy comes from serving others, from using the talents our Master has entrusted into our care to see to the needs of others. And our Father God has indeed entrusted much into our care, gifts and talents and resources of all kinds. We should be good stewards of all these resources, like the two servants who put the talents given them to good use.
Since we receive so much from God, since Jesus sacrificed everything for us, we should be willing to do anything for God. Not only that, we should do it with joy and gladness in our heart. Otherwise there may be a penalty. Moses tried to warn his people, God’s people, of what that penalty might entail, in the Book of Deuteronomy, chapter 28, verses 47 and 48 …
47 “Because you did not serve the Lord your God with joy and gladness of heart, for the abundance of everything, 48 therefore you shall serve your enemies, whom the Lord will send against you, in hunger, in thirst, in nakedness, and in need of everything; and He will put a yoke of iron on your neck until He has destroyed you."
--Deuteronomy 28:47-48 (NKJV)
Let’s do all we can to help bring the Good News and great joy of Jesus to all people. And all the sorrows of this life will turn into great and everlasting joy when we next see our Lord and Master. In the blessed name of Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.
Let us pray… Father God, You give us so much, and in great abundance. If for no other reason than that, we should willingly serve You with joy and gladness in our hearts. Thank You, Father, for all Your many blessings. Please help us understand that it is our duty and our privilege to share what You have given us, to be good stewards of the resources You have entrusted into our care. Please help us be joyful, even when our hearts are burdened with sorrow.
Please hear us now, Father, as we come to You in the silence, speaking from our hearts, promising to turn from our disobedient ways, seeking Your forgiveness and Your help…
Lord Jesus, You promise us everlasting joy and peace – a peace that knows no end, joy that cannot be taken from us. When we next see You, all our sorrows of this life will be forgotten and will turn into great joy. Help us, please Lord, to be faithful over the things You have given us. Help us not only to serve You by serving others, but to do so joyfully so that they too may know and receive the gift of Your joy. Help us be Your good and faithful servants. This we pray in Your glorious name, Christ Jesus our Lord and our Savior. Amen.
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