What gets you up in the morning and puts a spring in your step? Maybe being in love, or enjoying a holiday? Lots of good things make us rejoice. But today and tomorrow we shall see three things which can make us rejoice even in the teeth of miserable circumstances.
The disciples don’t get it
Read John 16:16
• What did Jesus say and what don’t they understand?
• Do you understand which events Jesus is talking about?
It’s the cross (when they don’t see Him, when He is put in a tomb) and the resurrection (when they see Him again: they will say “We have seen the Lord” in John John 20:18, John 20:25, John 20:29).
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TIME OUT
• Why do you think the apostles found it so hard to understand after all the hints Jesus has dropped?
It’s not surprising they couldn’t understand it. If Jesus wants to set up a kingdom, why go away? And if He doesn’t, why come back?
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Rejoice in the cross
Read John 16:19
• What two reactions does Jesus predict in v 20?
• Which day is He speaking about?
• But what did Jesus say would happen to that grief (v 20)?
Jesus isn’t saying that the cross is sad, but the resurrection is happy. He is saying
that what would make them sad (the cross) is what will in the future make
them happy (the cross).
• What is the image of v 21, and how does it help to explain what Jesus has said in v 20?
These are not separate events; they are the same process. What caused the sorrow (the labour pains leading to the birth) is now what causes joy (the birth that came from the labour pains).
After the resurrection, they will realise that the Friday really was Good Friday.
• What’s particularly special about the joy that is produced by seeing that Friday as “Good”?
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APPLY
• Do you find it hard to be joyful? What things take away your joy?
• Will you allow Good Friday, and the prospect of seeing Jesus, to be more important than any of those things, so that you are joyful despite them?
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PRAY THRU
Thank the Father for what Jesus did for you on the cross. Rejoice at the forgiveness He won for you there.
Ask the Spirit to make your heart joyful at all times.
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This devotional is taken from Explore—a daily Bible-reading devotional from the good book company which enables you to engage with Scripture and which will encourage, equip and inspire you to live for Christ. Explore features contributions from pastors such as Dr Timothy Keller, Mike McKinley and Tim Chester.
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