To be honest, there are some times in John when it seems like the text is about to clear something that appears to be a bit muddy at first glance…only to further add more mud.
This might be one of those passages.
Jesus ends clearly enough - Ask and you shall receive. That’s familiar. He’s said such things elsewhere. But to get there, he shares an understandable analogy (a woman giving birth). Yet what exactly he’s speaking about isn’t so clear.
We know now and can be relatively sure that he’s referring to the disciples watching what Jesus is about to go through, arrested, suffering, and dying. But is there a further message here?
John 16:12-24
“I have much more to say to you, but you can’t handle it now. However, when the Spirit of Truth comes, he will guide you in all truth. He won’t speak on his own, but will say whatever he hears and will proclaim to you what is to come. He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and proclaim it to you. Everything that the Father has is mine. That’s why I said that the Spirit takes what is mine and will proclaim it to you. Soon you won’t be able to see me; soon after that, you will see me.”
Some of Jesus’ disciples said to each other, “What does he mean: ‘Soon you won’t see me, and soon after that you will see me’ and ‘Because I’m going to the Father’? What does he mean by ‘soon’? We don’t understand what he’s talking about.”
Jesus knew they wanted to ask him, so he said, “Are you trying to find out from each other what I meant when I said, ‘Soon you won’t see me, and soon after that you will see me’? I assure you that you will cry and lament, and the world will be happy. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. When a woman gives birth, she has pain because her time has come. But when the child is born, she no longer remembers her distress because of her joy that a child has been born into the world. In the same way, you have sorrow now; but I will see you again, and you will be overjoyed. No one takes away your joy. In that day, you won’t ask me anything. I assure you that the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Up to now, you have asked nothing in my name. Ask and you will receive so that your joy will be complete.
Prayer
God,
Trials come and go. Anyone who’s lived much of life knows this to be true. And yet when trials come again, they still usually feel as trial-ish as ever. Like, it’s not fun to go through. Our family members get hurt (again). Or someone misinterprets us and runs away with implications based upon misunderstanding or things that were never actually there. Or we yet again do not receive what we expected to.
So I want to claim for myself, and for others praying this with me, that promise of Jesus - that what is asked for will be received. Lord, I’m not asking for riches and fame or even perpetual comfort. Not for myself, at least. But I’m simply asking for some things to shake out well for some people around me.
Lord, I guess we call this intercessory prayer. I’m interceding for some people. Lord, you know their need. Help them therein.
By your spirit & in Christ,
Amen.
Amen!