Sorrow & Joy
Jesus tells of his impending death. ...and resurrection.
Jesus tells the whole Lent & Easter story in this passage, sans all the details.
We know that ultimately he is speaking of his death on the cross and the resurrection that follows.
But isn’t he also speaking of life?
Sorrow and joy are not just historical moments tied to Good Friday and Easter Sunday—they are experienced in the pattern of our lives. How many times have you experienced grief, waiting in the space where hope feels distant? How many times has joy surprised you—a joy you didn’t manufacture, but received?
Jesus’ words here don’t just prepare the disciples for his own death and resurrection—they describe for us the rhythms of faith. The way of Jesus is not one that bypasses sorrow but transforms it.
The psalm says: Weeping may last for the night, but joy comes in the morning.
The world often seeks happiness without suffering, but Jesus offers joy that comes through suffering. It’s a different kind of joy—one that isn’t fleeting, because it’s rooted in the reality of resurrection.
This is why he tells the disciples, No one will take your joy away from you.
Because when our joy is in Christ, it is not based on circumstances. It is based on the unshakable truth that death does not have the final word.
Happy Sunday to you. And though it is in Lent, remember that Sunday is always a celebration of resurrection.
John 16:17-24
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.
Psalm 30:6-12
When I was comfortable, I said, “I will never stumble.” Because it pleased you, Lord, you made me a strong mountain. But then you hid your presence. I was terrified. I cried out to you, Lord. I begged my Lord for mercy: “What is to be gained by my spilled blood, by my going down into the pit? Does dust thank you? Does it proclaim your faithfulness? Lord, listen and have mercy on me! Lord, be my helper!”
You changed my mourning into dancing. You took off my funeral clothes and dressed me up in joy so that my whole being might sing praises to you and never stop. Lord, my God, I will give thanks to you forever.
Prayer
God,
This is the day you have made, a day of new mercies, new hope, and new joy.
As we come to worship, help us bring before you all that weighs us down—our worries, our griefs, our waiting. And bring us to the trust that believes sorrow does not last forever, for in Christ, joy is always on the horizon.
As we gather today, renew our hearts in the hope of resurrection. Let our worship be shaped not by fleeting emotions, but by the unshakable truth of your victory over death.
May we leave this day as people marked by joy—not a joy that ignores sorrow,
but a joy that has passed through sorrow and yet remains.
By your Spirit & in Christ,
Amen.