Pastor T.C. Arnold
4^th Sunday of Easter
John 16:16-22
May 3^rd, 2009
 

            For the past three weeks the Lord’s resurrection has occupied the thought and mind of the Church.  On the Second Sunday of Easter the readings brought us the story of the Lord’s appearance to His disciples and we were privileged to hear a message of peace.  On the Third Sunday of Easter we trustingly gathered as sheep about the Good Shepherd, who on Easter Day gathered us anew and now leads us to the green pastures of His Holy and Blessed mysteries.  But today, there is a slight change in what occupies our thoughts as a Church.  Beginning with this Sunday we are given a look into the future, into Christ’s and our own future.

            For the first time during this Easter Season the readings for this Sunday broach the subject of our Lord’s Ascension.  It says in the Gospel for today, ‘A little while and you will see me no more, because I go to the Father.”  But the Lord’s Ascension is not the only thing referenced here in the Gospel text for today.  It says, “In a little while you will not see me and then after a little while you will see me.”  While the former indeed refers to our Lord ascending into heaven, the “little while” references our Lord’s “short” death.  After “a little while” He will rise to life again in the Resurrection.  They will not see Him after He is dead and buried.  Then, they will see Him again when He is raised from the dead.

            But there’s more.  And the more is what directly relates to you and me today.  The more reaches into our lives and shows us the truth.  The more is the difference between the faith that the world has in itself and the faith that believers have in their Lord who saves.  The more, beloved in the Lord, is the sorrow and the joy Jesus refers to in connection with the “seeing” and then the “not seeing” and then the “seeing again.”  For those who do not believe, joy will turn to everlasting sorrow.  For those who trust in the life of Christ, us Christians, the sorrow in this fallen world will turn to joy in heaven to come.

            Today the world has joy!  Is this a correct statement?  The answer is, “yes and no.”  No would be the answer we would give in light of all the news around the globe.  The families of those who have lost loved ones to a strange type of flu and too many others who fear it horribly, there is no joy.  To a world filled with countries that oppress their people, who starve them and keep them destitute – to a world that struggles to feed its people, who worry about war-lords carrying off members of their families, who suffer and lament over natural disasters that they could not have ever expected – there is no joy.

            Today our country – the good ole U.S. of A. – has no joy.  There is no joy in the economy or the job loss millions are going through.  There is no joy in the instability created by the market, or that is created in our homes when we are not truthful with the people we love or we let a chemical like drugs or alcohol claim the most important place among our families.  With these things – there is no joy.

            But the answer to this question is also “Yes.”  There is joy for the world – it has its joy right now.  Because our world easily forgets that with the gift of freedom comes great responsibility.  The world loves – we love – to self-indulge in things that might make us feel good or that might just feel right – even if it is against God’s Word.  You see, those who have no hope and no faith believe that nothing is off limits when it comes to personal happiness because you only live once and then you die and there is nothing else.  You do what creates the most joy for you.  You do what makes you the most happy – no matter what the consequences to the people around you – or even if it happens to be contrary to the Word of God.  A world without faith only has hope in today.  And just like Jesus said in the text, “you (that is the faithful in the Lord) will weep and morn while the world rejoices.”  You are not “of the world”.  Jesus is talking to you as one who weeps today.  Make sure you are not acting like you are “of” the world and taking joy in only what makes you happy today.  There is so much more to joy.

            So, today, if we consider what Jesus says in John chapter sixteen, the Christian has sorrow.  Is that a correct statement?  Again, the answer is “yes and no.” Today, there is as much sorrow for the believer and the unbeliever over what is happening in our world: famine, disease and destruction.  For the Christian there is the same kind of sorrow over our current economic conditions and the fears that accompany everything related to such.  You know this sorrow

            And yes there are joyful times as well.   There is joy over celebrations, honors and awards.  Joy when good friends get together or a job promotion finally reaches our desk.  There is joy when our kids do well, when they make progress, when there is good news to report.  There is joy on this side of eternity for Christians.

            But when Jesus spoke these words in John chapter sixteen He was referring to the sorrow that those who were faithful would have at His death.  When Jesus spoke these words, they were days away from Holy Week.  He knew that the faithful who loved Him very much would “sorrow” in His death.  He knew they would experience an emptiness and hurt unimaginable.  He knew there would be no joy for Himself on Good Friday – just joy for those who wanted Jesus to die – joy for those who cared more about their false gods, their own way of life, their own hopes and dreams.

            And so it is with Christians today.  Sorrow weighs heavy on our hearts – when we ask why and seem to get no answers.  Sorrow weighs heavy on our hearts as our world takes God’s Word, throws it to the wind and redefines what a human-being is, what a marriage should be, what life is all about.  Sorrow weighs heavy on our hearts when we see in these things our Savior crucified again and again and again.  For the Christian, beloved in the Lord, these are indeed sorrowful times.

            Jesus says, “Your sorrow will turn to joy.”  The famous artist Thomas Nast once sought to explain how sorrow turns to joy with a painting.  He stood before an audience and began to paint a beautiful country scene.  There were meadows and fields ripe with grain.  There was a house and there was a barn and there birds and there were trees.  After he had finished he stepped back and allowed the audience to applaud at this masterpiece.  It was a wonderful, peaceful and joyful scene.

            “But,” he said, “The picture is not finished.”  He began to take dark colors and sweep violently across the canvas.  He daubs and blotches paint more recklessly than a child while smearing the paint and ruining the beautiful country scene.  “Now,” he said, “the painting is finished.”  He stood back but the audience did not applaud.  All sat puzzled and doubtful.

            Then the artist turned the picture on one end, and the whole crowd gasped in amazement, for now they saw a beautiful, dark waterfall, masses of water pouring over moss-covered rocks and raising rainbow hues in the air.  He had changed the first quiet scene – into what looked like chaos and pandemonium.  Then it turned into a rich, beautiful second painting.  All the while the audience thought he was ruining the painting.

            Jesus said, “You see me.  In a little while you will not see me.  And then you will see me again.”  That’s God’s promise for you today.  Right now our lives are like the chaos and recklessness of an artist ruining a perfectly good painting.  The only difference is, our sin has caused this change in the perfect creation that came from our Lord.  But in this vale of tears – in this day of suffering, there’s more.  The more is what we see again.  The more is our Lord who comes to us in His body and blood.  The more is His grace and forgiveness and the kingdom to come – heaven.  “The more,” means that this sorrowful world will not be the end.  The more, includes Jesus’ own illustration – “just like a woman who gives birth – there is pain and suffering – but then there is joy in the bringing forth of a new life.”  The more is the Gospel promise that you have and I have in Christ.  And for us Christians, we have so much more.  For those not in Christ, this is all they have.  Praise be to God – our sorrow will turn to joy.  Amen.

The peace of God which passes all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.  Amen.