A Joy that Cannot be Taken Away - John 16:16-24

1:58A lot spoken about joy in this passage. In fact, Jesus talks more about joy in this few verses that we will be looking at this morning than he does anywhere else in the Gospel of John. In fact, John speaks more about joy right here. This is a passage that is about joy. In fact, if you just started looking at the times it was used, the word joy in the Gospel of John, well, it's used seven times. One time is when John the Baptist is speaking about Jesus and saying, I have the joy of the friend of a bridegroom. He's come, so now my joy. So let's talk about John the Baptist's joy. But the second and third time, the word joy is used is in chapter 15 and verse 11.

2:58Jesus said, These things I have spoken. To you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full. And then the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh time is in our passage this morning, specifically in verses 20 through 24, that we will be looking at. So, this passage is about joy. That's what we celebrate time of Christmas, right? Joy. In fact, you might even see a big word right here at the front, joy, right? Is it still there? Nope. We missed it. Well, there is the embodiment of that joy, right? There used to be a big sign that said joy here.

3:37And now there's the embodiment of that joy, right? Save myself somehow. But there is a kind of joy that misses the point. In fact, I was reminded of it this morning. Nancy and I, as we're driving to church, as we normally do, somewhere along the way, she stops and prays. And we end our conversation, and then she prays for the services, prays for everything. And that's just the way we always drive to church. Well, this morning we pulled up at a stop sign, a stoplight, and she started praying.

4:16And then the light turned green, and there was a car right next to me. And all of a sudden, it laid on his horn. I mean, the light had just turned green. And the person in front wasn't going, but. Hardly had time to react. So, this person was obviously very impatient and just laid on his horn. And right in the middle of our prayer, how dare you? No, that wasn't what I thought. Nancy got through praying and then car drove off. And wow, that was impatient. And as he drove by, I saw his bumper stickers. Keep Christ in Christmas. And he is risen and other Jesus stickers. And I think, you know, that's easy to get caught up in this time and really kind of miss the whole purpose of Christmas, right? And we, for those who don't know Christ, well, it's kind of what you expect. Well, you don't know the king, so you're not going to celebrate the king. But there are many who profess to know him. And God promises a joy that is profound and deep. And yet, many times we rush through not just the season, but rush through this life completely stranger to joy, don't we? Even though we have these high professions, something is tragically missing in our experience. So I want to talk to you a little bit about that this morning. The disciples are at a point. Jesus is about to leave.

6:01And now they're obviously distressed over that. They realize something that's going to happen. And so we'll just pick up the narrative and walk through this. And we'll get to this promise of joy that we have in our passage of this morning. But look at verse 16. A little while, and you will no longer see me. And again, a little while, and you will see me. And I believe Jesus is saying, right now, here in just a few moments, I'm going to go to the cross. I'm going to be taken from you. I'm going to go into the grave. And you're not going to see me. And then a little while, you will see me. And I believe he speaks about his resurrection. And then, but also, there's going to be periods in that time when he's going to come and go, and then there's going to spend 40 days with him. And he's going to speak to them, teach them many more things, and then he's going to ascend.

6:53But Jesus says, a little while, and you're not going to see me. So they're trying to get their mind around this. Verse 17, look at their deliberation. Some of his disciples then said to another, what is this thing he is telling us? What is he saying? A little while, and you will not see us. And again, a little while, you will see me. And because I go to the Father. Okay, so he's leaving. He's coming back and he's going to, what does all this mean? So we're saying, what is this that he says, a little while? We do not know what he's talking about.

7:26And so, verse 19, Jesus knew that they wished to question him. Him. They were wishing, that's the verb. They are wishing. The disciples are wishing to ask Jesus a question. That's going to be important. File that away. They've heard Jesus say something. They haven't got their mind around everything that Jesus is talking about. They haven't gotten their minds around Jesus and what he's going to do. All that. They've got a lot of growth, so they're desiring to ask questions. And that's exactly what a disciple does, right? A disciple asks questions. That's why they follow. That's why they want to learn. And so they ask questions. That's what they do. Jesus knew they wished to ask him a question. And he said to them, Are you deliberating together about this? That I said, a little while, and you will not see me. And again, a little while, you will see me. So the disciples are wanting some legitimate answers to their legitimate questions. They're wanting some answers to their legitimate questions. And so, knowing their questions, Jesus goes on in verses 20 to 24, and he elaborates on his statement he made earlier. A little while you will no longer see me, and again, a little while, you will see me. And so he goes on to answer their questions by elaborating on this on their question. And it's in these verses here, 20 to 24, that John speaks more about joy.

9:00Than anywhere else in his gospel. And so we're going to be focusing on this most prominent teaching about joy in John's gospel. And I want you to see these two aspects of joy. I want to bring out two specific aspects of this joy. And I want to do so so that you will walk in it, so that you will not have a joy that misses the mark, so to speak, or a temporary earthbound type, temporary joy or enthusiasm, but that you will be characterized by this deep-seated joy that Christ promised to his disciples.

9:47First of all, first characteristic or first aspect of this promised joy is that it is a joy that cannot be taken away. This promised joy is, first of all, a joy that cannot be taken away. Look at the end of verse 22 there. He says, and no one will take your joy away from you. So in verses 20 to 22, he's speaking about a joy that cannot be taken away. So let's just look at this. In verse 20, truly, truly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will grieve, but you will rejoice. Your grief will be turned to joy. So, something is going to cause celebration to one group of people and mourning to another group of people. The passive voice here is very telling: something is going to happen that's going to cause the world to rejoice, celebrate. At the same time, it's going to cause you grief, lament, weeping.

11:04How is that? How can the same event have such a differing impact? Well, there are two different value systems, two different worlds, two different kinds of people. There are some people that are going to celebrate that which is unthinkable, and there are other people that are going to mourn over that which is unthinkable. Same event. In fact, I can say it says a lot about a person by what they delight in. In fact, one of the things that defines you or tells more about who you are is what do you delight in? What is a source of joy for you? What do you delight in? Well, there was a whole group of people, masses, that delighted. In Jesus' crucifixion.

12:04That's specifically what he's speaking about here. But notice at the end of verse 20, notice the transformation that's going to take place. Do you see it there? Look at your text. But your grief will be what? Turned into joy. The grief of the disciples is going to undergo a transformation, and it's going to be turned into joy. Now, keep in mind, God's in the business of taking grief and turning it into joy. He's in that business. That's what he does. And he does so by speaking truth, by causing our minds to settle upon the truth. But there's this transformation. Something else is going to cause a transformation. Same passive voice.

13:02There will be a transformation. Another event or a series of events. And when that other event or series of events has run its course and the disciples begin to understand the full implications of that event, then all of a sudden that grief is going to turn into joy. In other words, they're going to be able to see the situation. Through a different set of lenses. They're going to be able to see the crucifixion. They're going to be able to see the grave through the lens of the resurrection. And now, all of a sudden, that puts a whole different spin on what's taking place with the crucifixion. You see how truth does that? When you see things for what they really are, the same event, they can now look back on the crucifixion with joy because they're able to put it in its right context because of the resurrection.

14:14But they're about to hit all of this. In fact, it's going to come upon them like labor comes upon a woman who's about to give birth. Look at verse 21. Whenever a woman is in labor, she has pain because her hour has come. But when she gives birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy that a child has been born into the world. By the way, this is a reference to the disciples. Make sure you see that. This is not a reference to Jesus going through, he's not talking about his distress.

15:00It's a suitable picture for him. He is speaking about the disciples in verse 22: therefore, you too have grief now. So he's speaking about a grief and a sorrow that the disciples are going to go through. They're going to experience the agony of Calvary, the crucifixion, the rejection. They're going to experience all of that agony from a different perspective. But it's going to come upon them like labor and childbirth. In fact, that is the word for tribulation here or distress is that which we just read in Matthew 24 about a time of tribulation coming upon the world. It's a distressful time, a time of tribulation.

15:53But the peace, there's a peace and joy that comes after childbirth, right? The accomplishment gives way to the anguish, right? The accomplishment makes one forget about the anguish. And he's saying so true. That's going to be true in your case, disciples. I can remember first time, it wasn't long ago, 23 years ago. I hope I don't embarrass anybody in my family, but I did talk to my wife about this, sharing this, but first child in labor.

16:30And Nancy, you know, she's always this sweet little girl and nice and pleasant. And I noticed I learned something about her that day. When she was in labor, she would want to hold my hand. Like whenever those contractions were coming, she'd reach out her hand and hold my hand. And then she never had a grip before, but when she was in those contractions, she could nearly crush my hand. And those contractions were coming. And I was like, you're hurting my hand.

17:11Bear with us, wives, we learn, we have to learn. But anyway, so, but then I remember after she gave birth to our firstborn, Josiah, who led music this morning, and thank you for that, by the way. I remember looking over at her, and one of the most vivid memories I have from that is just this sense of release, tears coming down her eyes, and she looked at me and said, You now have a son. You now have a son. And all of a sudden, there is a peace, there is a joy in the room, and that accomplishment just brought about a forgetfulness of the anguish.

18:00A time when the pain was over, there was a time that the purpose for the pain is realized. And that's what Jesus is telling his disciples. You're going to experience anguish on a massive scale. You are going to understand loss and pain and agony. You are going to go through it. You are going to, everything that you have believed in is going to be shaken to its core. You're going to see church and state, if I could use that word, or religion and state of the whole nation formed against me and despising of you, and you're going to be stuck in that quandary of loss. And you're going to be asking yourself questions like: Did God really, did God abandon you? Did we miss something here? Did we follow the wrong guy? There's all these questions theological.

19:04He's saying, but eventually, the purpose for you going through that, you're going to experience your king being crucified, being horrifically brutalized, rejected. You're going to see all that, but there's a purpose for this passion. Because you're going to see this resurrection. And then one day you're going to wake up and you're going to realize we really do have good news to proclaim. Look at verse 22. Therefore, you too have grief now. But I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. You're going to realize it was not God's hostility against Jesus. You're going to realize that it was the power of God in Jesus doing something that the world could not even conceive of.

20:29And that is saving the world, saving his disciples. Yes, we really do have good news to proclaim. And the disciples, boy, they experienced that. They experienced the death. No, I was there. He came out. I saw him. He is coming back. He is king. He is master over death. We have a message to proclaim accomplishment. So, just as Jesus speaks of the event causing distress, so there is an event that causes a gladdening, and no one will take your joy away from you. Your heart will rejoice. That event, that again, that passive voice, an event that is going to happen, that when you take in the truth of it, when the truth of this event takes place, all that grief is going to be turned into a deep-seated and what I call invincible joy. That grief that you experience is going to be transformed into an invincible joy.

21:54That truth is going to have to sink in. Listen, the lies are what bring us down. When we believe lies, we are brought low, but when we bring the truth, when we believe the truth, we are lifted, gladdened. And so, the resurrection and the growing awareness of all of its implications is going to be that event where Jesus sees them again, which will be fully realized, I believe, at Pentecost. Even us, Right now, we understand that there's birth, we understand there's cross, we understand there's a resurrection, but sometimes I think we scarcely realize the full implications of that because we simply don't live by the joy that comes that should characterize those who believe that.

22:52But here's the promise: these are promises to his disciples. This isn't just a promise to some of his disciples, this is something that will take hold. What do you delight in? What is your mind focused on? What is the source of your joy? Is it something eternal, temporal? But how is it? How is it? How is it that this joy can be invincible? And let me just make a few suggestions. First of all, I think as these disciples realized, okay, Jesus is alive, there is the joy of a living Savior. Okay, he's been through death. There is a joy, and no one can take that away. He is alive. There is a joy in knowing that he is a competent Savior. He went through the grave. This one really did defeat death. Look at his resume.

23:54He did. There's joy in a living Savior. Competent Savior. They know that He is king over death. He turned the curse back. He has, but there's also a joy in a present Savior who promises to be with His disciples. So just think about all this sits. He is alive, He is with us, He is very much mindful of what's going on. There's going to be a continued discipleship, a continued relationship with our Lord through the ages because He is sending His Holy Spirit to guide His disciples into all the truth.

24:40And there is joy in knowing that nothing, nothing can change these realities. No matter what happens on planet Earth, no matter what happens in the disciples' lives, no matter what happens in the subsequent generations afterwards, or what may happen in planet Earth and the history of the church and the things that happen, and no matter what happens to us on an individual scale, or on a corporate scale, or on a national scale, these truths are eternally fixed. We have a living Savior, we have a present Savior, and He has a purpose for human history, and no one can change that. It's in the record books, it's forever. Settled.

25:35And that will really bring joy if you believe. That joy is for the believer. And no one can take it. No one can touch it. So it's very important that we think often about this basis for joy that God has given us in the midst of this fallen world. It's not a kind of artificial bliss from just from getting our way or sticking our heads in the sand. It's not an art that says, okay, I'm going to think happy thoughts. I'm going to say that there is no sin. I'm going to be positive. No, it's not that kind of artificial joy. It's a deep-seated joy that's based upon eternal realities that you and I can set our lives and build our lives upon.

26:35And no one can touch it. And so often we attach our temporal happiness to temporal circumstances. No, our temporal happiness needs to be fixed on eternal joys, and you will be characterized as a person of joy. Are you characterized by joy? Where's your mind? What are you focused on? We're not talking about a joy that can has to turn the other way. We're talking about a joy that can experience some of the most horrific situations that you can experience in a fallen world. We're talking about a joy that can look evil in the eye and say, you have been defeated.

27:29The back of your resistance is broken. And in a little while, I won't see you anymore. But for now, I have a basis of true joy. Do you have this invincible joy? It's for all of his followers. Two aspects of the joy that Jesus promised his disciples. The first we've just looked at is a joy that cannot be taken away. Second aspect of a joy that Jesus promised is that it is a joy that is full, a joy that is full.

28:11It comes from verses 23 and 24. But look at the end of verse 24. What does Jesus say? So that your joy may be full. So we're again, we're talking about a joy that is full. Verse 23, look at that. In that day, you will not question me about. Anything. Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask the Father for anything, in my name, He will give it to you. Those are stout words, right? In fact, I come to passages like this, and I'm like, what's wrong with my faith? Because the clear teaching is so plain.

28:55You'll ask the Father for anything, anything. In my name, He will give it to you. Sometimes we want to theologically argue this away, hedge it. No, I think it's very explicit. But sometimes I think we focus on the wrong emphasis. We think the emphasis might be, you may ask the Father for anything. And that becomes our focus, the anything. But I don't think this, at first glance, we might be tempted to think this verse is all about prayer or how we get our prayers answered. Well, there's certainly deep implications for prayers, and I can't wait until we come back to this at the beginning of the new year because he's going to talk more about prayer. And what a good way to start the new year than focusing our minds on prayer. But I don't believe the main emphasis in this verse is prayer.

29:52I think the main emphasis is the relationship. Look at, it's on the Relationships between the parties involved. Look at this. In that day, you will not question me about anything. I think that's where the emphasis is. Remember, they were questioning. John makes it very clear that they were over there wondering, we're going to question Jesus about this. That's what the disciples do. They question. And Jesus is saying, look, in that day, and that day when all this takes place, and I won't get into that because there's so many thoughts about when that day is. Certainly talking about a new time, and I certainly think by Pentecost and growing awareness from the resurrection to them.

30:40But look at what he says: you will not question me about anything. You're going to talk to my father. You see, the main emphasis is upon the relationships between the parties involved. And look at the parties involved. There's who? Father, there's Jesus, and there's the disciples, right? And now, the disciples, up until this point, what have they been doing? When they had a question, what do they do? They go to Jesus. They go to Jesus. They talk to Jesus, right? And Jesus is saying, you're going to understand that this whole Advent of mine was all about connecting you with my Father. It's all about you understanding your Heavenly Father. That's why my name is Emmanuel.

31:30God with us, so that you will understand that you will have a relationship with your heavenly Father. Jesus is going to the Father. And so, what's happening? A new relationship. Look at this new relationship. This joy that is full comes out of a new kind of relationship with the Heavenly Father. You see, the call to prayer is an invitation to get caught up in the middle of the love relationship between the Father and the Son. The Father loves the Son, the Son loves the Father. And when you're invited to pray in Jesus' name, guess what you're invited to do? To get swept right up in the middle of this love relationship between Father and Son.

32:25And it is the relationship with the Father, this deep-seated joy of Jesus that could go to the cross with joy. There's the source. Relationship with his Father. And so when we're called to pray, it's about being temporarily raptured into the presence of God. Prayer is about being swept up in this love relationship between Father and Son. Son, and us knowing the mind of the Father, knowing the ways of Jesus, and being able to know and be able to articulate things that would bring honor to Jesus. And by doing so, we've come to know God.

33:19Because when you pray in Jesus' name, guess what? You're praying for everything that's consistent with his name, everything that's according to his demeanor, his disposition, his preferences. So, a call to prayer in Jesus' name is a call to know Jesus. So, a joy that is full comes out of this new relationship with our Heavenly Father. Do you have a relationship with your Heavenly Father? But look at this. Look at what He does next. This joy that is full, not only does it come out of a new relationship with our Heavenly Father, but it comes, but it is also connected to answered prayer. It is connected to answered prayer. Look at verse 24. Until now, you have asked for nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, so that your joy will be made full. Now, there's a command there.

34:24I think historically, speaking to the disciples, sitting there saying, You've not asked anything in my name. It's too easy. I'm here. Right? But ask in the Father's name. And that's a command. You be asking. You be asking. And you will receive. Be asking in His name. Be asking all that's consistent with His character. You know, I really appreciate the way this church has showed so much kindness to my family. I'm reminded of that week in, week out. We have been loved by you all, and we know that. And my kids, since it, you haven't soured my kids against the church. They love the church. Thank you.

35:27You can imagine. And I really appreciate that. If you want to show kindness to me, how do you show kindness to me? You be kind to my children. I mean, if you want a favor from me, don't make it your aim to run over my children out here in the parking lot and then come over into my office and ask me for a favor. You know? Don't drag my kids through the mud. Or and then come into my office and expect me to be excited about granting you anything.

36:07That's the way it is with the Father, right? Don't drag Jesus' name through the mud, don't treat him as somebody to be despised and then come prancing into the presence of the Father and expect, no, asking in his name is asking all for his sake. Father, I want this for the sake of your son. That's an invitation to come into that intimate unity between father and son and to actually be able to articulate those things that the Father would like to grant for the sake of his son's glory.

36:52To be swept up in that. Our Heavenly Father wants us to experience answered prayer in Jesus' name. That's what he wants you to experience. That's what the purpose of Christ coming, so that you would know his son, and in knowing his son, you would know the father. And when you can learn to go through life and see your circumstances and understand the things going on in your life and in other people's life, and be able to pray, that which brings glory to Christ, the Father is saying, that's. That's exactly what I want you to be praying. That's exactly what I want to give you. And Jesus is saying, of course.

37:40Ask anything, and he will grant it. The question is: why? Well, he wants our joy completed. Why is our joy completed by answered prayer? That's an interesting thought, isn't it? Well, I have three suggestions how this can be. First of all, answered prayer reveals the Father's love for his son. When we experience answered prayer, we experience something of the Father's love for his son. Second, it glorifies Jesus by demonstrating the power of his name. When you pray things that are according to the name of Jesus and not just some formula, I'm talking about all that is characteristic of him for his sake and for all that, then you experience something of the power of his name. And what is the source of his power? What is the source of the power of Jesus' name? It's not that it's some kind of incantation or some kind of a little formula or whatever. What is the source of the power?

38:50God makes it very clear, it's the love of the Father. That's the power behind Jesus' name, because the Father loves him. And when we see and experience answer prayer, we see a manifestation of the union between the Father of the Son, and we also see a manifestation of our own participation in this beautiful union. And that's a source of joy. Deep joy. God has a purpose for answering prayers. Answer prayer is a way our Heavenly Father glorifies Jesus. Answer prayer is about a relationship with God. He wants us to know how to have our prayers answered because He wants us in that relationship between Father and Son. Prayer involves knowing and meditating upon Christ's commandments. That's why it's no accident that Jesus says in verse 15: if you keep, I mean, in chapter 15, verse 10, if you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full. So there is an abiding by meditating upon Jesus. By meditating upon his commandments, an abiding takes place so that when you approach the Father, you know the mind, you know the Son, and by knowing the Son, you know the Father, and you're able to pray.

40:25And then when you see answered prayer, it is a manifestation that. You are swept up into this relationship. So, in order to have your prayers answered, guess what? You must know Christ. In order to give good gifts to my children, you have to know something about my children. Or if you give good gifts to whoever, you need to know something about them. And so, when you come praying, you have to know, well, times getting away. Well, there's a joy that Jesus promised his followers. It's a joy that cannot be taken away because it's based upon a living Savior, a present Savior. It's also a joy that is full, that is to its limit, and it comes out of a relationship with our Heavenly Father, and it's connected to answered prayer.

41:28And that's the kind of joy that Jesus promised His disciples. But there is a joy that misses a mark, even among professing believers, right? Sometimes we're like that driver honking our horn and patiently going through traffic with Jesus written all over our car. There's something really disconnecting, isn't there? Beware of worldly joy, especially during this Christmas season. There's a joy that comes out of getting our way, isn't there? Green light, get out of my way. Or deeper, there's a joy that comes out of getting our way. In fact, that is the way of the world. In fact, I fear many might be tempted to have this fixate on maybe our requests for Christmas or like getting certain kind of presents for Christmas.

42:31We can attach a joy, and when we don't get it, I remember this little girl, and I caught this on video, who wanted some lip gloss, I think, for Christmas. And her parents, the big Christmas morning, come in there and they bring this beautiful bike out. They know what's going to really long-term. She looks at that bike, she screams in displeasure. I wanted lip gloss. She stomped out of the room. That's the way we are sometimes. God has given us this eternal joy, and we're like, I want the lip gloss. You know, He's given us something of substance, something of a source of joy. He doesn't just give us temporal joys, he gives us a source of joy.

43:26Well, such joy is temporary, such delight is temporary. But God wants us to experience true joy, and true joy comes out of being swept up in this love relationship between the Father and the Son. There's beauty in our triune God. Let's pray. Heavenly Father, thank you for the revelation of yourself in your Son. Help us to understand more deeply. Thank you for the invitation of sending your Son to be swept up into a relationship that existed before we ever came on the scene. A relationship of delight between Father and Son that we don't fully understand, but a oneness, yet a distinction, a basis for relationship with each other. Thank you for all of this. Help us to connect in truth and fix our joy not upon anything that's fleeting, passing by, but upon that which is eternal.