John 16:21

A woman, when she gives birth. Here the fourth point is touched upon, namely exemplification. And the exemplification concerns how quickly and in a short time sorrow will be turned into joy: and the example is of a woman in labor, who, when she gives …

The woman is the holy Church, who is fruitful in good works, and brings forth spiritual children unto God. This woman, while she brings forth, i. e. while she is making her progress in the world, amidst temptations and afflictions, hath sorrow because her hour is come; for no one ever hated his own flesh. But as soon as she is delivered, i. e. when her laborious struggle is over, and she has got the palm, she remembereth no more her former anguish, for joy at reaping such a reward, for joy that a man is born into the world. For as a woman rejoiceth when a man is born into the world, so the Church is filled with exultation when the faithful are born into life eternal.

2131 Now our Lord mentions a similar case and then draws the parallels. The similar instance he gives is that of a woman about to give birth. First, he mentions the sorrow she has while in labor; and secondly, her joy once her child is …

Just as a woman is glad when a human being has been born into the world, so the church is filled with fitting exultation when a multitude of the faithful are born into the life to come. [The church] labors and groans greatly at the …

Then He brings an ordinary example of a woman and childbirth. This comparison was also used by the prophets, using the severity of labor pains to denote the highest degree of sorrow. He speaks as if to say: "Sorrows will overtake you, like the pains …

The glorious Virgin, strong and devout, paid that price with the piety of compassion toward Christ. It is said in John: "A woman, when she gives birth, has sorrow, because her hour has come." On account of giving birth, a woman has pain, namely preceding …

): A woman, we know, when she is in travail, hath sorrow, she is in exquisite pain, because her hour is come, the hour which nature and providence have fixed, which she has expected, and cannot escape; but as soon as she is delivered of the child, provided she be safely delivered, and the child be, though a Jabez ( 1 Chron. iv.

quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-punctuation

Christ has given notice to his disciples beforehand to expect sorrow, that they may treasure up comforts accordingly. [2.] The world's rejoicing at the same time: But the world shall rejoice. That which is the grief of saints is the joy of sinners. First, Those that are strangers to Christ will continue in their carnal mirth, and not at all interest themselves in their sorrows.

For joy that a man is born - Ανθρωπος is put here for a human creature, whether male or female; as homo among the Romans denoted either man or woman.

At the same time the sorrow of the widowed Church in the absence of her Lord in the heavens, and her transport at His personal return, are certainly here expressed.

Not all Christ's sayings were understood by His disciples. We are told this distinctly in the passage we have now read. "What is this that he says? We cannot tell what he says." None ever spoke so plainly as Jesus. None were so thoroughly accustomed to His style of teaching as the Apostles. Yet even the Apostles did not always take in their Master's meaning. Surely we have no right to be surprised if we cannot interpret Christ's words. There are many depths in those who we have no line to fathom.

Not all Christ's sayings were understood by His disciples. We are told this distinctly in the passage we have now read. "What is this that he says? We cannot tell what he says." None ever spoke so plainly as Jesus. None were so thoroughly accustomed to His style of teaching as the Apostles. Yet even the Apostles did not always take in their Master's meaning. Surely we have no right to be surprised if we cannot interpret Christ's words. There are many depths in those who we have no line to fathom. But let us thank God that there are many sayings of our Lord recorded which no honest mind can fail to understand. Let us use diligently the light that we have, and not doubt that "to him that has, more shall be given." We learn, for one thing, in these verses, that Christ's absence from the earth will be a time of sorrow to believers, but of joy to the world. It is written, "You shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice." To confine these words to the single point of Christ's approaching death and burial, appears a narrow view of their meaning. Like many of our Lord's sayings on the last evening of His earthly ministry, they seem to extend over the whole period of time between His first and second advents. Christ's personal absence must needs be a sorrow to all true-hearted believers. "The children of the bride-chamber cannot but fast when the bridegroom is taken from them." Faith is not sight. Hope is not certainty. Reading and hearing are not the same as beholding. Praying is not the same as speaking face to face. There is something, even in the hearts of the most eminent saints, that will never be fully satisfied as long as they are on earth and Christ is in heaven.

WE were singing, just now a hymn in which the first verse started a difficult question— "'It is finished.' Shall we raise Songs of sorrow, or of praise? Mourn to see the Savior die, Or proclaim His victory?" The case is very well argued in the second and third verses— "If of Calvary we tell, How can songs of triumph swell? If of man redeemed from woe, How shall notes of mourning flow? Ours the guilt which pierced His side, Ours the sin for which He died; But the blood which flowed that day Washed our sin and guilt away."

WE were singing, just now a hymn in which the first verse started a difficult question— "'It is finished.' Shall we raise Songs of sorrow, or of praise? Mourn to see the Savior die, Or proclaim His victory?" The case is very well argued in the second and third verses— "If of Calvary we tell, How can songs of triumph swell? If of man redeemed from woe, How shall notes of mourning flow? Ours the guilt which pierced His side, Ours the sin for which He died; But the blood which flowed that day Washed our sin and guilt away." The conclusion at which we arrived in the concluding verse seems to me to be the right one— "Lamb of God! Your death has given Pardon, peace and hope of Heaven: 'It is finished.'Let us raise Songs of thankfulness and praise!" The chief thought connected with the Redeemer's death should be that of grateful praise! That our Lord Jesus Christ died upon the Cross is a very natural cause for sorrow and well may they who pierced Him—and we are all among the number—look unto Him and mourn for their sin and be in bitterness for Him as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn. Before we know that we are pardoned, our grief may well be exceedingly heavy, for till sin is put away we stand guilty of the Savior's blood! While our souls are only conscious of our guilty share in the Redeemer's blood, we may well stand aghast at the sight of the accursed tree, but the case is altered when, by faith, we discern the glorious fruit of our Lord's sufferings and know that on the Cross He saved us and triumphed in the deed.