John 16:22

And you therefore. Here is the adaptation of the example, that they would similarly be saddened at Christ's passion, but would rejoice at his glorification or resurrection: on account of which he says: And you therefore now indeed have sorrow, and this on account of …

I will see you again, i. e. I will take you to Myself. Or, I will see you again, i. e. I shall appear again and be seen by you; and your heart shall rejoice.

2134 Here he draws the parallels. As regards the present sorrow the apostles were experiencing he says, So you have sorrow now, now being from the time of my passion, and the sorrow is over my death: "What is this conversation which you are holding …

So here too, by the pangs of birth we understand the sorrow of the apostles, and by the joy — their consolation after the resurrection, and again by the loosing of the pangs — the destruction of Hades, and by the birth — the resurrection …

Ye now therefore have sorrow - This gives us no manner of authority to assert all believers must come into a state of darkness. They never need lose either their peace, or love, or the witness that they are the children of God. They never can lose these, but either through sin, or ignorance, or vehement temptation, or bodily disorder.

And ye now therefore have sorrow,.... This is the application of the preceding case.

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.

Your joy no man taketh from you - Or, shall take away. Some excellent MSS. and versions read the verb in the future tense. Our Lord’s meaning appears to have been this: that his resurrection should be so completely demonstrated to them, that they should never have a doubt concerning it; and consequently that their joy should be great and permanent, knowing that the atonement was made, the victory gained, and the kingdom of heaven opened to all believers.

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.

Joy is the normal condition of a Believer. His proper state, his healthy state, is that of happiness and gladness. As I have often reminded you, it has become a Christian duty for Believers to be glad. "Rejoice in the Lord," is a precept given to us over and over again and I believe that, broadly speaking, the general condition of God's people is one ofjoy. It is not a falsehood if we say, "Happy are you, O Israel!" True Christians are the happiest people under Heaven.

Joy is the normal condition of a Believer. His proper state, his healthy state, is that of happiness and gladness. As I have often reminded you, it has become a Christian duty for Believers to be glad. "Rejoice in the Lord," is a precept given to us over and over again and I believe that, broadly speaking, the general condition of God's people is one ofjoy. It is not a falsehood if we say, "Happy are you, O Israel!" True Christians are the happiest people under Heaven. They have many sorrows, but there is a text which says, "As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing." And old Master Brooks has a good note upon the passage. He says that it does not say, "As sorrowful, yet as always rejoicing." The "quasi"—the "as"—relates only to the sorrow. The joy is real, without any "quasi. " Christians have quasi sorrow, but they have real rejoicing! They are oftentimes as if they were sad—yes, as if they were, of all men, most miserable, but in the very depths of their soul they have "the peace of God which passes all understanding," to keep their heart and mind through Christ Jesus. I will venture to assert that Christians, at least, always have matter for joy. They are never short of material out of which they may make melody unto the Lord! If they will, they may rejoice, for they have plenty of causes for joy. The Lord has done great things for them and they ought to add, "Therefore we are glad." And, as they have plenty of matter for joy, so they have ample motive for joy, for when they joy and rejoice, they glorify God, they prove the reality of their faith and they make their religion attractive to others! The joy of the Lord is their strength, their beauty, their charm. There are always reasons why a Christian should be happy and as he has matter for joy and motive for joy, so he always has a measure ofjoy! He may seem to be overwhelmed with trouble, but his boat still floats.

I will see you again - After my resurrection. Your joy no man taketh from you - You shall be so firmly persuaded that I have risen and that I am the Messiah, that neither the threats nor persecutions of men shall ever be able to shake your faith and produce doubt or unbelief, and thus take away your joy. This prediction was remarkably fulfilled. It is evident that after his ascension not one of the apostles ever doubted for a moment that he had risen from the dead. No persecution or trial was able to shake their faith; and thus, amid all their afflictions, they had an unshaken source of joy.