Unparalleled joy and peace

John 16:5-33 ESV

But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’  But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart.  Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.  And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment:  concerning sin, because they do not believe in me;  concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer;  concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.    “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.  When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.  He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.  All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.    “A little while, and you will see me no longer; and   again a little while, and you will see me.”  So some of his disciples said to one another, “What is this that he says to us, ‘A little while, and you will not see me, and again a little while, and you will see me’; and, ‘because I am going to the Father’ ?” So they were saying, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’ ? We do not know what he is talking about.” Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, “Is this what you are asking yourselves, what I meant by saying, ‘A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me’?  Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy.  When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world.  So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.  In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you.  Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.    “I have said these things to you in figures of speech.   The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father.  In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf;  for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.  I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.”  His disciples said, “Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech! Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that you came from God.” Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe?  Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me.  I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Rev. Dwight Yoo

Jesus tells his disciples that trials and tribulation will only increase when he leaves them. But he also says that their joy and peace will increase. He offers a joy and peace that surpasses anything the world can offer.

The nature of his joy and peace

His joy and peace comes in the midst of trial and troubles. This joy will persist forever. The "little while" he refers to is his resurrection. He's not talking about heaven. He's saying that they would gets this joy after his resurrection. We can find this joy in this life. We don't have to wait until heaven. The joy we can have from his resurrection is unending and immovable. Regardless of circumstance. For those who don't believe, their joy comes from chasing something of this world. Reaching a goal, having the right situation, ... Traveling. But this is incompatible with suffering, trials, and pain. The joys and peace of the world will ebb and flow like the tide. The joy and peace that Jesus gives us can increase through our pain and trials.

How to experience it

You are not to manufacture it. It is a byproduct of a relationship with Jesus. We cannot make it. Jesus brings us joy simply by being with us. We have unbreakable joy because our relationship with him endures all things. Nothing can separate us from the joy and peace we have in Jesus. He is Lord over all things.. Even the grave. And he is now lord over our lives. In all circumstances, he is working it out for our good. This includes our failures, our setbacks, and our sinfulness. He will work things out for our good in all things. But not only do we need to be in relationship with him, we need to appropriate these things into our lives. We need to stew over these things in our hearts and minds. We play a part in taking in his joy and peace.

The impact of having it

Jesus wants to give us his joy and peace in a world of trouble. The holy spirit is here to grow and strengthen us. But this is not solely for our sake... It is also so that others may see life in Jesus. We are jars of clay... Unimpressive and simple. But they contain perfumes and precious things. In order for these things to be shared, the jar must be broken. The treasure in us is shown when we are going through tough times. When we suffer joyfully to show Jesus to others. Not pretending to be joyful... Not hiding our troubles, but sorrow buttressed with enduring peace.