SADNESS AND GLADNESS

John 16: 16-24   “In a little while you will not see me anymore, and then a little while later you will see me.”  Some of his disciples asked among themselves, “what does this mean? He tells us that in a little while we will not see him, and then a little while later we will see him and he also says, ‘it is because I am going to the Father.’ What does this ‘a little while’ mean? We don’t know what he is talking about!”.

Jesus knew  that they wanted to question him, so he said to them, “I said, ‘in a little while you will not see me, and then a little while later you will see me.’ Is this what you are asking among yourselves? I am telling you the truth: you will cry and weep, but the world will be glad; you will be sad, but your sadness will turn into gladness. When a woman is about to give birth, she is sad because her hour of suffering has come; but when the baby is born, she forgets her suffering, because she is happy that a baby has been born into the world.  That is how it is with you: now you are sad, but I will see you again, and your hearts will be filled with gladness, the kind of gladness that no one can take away from you.

“When that day comes, you will not ask me for anything. I am telling you the truth: the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name; ask and you will receive, so that your happiness may be complete.

O Lord open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praise. Psalm 51:15

THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

JOHN 16:5-15          “I did not tell you these things at the beginning, for I was with you. But now I am going to him who sent me, yet none of you asks me where I am going. And now that I have told you, your hearts are full of sadness. But I am telling you the truth: It is better for you that I go away, because if I do not go, the Helper will not come to you. But I I do go away, then I will send him to you.  And when he comes, he will prove to the people of the world that they are wrong about sin and about what is right and about God’s judgement.  They are wrong about sin, because they do not believe in me; they are wrong about what is right, because I am going to the Father and you will not see me anymore;  and they are wrong about judgement, because the ruler of this world would has already been judged.

“I have much more to tell you, but now it would be too much for you to bear.  When, however, the Spirit comes, who reveals the truth about God, he will lead you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own authority, but he will speak of what he hears, and will tell you of things to come.  He will give me glory, because he will take what I say and tell it to you.  All that my Father has is mine; that is why I said that the Spirit will take what I give him and tell it to you.

Spirit of God breath on me. Blow afresh on every member of the body of Christ. Come and renew the face of the earth. Open my eyes to behold the great inheritance that is mine in Christ. Spirit of Truth abide in me that I may discern what is right and about God's judgement. H.G.



free image from Google