Joy in a World of Trouble

Appleton Gospel Church

Joy in a World of Trouble: "In this world you will have trouble," said Jesus. How will any of us survive the troubles of this world? Jesus taught about endurance, but at the end of the Last Supper, he called his disciples to go far higher than mere survival. There will be times of grief, but there is unshakable joy for those who are found in him. Recorded on Mar 10, 2024, on John 16:16-33 by Pastor David Parks. Finding Life in Jesus’ Name is a sermon series on the gospel according to John in the Bible. Have you ever felt unsatisfied with your life? Or, even when things were going well, something was still missing? Many people sense there must be something more. But what?? John, one of the closest friends of Jesus, believed that Jesus came into the world so that we may have life and have it to the full. Jesus turned John’s life upside down, and John claims this new life — marked by God’s power, presence, and purpose — is available for all who believe. Sermon Transcript All year, we’re working through The Gospel According to John in a series called Finding Life in Jesus’ Name. Today, we’ll be working on John chapter 16, considering how we might have joy in a world of trouble. And this world is full of trouble, isn’t it? Every category in life is subject to trouble. There’s trouble with our health/relationships. There’s trouble with our money/work/politics. It’s not long before we have a world of trouble if we’re even a little public with our faith in Jesus. “When you're weary; Feeling small; When tears are in your eyes; I will dry them all.” (Simon and Garfunkel know what we’re talking about). Well, for the last six weeks or so, we’ve been studying the events and teachings of Jesus on that night of nights, the night before the cross of Christ. At this Last Supper, Jesus taught many things to help his disciples endure not only the trauma of the cross but to help them remain faithful and fruitful for the rest of their lives. Our passage today brings this long section to a close before, as we’ll see next week, Jesus’ high priestly prayer in John 17. But one of the themes of this long section is that of endurance/perseverance in the face of difficulties, hardships, and persecution. How will the disciples will be ok? How will they survive the pain and suffering of this broken world with Jesus returning to the Father? How will any of us survive the troubles of this world? Doesn’t it sometimes feel as if this world will shatter to pieces? Doesn’t it sometimes feel that we’re powerless in the face of such pressing darkness? Jesus has been teaching about endurance, but here, at the end of his discourse, Jesus lifts us up far higher than mere survival to the joy that is possible in him. Followers of Jesus don’t have to simply endure. We can have real joy — the joy of Jesus himself, the very joy of heaven. If you have a Bible/app, please take it and open it to John 16:16. We’ll unpack this as we go. John 16:16–22 (NIV), “16 Jesus went on to say, “In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me.” 17 At this, some of his disciples said to one another, “What does he mean by saying, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me,’ and ‘Because I am going to the Father’?” 18 They kept asking, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We don’t understand what he is saying.” 19 Jesus saw that they wanted to ask him about this, so he said to them, “Are you asking one another what I meant when I said, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me’? 20 Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. 21 A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. 22 So with you: Now is your time of grief,