Friday, 24 November 2023

The Upper Room Discourse 50

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John 16:16 A little while, and you will no longer see Me; and again in a little while, you will see Me.

This statement confuses the Apostles, but Yeshua clears it up. (Please read verses 17-21) John 16:22 So also you have sorrow now; but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you!

Yeshua had already spoken to them about His resurrection. John 10:17-18 For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life, so that I may take it up again. No one takes it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own. I have the authority to lay it down, and I have the authority to take it up again. This command I received from My Father.

Rabbi Trail: Today we easily receive the resurrection. Back when Yeshua first spoke these words it wasn't so easy. The Judeans, who were listening to Yeshua, believed such claims were the result of demon possession or perhaps insanity. End RT.

Even though Yeshua's teaching is clear, the Apostles still seem to have been quite confused by it all. Finally, after much teaching, Yeshua gets through to them. The Apostles affirm to Yeshua they have heard and understood ... John 16:30b By this we believe that You came forth from God. But before we close our discussion on John, chapter 16, there are several precious teachings I want to unpack.

Let's fill in the unspoken words of this ... John 16:20a Amen, amen I tell you, you will weep and mourn, but the world will celebrate. You will weep and mourn over Yeshua's crucifixion, death and burial, but the rest of the world will celebrate. Followers of Yeshua are not done being in opposition to the world. What the world loves, Yeshua's followers hate and what the world hates, Yeshua's followers love. We'd better get ready for more.

John 16:20b You will be filled with sorrow, but your sorrow will turn to joy! Sorrow over Yeshua's death, but joy over Yeshua's resurrection. Yeshua, Who knows the end from the beginning, never lost sight of His joy, even at the crucifixion. Hebrews 12:2b For the joy set before Him, He endured the cross, disregarding its shame; and He has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of God.

Finally for today, we have a destiny in Messiah Yeshua, and that destiny is not the grave. Just like Yeshua, we also must never lose sight of the joy set before us. 1 Corinthians 15:22-23 For as in Adam all die, so also in Messiah will all be made alive. But each in its own order: Messiah the firstfruits; then, at His coming, those who belong to Messiah. I'm coupling those verses together with ... 1 Thessalonians 4:17-18 Then we who are alive, who are left behind, will be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air - and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.

More on this next time.