Easter [Still] Brings Joy - John 16:12-22

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

I’ve discovered that long-time pastors develop all sorts of interesting phrases, mostly well-intended, but sometimes a bit, well, pastor-ish. So, perhaps members of a congregation are struggling with their past or with anxiety or fear – you know, the kind of things that all Christians struggle with. When I was dealing with my own issues, a dear friend said, “You know, Jon, you don’t have to be well adjusted to be saved.” Thanks, I think. Another friend likes this line: When you become a Christian, it does not come with a personality transplant. You’ve heard me say, “Our Old Adam died in baptism; the problem is, he’s a proverbially good swimmer.” I recently heard a variation on that that I might have to steal: “My problem is that I take me with me wherever I go.”

The reason I like these lines is that sometimes the way we talk as Christians, especially when we are feeling particularly pious, that our faith is really strong and hitting on all 8 cylinders, it makes it sound that we’ve got this Christian joy thing all figured out. Or, the alternative side of that coin is we look at others who seem so confident in faith, so passionate for the Gospel, so filled with joy that perhaps they have it right and me…well, I seem to be missing out and my joy is hauntingly empty.

There’s a lot going on here in John chapters 14 through 17. We can't even touch on everything that Jesus said and the few verses we heard. But I do want to focus on the way that Jesus speaks of a sequence of a “this-and-then-that.”  He says in “a little while” this; “Again, in a little while” that. And even more to the point listen to verse 20 again, “Jesus says, ‘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.” Then after this powerful illustration of a woman in labor – of childbirth - and the joy that follows, Jesus says in verse 22, “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.”

When I first read that, I thought, “Really? There are lots of days, and lately I’ve had more than a few, when I have not been particularly joyful.” And I suspect that that was true also the apostles who first heard Jesus speak that Maundy Thursday night in the upper room. And, I suspect that is true of you, as well. So, is Jesus talking about you, me, and the disciples all being certain, confident, model apostles? Does He mean that we should be, must be, joyful all the time? What can he mean?

I’d like spend a few minutes, then, talking about what these words meant, a long time ago, to those men whom He spoke to in the upper room. And, I want to also speak about today and where we are as disciples in today’s day and age. There is a common idea that unites God’s people of old with God’s people of today and that is this: Easter turns sorrow into joy. Let me say it again: Easter turns sorrow into joy.

Now of course the original disciples didn’t get it. They didn’t get it in the upper room, they didn’t get it at Golgatha, they didn’t get it at the open tomb. Jesus warned them of it: “I have many things to say but you can’t bear them, understand them, grasp them, now.” This is all happening from John 13 thru John 17, the Upper Room discourse. In those four chapters, there’s a lot of things difficult for them to grasp on their side of Easter. Don’t fault them, don’t blame the disciples because it’s even challenging for us to grasp and try to understand on this side of Easter, but this much at least is clear: that Jesus is talking to them about His coming suffering and death, and about His coming Resurrection from death, his return from death. And Jesus says, plainly and clearly, “You will weep.”

That should not be surprising because when Lazarus died even Jesus wept. Jesus knows pain, loss, and tears.

“You will weep,” Jesus says, “but the world will rejoice.”  That, too, should not be surprising. This is the world that hates God it's maker. This is the world that wants nothing to do with Jesus. This is the world that wants nothing to do with the Gospel, or the Lord’s Church, or His people.

Neither the disciples nor the world knew what was going to happen “in a little while” – literally, for them, in just the matter of hours. They didn’t get it; they didn’t understand it; they didn’t believe it.  Jesus death is a good reason for his disciples to weep because, to speak a little obviously, death kills Jesus. The Lamb takes the sin of the world on himself and that sin kills him. And then they don’t see him, as Jesus said, they can’t see him because He's buried in a tomb, covered up by the dirt and stone He once created.  But it’s not just dirt and rocks: He's smothered under sin and wrapped up in death. He's dead and everyone – disciples, the Romans, the Jewish leaders – everyone thinks he's just dead…and gone.

So, please don’t criticize the disciples for weeping when Jesus died. Yes, you can be critical of them because they didn't believe what was going to happen in a little while. Having tears, no; lacking faith, yes.  

But remember: Jesus says your sorrow will turn into joy.

Same men; same personalities. But, then Easter happened and they saw Him again, as He promised. Easter happened and it turned sorrow into joy. Then they knew; then they got it. It took them a little while to get it, but finally they knew that the Good Shepherd has laid down his life for His sheep – for them! - in order that He might take it up again. They knew that Jesus had laid aside His robes and become a servant to wash their feet, but then he took up his garments again as Lord and Master. They knew that death had ruled over Him for a three-day-rest, but then death’s temporary mastery was broken.

You heard it three weeks ago, John 20: three times Jesus said peace be with you.  Then, two weeks ago, John 21, how on the shore of the lake they had nothing to offer Him in thanksgiving - they couldn't even catch any fish - but Jesus said come and have breakfast. And to the greatest traitor of all, to the greatest denier of all, Jesus agreed yes Peter, you do love me, and yes, Peter, you’re right I know everything. Now, follow me.

The disciples were empty. Their joy was not manufactured from anything within them. No - John chapter 20 verse 20, “And the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.” The joy came from without, from Jesus risen from death.

Easter turns sorrow into joy.

Now our situation is vastly different from theirs. We know what happened. We're five weeks into the Easter season, 22 centuries later. But here’s the thing: even though our life is different from theirs,  the final Easter has not dawned - not yet. And so we find ourselves living in a sequence, in a struggle - that is, unless you've given up entirely - you struggle with weeping and with mourning while all the world is rejoicing.

And the world does rejoice. The world that hates God and opposed His Christ rejoices when celebrity and money are more important than compassion and wisdom. The world that hates God and opposes His Christ rejoices when comfort is more important than discipleship. The world that hates God and opposed his Christ rejoices when we hide our hatred for others behind a mask of piety, and we claim that we are protecting the gospel or the church or the faith when we’re really just venting our spleen at a brother or sister. The world rejoices with love that grows cold and we only talk to the people who agree with us, and we refuse, we simply refuse, to humble ourselves, lay aside our garments, and serve and wash their feet with our tears. The world rejoices. And we should weep.

So where's the joy? Easter.  Easter turns sorrow into joy.  Because you can look for your sins, but you won’t find them. You can’t see them. The lamb took them into the tomb and He left them there. And there, there is joy.

You look at a world that seems out of control. There is vile and vitriol that babies in the womb should live. There is fighting and warfare where, bad enough soldiers die, but civilians are tortured and murdered.  The skies tease rain but only offer dry winds; or, skies tease sunshine and bring tornadoes that destroy. There is hunger and there is fear and there is uncertainty.

And then you remember… You remember that death could not hold Him. He is risen, ascended, and seated at God’s right and He is worthy. No one else in all creation but Him, He is worthy to break the seals and reveal the Father and to rule all things by the Word of His power. You feel the world beating against you, pushing and bending you over, where you are almost ready to break and then you remember that Jesus is strong.  Jesus has shrugged off death. That he lives! He lives to grant you daily breath, He lives and you will conquer death!  Oh, where is the joy? Easter! Easter turns sorrow into joy.

A couple weeks ago, I went to that pastor’s conference. Over the three days, we gathered for worship six times. The preacher used the Easter greeting, “Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed, alleluia.” To be honest, a couple of times it felt a little forced. Was he trying to wake us up a bit, to gin up a little Easter joy from within us? Did he feel he had to do it so he wouldn’t be criticized by a room full of pastoral critics? A couple of guys really thundered the reply; most spoke it normally; a couple mumbled; one or two didn’t say anything.  I wondered; maybe some of the guys were more filled with Easter joy. Maybe a few had their joy emptied by life, or their parish, or family issues; and, maybe, there were some who were simply out of gas. Maybe you can relate. If your joy had a gauge, where would it register? Full? Empty? Somewhere in-between?

Here’s the thing. It doesn’t matter. Don’t worry about it. It’s not about you. It’s about Easter.

So, here’s what we’re going to do – we’re going to do the Easter greeting now - you’re going to be so sick of this when you leave – and we're going to do it a couple of times. Are you ready?

Here’s the first go around.  I want you to pretend that you’re enthusiastic and happy and answer that way. If you can’t feel it, I want you to pretend, remember a time you felt that way, and answer like that. Ready? Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed! Alleluia!

Now I want you to remember when you were weary and when you were just worn out. You might be that way today. Answer that way.  Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed! Alleluia!

Now I want you to pretend that you're uncertain, maybe a little worried about the future, maybe concerned about how things are going and the direction they seem to be heading. Pretend that you're anxious. Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed! Alleluia!

Whether excited and enthused, weary and worn, or worried and concerned, or anywhere in between, remember this: Easter turns sorrow into joy. In the name of the father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.