Why was Jesus talking to His disciples about a woman having a baby? He told them, “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.” (verse 21.)
Jesus had never made it a secret that His followers would have to face many difficulties and much opposition in this life. Jesus even had spoken to His followers about having to take up their “cross” to follow Him. And He had told them that He Himself was going to be leaving them!
Could Jesus expect people to want to trust in Him as their only Priest and only Saviour if it is known that to be a Christian could lead to suffering, and even rejection by friends and family. Would anyone want to choose follow Jesus?
You see, priests of every religion will oppose the teaching that Jesus is the ONLY PRIEST who can make us right with God. And religious people, who think they do a lot for God, will not accept that Jesus is their ONLY HOPE AND SAVIOUR. These will be angry with the true Christian who says only Jesus can save!
Jesus saw that His disciples wanted to ask Him about something, 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?’ I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy...Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.” (verses 19-22.)
Here is why Jesus spoke about the mother, who would have known about the great discomfort and pain before childbirth, yet she wanted to have a baby. You see, it is a bit like that with the person who wants to become a true child of God. Jesus clearly warns that for a while it will be difficult. He even said that those around you will rejoice while causing you grief and opposition! BUT Jesus promises that, when He comes again, and we see Him we will then experience everlasting joy.
But, if you choose not to trust and follow Jesus Christ, the one true Priest God has given for us, then you will be on the side of those opponents He spoke about. You might even be one of those who will find pleasure in making life uncomfortable and unpleasant for those of us who do trust in Jesus! If you do, then for you seeing Jesus again will be a very different story! On that day you will hear Jesus say this to you; “Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the Devil and his angels.” (Matthew 25:41.) You see, whatever you do to one of the least of Jesus' followers Jesus takes as a personal offence against Him!(Matthew 25:45.)
Make sure you are one of those who has trusted in Jesus and are looking forward to seeing Him when He appears the second time!
Read about Grief to joy in John's Gospel chapter 16, verses 16-22.
John Nixon, Cork, Ireland. P31HD98. Contact: jnixonj@gmail.com
For the next
reading from John's Gospel go to NEXT
In order to browse
further "Good News Compage" prompts and commentaries for John's
Gospel go to
---------------oOo---------------
