sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.
For our study today, I want to talk with you about a subject that we entitle sorrow turned into joy.
Main Body:
One of the great wonderful gifts that comes from heaven above is the ability given to those who are children of God,
to turn sorrow into joy.
The text that we read in our introduction, comes to us from the words of Jesus as he relates some precious words, to
his disciples just prior to his crucifixion and his departure from their physical presence. It seems the disciples as
confused as they were, were on the brink of an emotion break down. It seems they didn’t understand some things
about their Lord as they should have...
For example if he was the Messiah, why did he have to leave them? Why was he going away from them, when they
needed him so much? Because of this distress and sorrow over the departing of Jesus the Lord gives to them some
words to comfort them and get them to consider a promise by Him that someday their sorrow would all be turned to
joy!
Sorrow normally, when it appears doesn’t turn to joy as the natural process goes. Yet Jesus promises his disciples
that their sorrow would turn to joy. Interestingly, when Jesus says this, he relates to the disciples actually how that
this process works with the help of God in the verses just prior and after he makes this statement, and basically his
conclusion was, “as my disciples you have nothing to fear, you have nothing to worry yourself about, you simply have
to engage in the process that I relate to you, and if you do..... your sorrow SHALL be turned to joy.
For our study, I want to consider with you for a few minutes about what Jesus says concerning this subject.
I think it is true to observe that we do live in a period of time that is easily identifiable as a time of sorrow in the lives of
many people. There are people today who live every day of their life in distress, or perhaps they live in
disappointment. Perhaps they live everyday and feel physically drained because of what they see going on in the
world around them.
I know for myself it seems as I personally grow older, that the presence of sorrow sometimes weighs heavier on me
now that it used to. I hear that it’s a scientific fact that as your physical body breaks down and your mental capacity
may weaken somewhat year by year, that its just true that its harder to deal with certain things as we find them in the
later years of our life....Sorrow is one of those things that is hard deal with. The point being, sorrow is something that
we are all acquainted with in some respect whether we are young or old, and yet Jesus who was flesh and bone as we
are, a man who was well acquainted with grief, states to his disciples very confidently that their sorrow for him would
soon be turned to joy.
We might ask how was this possible? How could He relate such a thing? For our study in this lesson, lets take a
closer look at what Jesus says in this 16th chapter of John and see if we can learn how that as disciples our sorrow
can be turned to joy!
Let begin our study by reading John 16 verses 1- 6
Joh 16:1-6 These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended. They shall put you out of the
synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. And these things
will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me. But these things have I told you, that when
the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning,
because I was with you. But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou?
But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart.
The first thing that Jesus relates here to the disciples is the condition of their hearts as disciples.
The disciples were very tender hearted toward Jesus, and they seemingly loved him very much. They were
convinced that he was the promised Messiah, yet in their relationship with Jesus there were still some problems
existing in their hearts about him.
The truth was, they were kind of in denial about his true purpose for being on the earth. They had heard Jesus talk
about his kingdom and what kind of kingdom it was, yet they still thought of a physical kingdom and not a spiritual
one. They had heard him speak about his departure from time to time, but it was as though, he had not said anything
to them. They would respond to him when he said those things like we often respond, by just ignoring what we don’t
want to hear or don’t like to hear. They were competitive for Jesus’ approval, yet they hadn’t really taken it to heart
that he was going to leave them and so he says to them, you are sorrowful because you really have not been taking
me seriously and if you want the sorrow to be turned to joy, you are going to have to listen to what I say and take what
I am saying seriously!
Expound: Are we taking the Lord seriously today? What do we really think about Jesus? About who
He is and what His purpose is and what His Will is all about?
One cannot turn sorrow into joy unless this first step is taken and that is to ask, “What do we really think about the
Lord Jesus.
You know there are some people who simply will not take the Lord seriously or His Words seriously...Many live their
entire lives in complete denial of His Way, of His Truth and of His Will! They claim to love him, they claim allegiance
to Him, they live according to a moral standard, yet when Jesus reveals His Will by His Inspired Word, many choose to
believe that it doesn’t matter if we follow His Will or not........
Well, the next thing he says, tells us even further what these disciples need to consider in order to be able to turn
their sorrow into joy
John 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter
will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. John 16:8 And when he is come, he will reprove the
world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: John 16:9 Of sin, because they believe not on me; Joh 16:10 Of
righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; John 16:11 Of judgment, because the prince of
this world is judged. John 16:12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now Joh 16:13
Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but
whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
Notice here that Jesus didn’t mix words about what was right and what was wrong and really what the truth was
concerning the condition of his disciples tender hearts. The bottom line was the disciples had been in denial about
Jesus concerning a lot of things and now they are acting immature in their act of being sorrowful and basically Jesus
says to them, this is not necessary. You don’t have to go down this road of sorrow. Your sorrow needs to be turned
into joy because, you have to understand that when I leave you, you are going to be in a situation with me that will be
better than ever.
For example, Jesus would imply, if I don’t leave you, you will not have the privilege of being recipients of the coming
Comforter. The world will not be reproved by His message if I do not leave, he will not show you things to come if I do
not leave. If I do not leave basically the world will still be lost without the sacrifice of myself as the Lamb, and the
atonement for the sins of the whole world will still go unaided.....It is expedient for me to go, so all these things will
come to pass.
Expound: Not only did the disciples not properly recognize the purpose and mission of Jesus here on
earth, they also didn’t adequately recognize the greatness of the work of the coming Holy Spirit!!......His
Mission was to deliver the Word of God to Man and to be a comfort to these disciples while they
preached the Inspired Word to all peoples of the earth!!
Application: Before our sorrows today can be turned to joy, we too have to recognize the primary
power and mission of the Holy Spirit and be filled with the Spirit by the power of the Word He has
delivered!!
Well, lets continue with this and see where the Lord takes them to show how they could turn their sorrow into joy
Joh 16:14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. Joh 16:15 All things that the
Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you. Joh 16:16 A little while,
and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father. Joh 16:17 Then
said some of his disciples among themselves, What is this that he saith unto us, A little while, and ye shall not see me:
and again, a little while, and ye shall see me: and, Because I go to the Father?Joh 16:18 They said therefore, What
is this that he saith, A little while? we cannot tell what he saith. Joh 16:19 Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to
ask him, and said unto them, Do ye enquire among yourselves of that I said, A little while, and ye shall not see me:
and again, a little while, and ye shall see me? Joh 16:20 Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament,
but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.
As the disciples release some anxiety, they do so not to the Lord directly but amongst themselves as the Lord tells
them these things. They still cannot figure out what he means about this idea of saying, “A little while I will leave you
and then a little while you see me again.....They just can’t comprehend it......
Jesus knowing their confusion says to them, I realize you don’t understand what I mean by saying this to you right
now, but listen to me hear me plainly, you will weep and lament for me, and the world around you is going to rejoice,
but then its all going to change, because you sorrow shall be turned to joy, because you fellows are going to see me
again.
These disciples were simply not comprehending the resurrection in manner they should have been,
Expound: And likewise today those who do not comprehend the reality of resurrection and what is
going to happen on the day of the resurrection, are those who cannot comprehend how that sorrow can
be turned to joy!
You know the resurrection is either going to happen or its not. Its either true or it’s a falsehood created as the
biggest lie of all time. Jesus confirms to these disciples that their sorrow would be turned because of His resurrection!!
Now how is that going to happen?
Well, as the record does show....the disciples wept and lamented over the crucifixion of their Messiah. They were
confused because he was supposed to be their deliverer. They had seen his miracles, they had witness his
compassion for the nation of Israel, they had heard his beautiful messages about his great Kingdom and now He is
dead and He no longer in their presence.
What sorrow they felt, and then early on the 1st day of the week, some godly ladies went down to the tomb to where
they laid him, and what they found was......He wasn’t there, he had risen from the grave.....They came to the others
and reported it, and the others went down and sure enough he wasn’t there......It wasn’t long until they were rejoicing
because he appeared to them and show himself to be alive with infallible proofs!!
He wasn’t dead he was alive!!! What joy, what joy, what joy!!
Consider now the brevity and weight of these verses about the joy of becoming a child of God!
Rom 6:3- 10 -- Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
Rom 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by
the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. Rom 6:5 For if we have been planted together
in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Rom 6:6 Knowing this, that our old
man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin Rom 6:7
For he that is dead is freed from sin. Rom 6:8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with
him: Rom 6:9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
Rom 6:10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
1Pe 3:20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while
the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.1Pe 3:21 The like figure whereunto
even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good
conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
Today, how is our sorrow able to be turned to joy??? By portraying the likeness of the resurrection of Jesus in
obeying the gospel by being baptizes, we too can be raised to walk in newness of Life!!!! What joy, what joy, what joy!
Well lets continue and look at these last verses that Jesus relates to the disciples about how they would be able to
turn their sorrow into joy!
Joh 16:21 A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of
the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. Joh 16:22 And ye now
therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you. Joh
16:23 And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in
my name, he will give it you. Joh 16:24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that
your joy may be full. Joh 16:25 These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall
no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father. Joh 16:26 At that day ye shall ask in
my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you: Joh 16:27 For the Father himself loveth you,
because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God. Joh 16:28 I came forth from the Father, and
am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father. Joh 16:29 His disciples said unto him, Lo, now
speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb Joh 16:30 Now are we sure that thou knowest all things, and
needest not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou camest forth from God. Joh 16:31 Jesus
answered them, Do ye now believe? Joh 16:32 Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be
scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. Joh
16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation:
but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
Basically what Jesus tells these disciples is, just like a woman who bears in birth a baby and travails and sorrows in
the deliverance of that baby, and then those sorrows are replaced by joy when the baby arrives, so it is with you that
are my disciples. You may have sorrows to bear while you are here on this earth and they may be very difficult, but
because of who you are, and where I will be, you have nothing to worry about as a disciple because whatsoever you
ask in my name you shall receive it, so that you joy may be full.
Expound: There are several points that we need to consider in these verses:
The disciples had never ask for anything from the Father in the name of Jesus before, so they had be
shown that they would be doing that for help and strength.The Lord would be with the Father when they
asked in His NameAll of what will be received is conditioned upon His Name.All peace and security is
found in Him, because He has overcome the world.
You know in these words, basically Jesus gives the disciples a sure positive reason to believe Him and have complete
confidence in Him for all things. You know it only makes logical sense that the only way that we can have confidence
in anyone is to unequivocally believe them with all of our heart!
How is it today that we can say that we truly believe that Jesus is real and is who He claims to be, well the evidence
has to show it.....
Expound: As disciples do we believe that God answers our prayers?? Surely we do and surely we
believe in the evidence of answered prayers...........
You know, sometimes Gods answers us with Yes, sometimes He answers with No, sometimes He answers with be
patient and wait, sometimes He answers with Yes, but you need to repent and change first.......Then sometimes He
DOES NOT respond or answer at all and will even allow one to be deceived and be deluded in a lie!! Here is a
situation where worldly pleasure will eventually be turned to sorrow!!
Psa 30:3 O LORD, thou hast brought up my soul from the grave: thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down
to the pit. Psa 30:4 Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness. Psa
30:5 For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the
morning. Psa 30:6 And in my prosperity I said, I shall never be moved. Psa 30:7 LORD, by thy favour thou hast
made my mountain to stand strong: thou didst hide thy face, and I was troubled. Psa 30:8 I cried to thee, O LORD;
and unto the LORD I made supplication.Psa 30:9 What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit? Shall
the dust praise thee? shall it declare thy truth? Psa 30:10 Hear, O LORD, and have mercy upon me: LORD, be thou
my helper.
In closing, the greatest sorrow that we can have on this earth, is the sorrow of NOT having Jesus in our life and being
our mediator and intercessor before our Heavenly Father. There is no greater sorrow to bear than that. But our
sorrow can today be turned into joy, and our life redeemed. Come today, believing, repenting of your sins, confess
the name of Jesus before men and be immersed in water for the remission of your sins. If you have departed from
the faith, have sorrowed turned into joy, by repentance, confession of fault and be restored to the Father by the
prayers of the faithful.
We don’t know what the next day will bring on this earth and that is true, but we can certainly know who holds
tomorrow and we can know that there is One will hold our hand regardless of the circumstances we face and turn all
of our sorrows into eternal joy that will never end.
The Spirit and the Bride say come!