Sermon Tone Analysis

This is the last evening of Jesus’ ministry.

Within a matter of hours Jesus would be betrayed by Judas and arrested by troops and officers.

Knowing that the hour of his arrest was rapidly coming Jesus wanted to uplift the confused and sorrowful disciples with joy by letting them know that although they would experience grief because of his death, their heart will rejoice, and no one will be able take away their joy.

Let me show you three ways this is accomplished from our text today.

The Joy Of His Personal Presence (v.

16)

I want to draw your attention to this phrase “a little while.”

It is used twice in this verse by Jesus.

“A little while” they (disciples) will not see Jesus; and again “a little while” they will see Jesus, because resurrect from death and ascend to the Father.

First This joy cannot be taken away because of....

Jesus is making his departure known once again to his disciples.

But this time he is explaining that their last sight of him was about to occur in a few hours “a little while.”

But there is good news, His personal presence would be seen “in a little while.”

This is because the Bible records that Jesus’ death and burial would only last 3 days.

Jesus personal presence would signal His victory over sin, death and the grave.

His personal presence proved that he satisfied God’s wrath for sin ().

His personal presence also provided our justification ().

This is the last evening of Jesus’ ministry.

Within a matter of hours Jesus would be betrayed by Judas and arrested by troops and officers.

Knowing that the hour of his arrest was rapidly coming Jesus wanted to uplift the confused and sorrowful disciples with joy by letting them know that although they would experience grief because of his death, their heart will rejoice, and no one will be able take away their joy.

Let me show you three ways this is accomplished from our text today.

The Joy Of His Personal Promise (v.

17-22)

Turning our attention to vv.17-18

The disciples didn’t understand what Jesus meant.

This has been a lot for them to process and they have been confuse up to this point and now they’re further perplexed by Jesus’ statement “a little while.”

Look at v.17 “What is this thing His is telling us...” and this caused them collectively to murmur amongst themselves in v. 18 (read).

I want you to understand that the disciples saw in Jesus the long awaited messiah.

Their idea of the Jewish Messiah was a earthly king, one who would restore the Davidic dynasty by restoring Israel to national prominence and usher in a time of justice and peace.

So all of this talk about “a little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me” didn’t make any sense to them.

And Jesus knew this- look at v. 19.

Know their confusion and doubt Jesus gives them a personal promise (v.20), “Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy.

Notice that He Jesus says most assuredly this assertive remark is given so that the disciples would have confidence in what He was going to promise.

And Jesus promises that they will weep and lament (because of Jesus’ death) and the world (unbelievers who opposed Jesus) will be rejoicing because they thought they had finally killed this trouble maker Jesus.

He then promises that they will be sorrowful; but I love the last clause of verse 20, “But your sorrow will be turned into joy.”