Unseen but Not Away
Notes
Transcript
Alleluia! Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
In the name of Jesus. Amen.
We’re still in Easter season. We’re still celebrating the resurrection. But this text takes us back to the night Jesus was betrayed. And these words from Jesus in our Gospel text are important for us Resurrection folk to remember – especially in times of suffering. To get at this, we are going to weave back and forth through this text because Jesus weaves back and forth talking about suffering and joy.
Christ tells His disciples that in “a little while” they are going to endure suffering, but that suffering will only last a second “little while.” Then, they will have joy that no one will be able to take from them. So, recognize that Jesus tells the disciples about two distinct “little whiles.”
The first “a little while” refers to the short amount of time that takes place between the time Jesus speaks these words to the time when they will no longer see Jesus. For most of them, they no longer see Jesus once He is arrested. For Peter and John, it’s a little after that. After this first “little while,” comes the second “little while” when the disciples won’t see Jesus anymore because He is dead, buried, and sealed behind the stone in the tomb. And during this second “little while” they have sorrow, weep, and lament.
Now, we need to recognize just how profound and unique the disciples’ suffering was. While Jesus was away from them between Good Friday and Easter, their suffering was quite unique. A major reason the disciples’ sorrow was so pointed and painful is not only did they lose Jesus, their leader and friend, even more importantly, they lost hope that salvation was even a possibility.
Remember the two disciples that Jesus meets on the road to Emmaus Easter afternoon (see Lk. 24:13-35)? Jesus meets them and asks them what they are talking about, but they don’t recognize Him. They’re surprised this stranger hasn’t heard about everything going on in Jerusalem. So, ironically, they tell Jesus about Jesus. How He was mighty in deeds and words before God and all the people, but the chief priests and rulers delivered Him up to be crucified. Then, they say something very important, and what they say reveals how painfully sorrowful they are. They say, “We had hoped,” (and the grammar suggests that their hope is now gone), “We had hoped that He was the one to redeem Israel.” In other words, their hope was that Jesus would save them, but they don’t hope for salvation anymore because, in their minds, He is dead and is in the tomb for good. They thought that Jesus’ death was the end of salvation rather than the thing which accomplished their salvation. So, do you see the sorrow they were enduring?
Now, back to our text here from John, Jesus tells the disciples, “You will weep and lament and be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn to joy.”
Jesus compares this sorrow the disciples experienced to a woman in labor. There is no denying the pain and anguish of a woman in labor. And, you mothers, Jesus knows the pain you have in labor because He is the one who said that a woman’s pain in childbirth would be greatly increased after the Fall (Gen. 3:16). But Jesus compares the suffering of the disciples to a woman in labor because of what comes after that suffering. After a mother has delivered the baby – and remember this is according to Jesus – she no longer remembers the anguish because that pain is replaced and swallowed up by joy. Joy that a child has been born into the world.
Jesus doesn’t say that a mother’s memory is erased, and she totally forgets the pain she just experienced. Jesus doesn’t say that she doesn’t have any pain while she recovers – that is not what Jesus says. Instead, her anguish is swallowed up and replaced by the joy that she now has a child to love and cherish.
Jesus compares the disciples’ suffering to the suffering of a mother in labor because of what comes at the end of that suffering. In other words, the sorrow and complete loss of hope that the disciples had while Jesus was in the tomb was painful and real. But that sorrow was swallowed up in joy when they see Jesus after the Resurrection. And the sorrow and lamenting and weeping they had during those days wasn’t worth comparing to the joy that the Resurrection brings them.
This is the main thing Jesus is teaching us in this text. Sorrow and suffering is temporary for you, Christian.
What Jesus says in these verses applies first to the disciples and the sorrow they had between Good Friday and Easter. But these words of our Lord are also written for us Christians whenever we have sorrow. That little while of sorrow that the disciples experienced mirrors the sorrow that we experience. Our sorrows are a microcosm of theirs.
The major difference between the disciples’ sorrow and our sorrow is that they endured their sorrow without any hope. That is not our experience. Even though we have real, painful sorrow in this world, we have sorrow with hope that the sorrow will end and turn to joy just as theirs did.
Notice very specifically what Jesus tells the disciples. First, the period of time of sorrow will be only “a little while.” Now, I don’t want in any way to minimize the suffering of the disciples while Jesus was in the tomb. In fact, I don’t think we can compare any suffering we have to what they went through. But we also know that their sorrow, as profound as it was, only lasted a couple days. Jesus was buried just before sunset on Friday and was seen by the disciples Easter evening.
The same is true for us. Jesus has been unseen for a long time. Since His ascension, Christians have endured all kinds of suffering, persecution, pain, and distress. But the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us (Ro. 8:18).
Again, note specifically that Jesus says their sorrow is that they won’t see Jesus because He is, “going to the Father.” He doesn’t tell them that He is going away; He just tells them that they won’t see Him because He is going to the Father. The same is true for us now.
Jesus has now ascended to the Father and is where the God the Father is. In other words, He’s everywhere. Remember what Jesus says at the end of Matthew’s gospel (Mt. 28:18-20), “All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me…. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” So, yes, He is unseen, but He hasn’t left us. Jesus isn’t gone from us. In fact, Jesus is nearer to us than we can possibly know.
So, let’s try to bring this all together. There is no denying that Christians suffer in this life, but we can be comforted even in the midst of suffering because of what Jesus says in this text.
First of all, when you suffer, you don’t have to put on a brave face and say things like, “I know other people have it worse than I do.” No. No matter how great or small, call suffering what it is – suffering. In the midst of sorrow, pain, and anguish, we can call all of that what it is – it is suffering and not something that God ever intended you to experience.
And yet, God promises that He will use that suffering for your good because God works all things together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Ro. 8:28). 1 Cor. 10:13 says that we do not suffer any “temptation that is not common to man. But God is faithful and will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation He will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” So, even though our suffering is unpleasant at the time, it is through that suffering that God chastens us, keeps on track, draws us to Himself, and teaches us to be dependent on Him.
Christian, God sent Jesus to die and rise again for you, and He counts every hair on your head. God cares about the details. He knows your sorrow and suffering, and He is paying attention to it. And Christ is with you even in that suffering. Jesus promises that He is with you with all authority to the end of the age. He will bring you through it. And when He returns, that suffering will be eternally replaced with joy.
So, in the midst of your suffering, know that those around you are suffering too. Don’t think that some people are suffering more or less than you. We don’t know what kind of suffering others are going through, but we do know that they are suffering what is common to man (1 Cor. 10:13).
So, have some sympathy for others. Life is hard on everyone. Maybe that person is being a jerk because his mother just died or she is fighting with her husband or their parents are neglecting them. A little sympathy for others and a willingness to make excuses for someone else’s bad behavior can go a long way toward a more peaceful and loving world.
Ultimately, dear saints, whenever you suffer, know that Jesus is with you. He is crucified and risen for you. Though you do not see Him, He is with you in every trial and tribulation. He will bring you through it. You are God’s children now. He has not abandoned you. And when He appears you shall be like Him. Your suffering will end and be replaced with joy that no one will be able to take from you.
Alleluia! Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
Amen.
The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.