The joy that Jesus speaks of is not like this superficial joy.Perhaps it would be easier to describe where joy cannot be found: Joy is not found in Unbelief - The French philosopher Voltaire was an unbeliever of the worst kind, attacking the Christian faith in his prolific writing.But in a poem written 3 months before he died, Byron wrote: The worm, the canker, and grief are mine alone.Joy is not found in Money - Jay Gould, an American railroad tycoon in the late 1800s amassed an enormous fortune of US72 million before he died.
But when he was dying, he declared: i suppose I am the most miserable man on earth. Joy is not found in Popularity - Six weeks before Elvis Presley died, a reporter asked the king of rock, Elvis, when you first started playing music, you said you wanted to be rich, famous and happy. But he wrote: Youth is a mistake; manhood a struggle; old age a regret. Joy is not found in Military Glory - Alexander the Great was never defeated in battle. But having done so, he wept in his tent, before he said, There are no more worlds to conquer. Where then is real joy found - We shall find this out today, as we study our passage of Scripture in John 16:16-33. ![]() After that Jesus would make His long prayer for His disciples which is recorded in the next chapter. Then He would go to the Garden of Gethsemane where He would personally agonize in prayer by Himself before being arrested, tried and crucified. The passage we read therefore records that emotional moment when Jesus gave His last words to His disciples. And because it was an emotional moment, He spoke about emotions. ![]() ![]() And Jesus foretold the sorrowful weeping and lamentation they would make when He died on the cross (v.20). I am sure we all know what its like to be sorrowful. We can understand what it feels to be overwhelmed with pain and grief. We experience it most in times of personal loss, such as the loss of a dear friend or loved one (e.g. There is nothing wrong or sinful with being sorrowful over ones loss. Instead of keeping your sadness all bottled up inside, it is actually better to let the tears flow out. Sorrow can easily lead a person to be resentful and angry, or to be depressed and even to take ones own life. But can sorrow be turned into joy Is it really possible Yes, it is Jesus mentions it at the end of v.20 and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. It is not like the superficial thrill of indulging in some entertainment. Some people try to overcome their sorrows by watching a movie, playing a game, or going on an eating or drinking binge. But when the effects of these wear off, their joy is gone and their sorrows are still there.
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