May Our Joy and Peace Come Sooner Rather Than Later :: John 16:16-22

If you’ve been the recipient of one of my home visits, especially in the last couple of years, you undoubtedly have heard my favorite way to say goodbye. I hope to see you sooner rather than later. I love sharing the Gospel with you and administering the Sacraments: The sooner the better. I always pray your grief will become joy ... sooner rather than later.

Sadly, death often gets in the way. Then it becomes later rather than sooner. Death always shocks us. It always comes at the most surprising time. We always want it to be later. Even when we can see that it’s imminent, it always comes as a surprise. 

So we cry ... 

COME, LORD JESUS, SOONER RATHER THAN LATER, BRINGING JOY AND PEACE!

This is the theme of our Gospel reading for this Fourth Sunday of Easter. 

I.

Even though Jesus had told his disciples three times that his death was coming sooner rather than later, they thought for sure that it would be much later, rather than so soon. 

They didn’t understand who he was. They didn’t understand why he had called them to follow him. They didn’t understand the will of God. They didn’t understand his sacraments. They didn’t understand how much joy and peace baptism, absolution, and the Lord’s supper actually bring ... and how they work together. They didn’t understand that it truly was better that one man ... the Son of Man ... had to give his life for the sins of the people (Jn 11:50). All of these things were hidden from them (Mt 18:34). It would be later rather than sooner before they understood.

But it’s not hidden from us. 

Knowing the context of today’s Gospel reading, it’s clear from our Lord’s own words that he’s pointing his disciples to his imminent death and resurrection. Our Gospel reading from John 16 took place in the upper room on the night he was betrayed ... Holy Week ... the night when Jesus broke bread and took the cup and blessed them and gave them to his disciples, saying take eat ... take drink ... This is my body and blood given and shed for you for the forgiveness of your sins (Mt 26:26-28).

We can see now that our Lord’s betrayal by one of his own was at hand. In just a matter of hours ... a little while ... He would be arrested, mocked, slandered. A little while after that ... He would be beaten and scorned and handed over to Pilate, who would have him flogged, stripped naked, and crucified in front of the world while you weep and the world rejoices. God would pour out his wrath upon his beloved son on a cross ... because cursed is the man who is hanged on the tree for the sins of the world. Jesus would die and be buried. Therefore, for a little while, we couldn’t see Jesus.

Concerning these [questions] you seek with one another, [wondering what I meant by saying in] a little [while] and you [will] not see me, and again a little [while] and you [will] see me. Amen, Amen, I say to you that you will weep and lament among yourselves. But the world will rejoice. You will be grieved, but your grief will become joy (vv 19-20). 

Brothers and sisters in Christ, Jesus saw the wolf coming and your Good Shepherd didn’t flee from the wrath to come. He saw the wolf coming, and laid down his life (Jn 10:11-16). He bore our sins in his body that we might die to sin and live in righteousness (1 Pt 2:24). Then our Lord Jesus Christ, who was crucified, died, and was buried in accordance with the Scriptures, was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures (1 Cor 15:3-4). 

Thanks be to God, he will turn your grief over your sin into joy as you recognize in faith that he is your savior and that ... He is risen! He is risen, indeed! Hallelujah!

The disciples didn’t understand, but we do.

II.

Despite all they had seen and heard over the course of three years, when things went off the rails that Thursday eve into Friday morning, they didn’t recognize, in Christ, the Almighty God, the maker of heaven and earth, standing in front of them. They couldn’t imagine ... even though he had told them ... that in a little while ... God in the flesh would die for them. They would see only a man. It’s not that they couldn’t see God. It’s that they wouldn’t see God in these ways. They allowed their preconceived notions of God to get in the way, saying we must save ourselves. They allowed their preconceived ideas of what he is supposed to look like and how he’s supposed to work cloud their image of God. But the events unfolding before their very eyes blinded them from seeing God actually at work.

And let’s not fool ourselves: Are we really any different?  

In fact, the question needs to be asked: Are we worse? 

After all, we know what the disciples didn’t know at the time. We know the rest of the story. We know how a little while plays out. We know what our Lord himself says about his promise to abide with us always, even to the end of the age (Mt 28:20). We know how he keeps that promise. We know he has a very real presence with us ... right now ... in the little while when two or three are gathered to receive his Word and Sacraments. 

And yet… there are still times when suffering and worry rear their ugly heads in our lives. There are still times when we run and hide and cry out and lament, wondering why it seems like we’re all alone. We don’t see God working in means of grace. More specifically, we don’t see what we’re looking for. To varying degrees, we are too prideful and recklessness, too rude and selfish, too immoral and angry. We spend too much time murdering each other through gossip. 

So in the name of Jesus, repent ... that is, mourn your sin and recognize you have a savior who humbled himself, who forgives endlessly. Remember the words of Jeremiah that through the Lord’s mercies, we are not consumed. Remember that his compassions never fail ... that are new every morning ... which will be here in just a little while. 

For a little while you will not see me, but in a little while you will perceive me. You will be grieved, but your grief will become joy. 

He is risen! He is risen, indeed! Hallelujah!

III.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, Jesus has given us these words to remind us of his joy and peace are never ending for those who believe in him. 

Now you too can open your eyes for a little while to hear and see the truth of the Gospel, believing that baptism works the forgiveness of sins, rescues from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe this. Now you too can believe that when the called ministers of Christ deal with us by his divine command, in particular, when they exclude openly unrepentant sinners from the Christian congregation and absolve those who repent of their sins and want to do better, that this is just as valid and certain, even in heaven, as if Christ our dear Lord dealt with us himself. ... And even more than that, you too can believe that in the Sacrament of the Altar, the words given and shed for you will have exactly what they say, the forgiveness of sins. 

IV.

And that isn’t just for a little while. 

It’s so fitting that our readings today, which were appointed centuries ago for this fourth Sunday of Easter, are appointed for our meditation today. God is still actively at work! Here we stand, between the time of Christ’s Easter resurrection and that little while in the future when we will see Christ in all his heavenly glory. Here we stand right now in the midst of sorrow, darkness, fear, and uncertainty ... knowing it is only for a little while. 

Just wait. In a little while that magnificent day will arrive when Christ returns in all glory and puts an end to all this sorrow and suffering. In a little while you will be able to lift up your eyes and behold that your Almighty God is right where He promises to be. 

Brothers and sisters in Christ, his joy, his peace, his comfort, his assurance are yours not only a little while ... but into the age of ages. 

So, come Lord Jesus, sooner rather than later! As we shout for joy to God ... Hallelujah ... as we sing the glory of his name, giving to him glorious praise. Hallelujah! (Ps 66:1-2)

Amen!