"Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn (when you see me no longer) while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.” (John 16:20). This is precisely happened when Jesus went away and dispatched His Spirit. This is also the template for every believer’s life. Joy marks our lives and our grief eventually, ultimately does turn to joy. The very thing that plunged the first believers into grief caused them their greatest joy. The event that brought the first believers to their knees (the crucifixion) resulted in the event that brought believers joy (the resurrection and the gift of the Spirit) – casting an illumination of joy ALSO on the crucifixion!

Christians don’t sing songs about hopelessness – that’s what the world’s music is usually about – we believers have endless songs of joy, songs that make a beeline for the Cross after the first couple of bars! And so it is with us . . . ever since that first day we believed, since that Resurrection Morning, since that day the Holy Spirit came and filled us, the Cross has become the focal point of our joy – an invincible and undeniable joy!

Here is an illustration from Jesus that all will understand: “A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world.” (John 16:21). Is there any better illustration of sorrow-into-joy than that? Rumor has it that women suffer greatly in childbirth! My wife tells me its true. The howls on the maternity ward speak of its truth. But all that suffering produces the greatest human joy possible: a child! All that intense pain and suffering is forgotten immediately!

That’s what Jesus is saying. “Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.” (John 16:22) This sustains us. Welcome friends, to Home Church Langley!