John…on Love

Some days are just information overload. We go to workshops and seminars and come back with brain drain. Our minds are stimulated by new ideas and we dream of new ways, methods or procedures to complete the tasks before us. But then a line of overload is crossed and we just sit there dazed, not knowing what to think, where to begin, what thought to birth into reality first. Have you ever felt that way? It’s a bit like having a fire hose turned on you when you just asked for a drink of water.

Jesus overloads his disciples with information to the point of mumbling. Because Jesus knows their hearts, he comes back to them to explain what He meant along with encouragement. That’s how Jesus works. He will always give us challenges that go beyond our wildest dreams, but then includes the joy “like a river overflowing” in the process. That is something to cling to…the joy of our salvation!

John 16, The Message
16 “In a day or so you’re not going to see me, but then in another day or so you will see me.”

Joy Like a River Overflowing
17-18 That stirred up a hornet’s nest of questions among the disciples: “What’s he talking about: ‘In a day or so you’re not going to see me, but then in another day or so you will see me’? And, ‘Because I’m on my way to the Father’? What is this ‘day or so’? We don’t know what he’s talking about.”

19-20 Jesus knew they were dying to ask him what he meant, so he said, “Are you trying to figure out among yourselves what I meant when I said, ‘In a day or so you’re not going to see me, but then in another day or so you will see me’? Then fix this firmly in your minds: You’re going to be in deep mourning while the godless world throws a party. You’ll be sad, very sad, but your sadness will develop into gladness.

21-23 “When a woman gives birth, she has a hard time, there’s no getting around it. But when the baby is born, there is joy in the birth. This new life in the world wipes out memory of the pain. The sadness you have right now is similar to that pain, but the coming joy is also similar. When I see you again, you’ll be full of joy, and it will be a joy no one can rob from you. You’ll no longer be so full of questions.

23-24 “This is what I want you to do: Ask the Father for whatever is in keeping with the things I’ve revealed to you. Ask in my name, according to my will, and he’ll most certainly give it to you. Your joy will be a river overflowing its banks!

25-28 “I’ve used figures of speech in telling you these things. Soon I’ll drop the figures and tell you about the Father in plain language. Then you can make your requests directly to him in relation to this life I’ve revealed to you. I won’t continue making requests of the Father on your behalf. I won’t need to. Because you’ve gone out on a limb, committed yourselves to love and trust in me, believing I came directly from the Father, the Father loves you directly. First, I left the Father and arrived in the world; now I leave the world and travel to the Father.”

29-30 His disciples said, “Finally! You’re giving it to us straight, in plain talk—no more figures of speech. Now we know that you know everything—it all comes together in you. You won’t have to put up with our questions anymore. We’re convinced you came from God.”

31-33 Jesus answered them, “Do you finally believe? In fact, you’re about to make a run for it—saving your own skins and abandoning me. But I’m not abandoned. The Father is with me. I’ve told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I’ve conquered the world.”

Key words for us today: TRUST…PEACE…JOY! “…you will continue to experience difficulties, but take heart! I’ve conquered the world.” BELIEVE. UNSHAKABLE.

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for your words of encouragement to your disciples then and now. We love you with all our heart, mind and soul. You are with us now by Your Holy Spirit living in us. Christ in us! That is the answer to all our questions. Thank for this joy unspeakable and full of Your glory! In Jesus Name, Amen