Devotional 19/10/16 – John 16:19-22 “When her baby is born she forgets the anguish”

Jesus compares His death and resurrection to childbirth: there is nothing more painful and joyful! So to the cross was incomparably painful but bears the fruit of unconquerable joy for those who will receive it.

To meditate/pray upon

John 16:19-22 ‘Jesus saw that they wanted to ask him about this, so he said to them, “Are you asking one another what I meant when I said, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me’? Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. 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. So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.”’

Jesus uses the analogy of a woman in childbirth to illustrate the disciples’ imminent experience. They are about to undergo a kind of labor as Jesus is crucified and laid in a tomb. But this analogy of labour and birth is the great promise of Jesus’ resurrection also.

The very thing that caused them grief and seemed foolish and weak to many will cause them joy: The cross of Christ will become the joy and boast of the disciples as Paul said,

‘For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.’ (1 Cor. 1:18)

If our joy is in Christ, His cross, His resurrection and His presence in our life, we have a joy that is not given by anything in the world and cannot be taken away by anything in the world!