John 16:22-28, First verse: John 16:22

JOHN 16:22

After posting the initial overview of each section, I will then go through each verse.  These verse overviews are not meant to be the definitive thought on the verse or the section of Scripture.  They are just a part of the process.  The overview of John 16:22-28 can be found here.  And now here is a breakdown of John 16:22

"So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you."  (John 16:22)

Some important grammatical considerations

Present tense:  The apostles sorrow will occur is now! (as Jesus is about to leave them)

Future tense:  They will see Jesus again, and they will have joy (Jesus compares the apostles situation to that of a woman given birth.  The woman will feel immense pain during childbirth but the joy that follows because of her new child should dull the memory of the recent pain:

"When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world."  (John 16:21))

Connective word:  AND-not only will they rejoice, no one will take that joy away...it will be permanent.

Important terms

All definitions were culled from the Complete Word Study Dictionary from AMG Publishers and/or

Mounce's Complete Expository Dictionary.

Sorrow

• Esword Concordance Search:   Est 9:22,   Psa 13:2,  Psa 119:28,  Pro 10:22.                              The actual word joy is not often used in the New Testament, except for the Gospel of John.
• Definition:  Grief.  Sadness.

Joy

• Search:  Mat 2:10,  Mat 13:20,  Mat 28:8,  Mar ,4:16  Luk 1:14,  Luk 2:10, Luk 15:7,  Joh 15:11 Joy can be found quite often in the Psalms:  Psa51:12.  Psa 126:5.  Paul also uses the word Joy quite a bit. 
• Definition:  to rejoice, gladness (joy imparted from the Holy Spirit) 
• Theological considerations:  Joy is different from pleasure.  Joy (the Greek word) is from a direct relationship with God.  Pleasure (again, the Greek word) is a self-centered pursuit.

Rejoice

• Search:  Paul often uses the word rejoice when discussing our hope in God in Romans. 
• Definition:  To be glad.  In this case an absolute sense of gladness.  (Jesus has been victorious!)  Opposite of mourning!  A constant state (according to Mounce) because of our relationship to Jesus.  In fact the first use of the Greek work in the NT is when the Magi see the star that leads them to baby Jesus. Mat 2:9-10
• Other notable cross references:  Joh 14:27,  Isa 25:9,  Joh 4:14,  Rom 8:35-39 

Verse Summation

The apostles' present sorrow is due to Jesus' impending sacrifice and death on the cross.  (Which Jesus has been discussing with the disciples at the Last Supper.)   What the disciples don't yet know and what Jesus is trying to tell them is that His resurrection will cause them to have absolute and final joy.  This rejoicing is the opposite of the mourning they will do just two days before Jesus' resurrection.  Jesus' victory ensures theirs and our salvation!  And no one can take away that gift.  It IS a gift from God.  Turning our sorrow into joy is a common theme in the Psalms and Isaiah.   Isa 51:11-12,  Isa 12:2-4  

In our next verse study Jesus will explain further to the apostles some of the reasons that they will feel this permanent joy.






“Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved."