Dealing With Bad News

The time for his departure was very close. Only he knew that the end was near. His family and friends had absolutely no idea that in just a few days he would be leaving them to go to heaven. This is how it happens sometimes. A doctor's visit, blood tests, an MRI, all sorts of exams that finally reveal there is a terminal disease and there isn’t anything that can be done. Most have been affected by the grim prognosis that someone close to us that we love is going to die. So it was for the disciples as Jesus had gathered them around him to let them know that their time with him on earth was about over.

What a shock it was for them! This didn’t make sense. As he often did, Jesus was a bit vague in how he communicated this news, “A little while, and you will see me no more, and again a little while, and you will see me.” The disciples began asking each other, “What in the world is he talking about? We don’t understand!  What does he mean, he’s going to the Father?” News like this is always confusing, unbelievable, bringing anxiety, and a million questions about how the uncertainty of what we have been told will affect us.

Jesus was aware that his friends had not understood, so he began explaining something more important than the fact that he was going to die. He said, “You will experience great sorrow. You will cry and experience great anguish, but your sorrow will turn to joy.” Jesus used the example of a woman going through the pain of childbirth. After the experience is over she has the feeling of tremendous joy. He said, “Now you are going to have sorrow, but the day is coming when I will see you again and you will see me. Then you will rejoice. Your hearts will be filled with joy.” Isn’t that how it was when the baby Jesus was born? The angel appeared to the shepherds and said, “I bring you news that will bring great joy to all the people!” Jesus came that we might have joy that only he can provide. Jesus said to the disciples, “When you receive this joy you will have it forever and no one can take it from you.”

Joy is what satisfies us. The material possessions that we have bring happiness, but only for a short time. Jesus said to the disciples, “Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.” John 16:24

He said, “After I am gone you will ask nothing from me, but if you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you.” What did Jesus mean? Can we ask for anything we want and get it? No, but we can ask him any time for anything that will make our joy complete in the name of Jesus, and God will surely give it to us. This is about joy, joy in the good times and joy in the hard times. Ask the Father, not each other. Jesus came that we might have joy that is so awesome that we can’t even begin to understand it.