Jesus’ last supper with his disciples on the night he was to be betrayed and arrested is a beautiful display of the love of Jesus for his disciples. Even as the Man of Sorrows was about to endure his greatest sorrow, he ministered to them, preparing them for the sorrow they were about to endure.

“A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see me… truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice.” (John 16:16, 20a)

In a little while, their beloved teacher and Lord would hang bleeding and naked on a cross between two criminals. Crowds would jeer. Satan would have his moment of triumph. They would see him buried in a tomb sealed with stone. Their world would crumble. But it would be short lived.

“You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy.” (John 16:20b)

I’m reminded of Joseph’s words to his brothers who had sold him into slavery. “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good (Genesis 50:20).” At the cross, God used the very evil that had caused their greatest sorrow to accomplish what would be their greatest joy.

At our Good Friday service we will consider the greatest sorrow Jesus endured – He Was Smitten by God and Afflicted – as Randy Gruendyke preaches Matthew 27:46. On Easter Sunday we will celebrate Jesus’ victory over sin and death as Erik Thoennes preaches John 16:16-23, Your Sorrow Will Turn into Joy.

Would you pray for each as they prepare? And as these services are often times when many who don’t know the Lord feel compelled to go to church, let’s ask the Lord to draw new people to Himself through the message of the cross and the empty tomb. And for all of us, we can pray that the Lord would use this good news to turn whatever sorrows we’re enduring right now into joy.

See you Sunday, Grace. Come hungry!

---

Song Link of the Week

Golgotha Hill by Crowder