Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. – John 16:20
As Jesus spoke these words, the shadow of the cross loomed large. He knew the pain His disciples would soon endure – heart-wrenching sorrow as they watched their Lord and friend suffer and die. The weight of His departure would feel unbearable, a grief so deep it seemed nothing could lift it. Yet, Jesus offered a promise: their grief would not have the final word. It would turn to joy!
What a contrast He painted! While the disciples mourned, the world would rejoice. To those who rejected Him, Jesus’ death would signal victory… a chance to dismiss His teachings, to shrug off the call to self-denial and sacrificial love. If Jesus stayed in the grave, they could cling to their own ways, unbothered by His radical demands to live for God and others. For them, His death meant freedom from His claims – or so they thought…
But the story didn’t end at the cross. Jesus knew what was coming: the empty tomb, the risen Savior, the undeniable proof that He was who He said He was. The disciples’ tears would give way to astonishment and uncontainable joy as they saw their Lord alive again. His resurrection would turn their world upside down, confirming His power, His truth, and His unending love.
This promise isn’t just for the disciples – it’s for us too. Life often brings seasons of weeping, moments when loss, disappointment, or pain feel overwhelming. The world may seem to have the upper hand, mocking our faith or dismissing our hope. But Jesus assures us that sorrow doesn’t get the last word. Just as He rose, He brings joy out of our grief, hope out of our despair.
He is alive, and because of that, our pain has a purpose, and our tears have an expiration date!
Former Blackout Artist 