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Lent 2009


When We Meet Again

By Nancy Van Dyke
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Scripture Verses
John16:16-33

16"In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me."

17Some of his disciples said to one another, "What does he mean by saying, 'In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me,' and 'Because I am going to the Father'?" 18They kept asking, "What does he mean by 'a little while'? We don't understand what he is saying."

19Jesus 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'? 20I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. 21A 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. 22So 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. 23In that day you will no longer ask me anything. I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 24Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.
 
25"Though I have been speaking figuratively, a time is coming when I will no longer use this kind of language but will tell you plainly about my Father. 26In that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. 27No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. 28I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father."

29Then Jesus' disciples said, "Now you are speaking clearly and without figures of speech. 30Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God."


31"You believe at last!"[a] Jesus answered. 32"But a time is coming, and has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me.

33"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

Devotion
Every January, resolutions and hopeful beginnings seem to be all around.  I have to say that mine did not start out hopeful at all. In fact, if I were to be completely honest with you, I would have to admit that mine began with extreme sadness.  For me, January 2009 marked a milestone in my life. Ten years without my mother.
                 
When I reflect on the things that have happened without her, a decade seems like such a long time.   After all, the nine month old baby that sat on my lap at the funeral will be eleven in May, and his little brother was born two years after she was gone. My four year marriage at the time has now become almost fifteen years old.  Three presidential elections have passed, and how my mom loved politics!  For some reason, things like these saddened me more in January than they ever had in the ten years since her death. However, the Bible shows me that there is no need for me, or any other believer, to focus on sorrowful things.
                   
The disciples do not understand what Jesus means when he tells them in John 16:16 “In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me.”  They want to ask him about it, but no one seems to have the nerve! Of course, Jesus knows what they want to ask, so he explains that although they will experience a time of grief after his death, he will see them again and they will rejoice.  This is revealed by what Jesus says in John 16:20, “You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.”
                 
What a promise we have in Jesus through our faith.  As a believer, I am assured that I will get to spend an eternity with my Lord and Savior, as well as my mom. Now that’s what I call a hopeful beginning!

Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for the promises that you have given to us, your children.  Through your word, you give us hope for so many things that are not seen or understood by us during our time here on earth.  It is through your grace and mercy that we may have eternal life. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.