May 22 Joy to the World

John 16:5-7 “Now I am going to him who sent me, yet none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6 And now that I have told you, your hearts are full of sadness. 7 But I am telling you the truth: it is better for you that I go away, because if I do not go, the Helper will not come to you.”
 
THE disciples were very sad. John records through several chapters Jesus’ goodbye to his disciples. They cannot understand why he would leave them. But he has to leave, doesn’t he? It is time for the next step in God’s salvation plan for the world – even for you and me today.
   Sin is a sad thing. Think of the reasons we mourn: death, broken relationships, disease, and lost opportunities are some. Then consider why these sad circumstances exist. Grief came into the human heart when Adam and Eve realized their sin.
Genesis 3:5-8 “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. 8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden.
   Pride, shame, guilt are mournful emotions. They separate us from God, and they isolate us from real relationships. Such sins lead to all sins infecting our world today. Hearts apart from God are mournful hearts.
   But rejoice! God’s promises of his help to change our hearts abound. Psalms 146:5 Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God, 6 the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them – the Lord, who remains faithful forever.
In this psalm and before his disciples, the forever faithful Lord Jesus assures his sad disciples that someone marvelous and strong will come to help them. The Savior of the world, the Redeemer of our souls, our eternal Friend Jesus is sending a Helper, the Holy Spirit. The Spirit will overcome the sadness. He will transform hearts into joy as God’s holiness lost in Eden begins to enter human hearts in Jerusalem, Judea and to the world.
   Read Acts 2-3, and you’ll see these same sad disciples become Spirit-empowered, joyful apostles. Yes, it’s true! Matthew 5:3-6 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.  
   This and more is what Jesus’ Helper – the Holy Spirit – did for the disciples. He will do, is doing the same for you. Living in Jesus’ resurrection power is a life of joy because you know the Spirit is with you. The Spirit helps you, guides you, and takes you through the sad times to God’s holiness. The Spirit’s power overcomes sin’s sadness.        
   Are you saved in Jesus’ blood by the Spirit’s power? Then be generous with your salvation. Joyfully live today in a way to show people Jesus is alive! Joy to the world! The Lord is come.
 
Prayer: Thank you, Jesus, for the joy of your salvation. Amen.