John 16:16-24
So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. (John 16:22 ESV)
I have been pretty fortunate in life. Rarely have I known what is it like to experience true sorrow. There have been a few isolated incidents, but in nearly every occasion the sorrow has been short-lived. There are some that experience deep sorrow on a daily basis. The circumstances of their life is terribly tragic.
Jesus knew that his followers were about to experience a deep level of sorrow. They had yet to grasp the severity of what was about to befall Jesus. Knowing their lack of understanding of the situation he was offering them comfort for what they could not yet understand.
Jesus still offers comfort for sorrow. An essential theme of the Gospel is that he not only understands sorrow, but he is the answer for the sorrow in our world. The kind of joy that is God-given cannot be taken away by people or circumstances. And one day when we see Jesus we will understand that only in him is our joy made complete.