Of course the historical and immediate fulfilment of these words lies in the double result of Christ's Cross upon His servants. Sorrow and suffering is temporary for you, Christian. Now, there is no denying that your suffering is real. Through His death came pardon, reconciliation, access, acceptance, heaven.6. Some men make the influence of Jesus a mere sentimental thing. Follow our subject into the region of character. If we do really hold it perfectly as true, that is a little thing. The greatest possible blessings accrue to us, because He was made a curse for us. Is the King at home with you, dear brother? The best stock of ideas which any man can keep is that which, while it is subject to the influence of others, yet has at its heart convictions, which are the man's own, and which no other can invade. Husband and wife, father and child, teacher and scholar, master and servant — how they all hold each other's pleasures at their will I This view of life, which is perpetually presenting itself, stands up face to face with the thought, which all self-reliant and strong men try to keep hold of, viz., self-suffciency. (1) Suppose that some opponent hinders him in doing what he wants to do — he knows that no man can thwart his Master's will. And much of our joy depends upon the goodwill and help of our fellows, and they can snatch away all that so depends. If you know but little of this joy it is your fault, and not His.(A. You know when you are in sorrow, how bitter is the coarse laugh of an adversary who exults over your misery and extracts mirth from your tears. Learn more. Conclusion: The world shall rejoice: "Ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy." (3) How natural this is! This can only mean that that which was the cause of the one reverses its action. We can see how good it is that, while there should be great regions of happiness which are involved with what others are and do, there should be also others which no one but ourselves can touch. But we still have a problem. Renewed friendship. They cannot force us away from Christ, but they may tempt us away. John 16:16-22 16 “A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see me.” 17 So some of his disciples said to one another, “What is this that he says to us, ‘A little while, and you will not see me, and again a little while, and… There are two different conceptions of character, one of which looks at it in itself; the other looks at it as it is involved with the powers which are at work upon it to make it what it is capable of being. This joy is —(1)Right hearty joy. 2. Perhaps you have had to bear a little persecution, hard words, and the cold shoulder. It was not either of these alone. The sorrow of contrite hearts becomes the gladness of pardoned children; the sorrow of bereaved empty hearts may become the gladness of hearts filled with God. "I will see you" speaks of His perfect knowledge, loving care, tender, ever-watchful eye.2. The incompleteness of his action is absorbed in the larger completeness of his Master. —, (1)The putting away of sin by the sacrifice of Himself. You sometimes see the cause of Christ as it were dead, and you are grieved about it, as well you may be. Now hear what Jesus says to His disciples. (2) The world would be rejoicing because their Lord was gone. THE MAIN TOPIC TO WHICH JESUS TURNS IN THE SHADOW OF THE CROSS IS JOY. Victory. The disciples don’t see Him anymore, and they weep and lament because Jesus is dead, buried, and sealed behind the stone in the tomb. To every consecrated labourer who works for Christ there is a joy in working which no man can take away from him.2. 2. Through His death came pardon, reconciliation, access, acceptance, heaven.6. "There be many that say, who will show us any good," &c. One look towards Christ will more than repay and abolish earth's sorrow. But remember, though externals have no power to rob us of our joy, they can interfere with that faith which is the essential condition of our joy. During our pain and anguish, our difficulties and seasons of tribulation, time seems to stand still while we suffer. And why? Maclaren, D. D.)Your Joy no man taketh from you.Christian joyPhillips Brooks, D. D.I. And so it requires a loving heart to find joy in such a promise. Is the King at home with you, dear brother? This is the main thing Jesus is teaching us in this text. It would be almost a world of chartered selfishness.