John 16 - the Comforter

Verses

v1+ "remember that I told you..."
v5+ "...sorrow has filled your heart."
v7+ "It is expedient for you..."
v16+ "...your sorrow shall be turned into joy."
v23+ "...ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full."
v28+ "...be of good cheer..."

Meaning

This chapter shows me how Our Father is cares about how we feel. He warns us about the trouble we'll go through, and explains why.

In v6, the Lord knew their hearts were full of sorrow. He knows when our hearts are filled with sorrow. In v7, the Lord promised to send the Comforter. In v13, He promised that He shows us things from the future, about Himself.

v19 says "Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him." Jesus knows the things that we're desirous of, and answers, even when we're afraid to ask. In v20, He knew we'd weep and lament in sorrow while the world rejoices. In v21 and 22, He promises such joy in our very hearts that no man can take it from us, and so that we won't even remember our anguish any more.

He told us to ask, and promised that we'd receive, and it was all so that our joy may be full. In v32 we can known that even when all our friends are scattered and go to their own houses and their own Church meetings and leave us alone, we're not alone because the Lord is with us.

When we can't have peace in the world, we can have peace in Him. That's why these things are written here in this chapter. He told us the truth about the trouble we'd have, but told us to be of good cheer because He overcame the world.

Application

John 16:33

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Have you been amazingly depressed lately? While I was studying this chapter, the Lord said to ask and our joy would be full, so I asked Him for a bunch of stuff, and He gave it to me. Do you ever wonder, how can you be cheerful when your heart is full of sorrow?

I started noticing I was receiving things I'd asked for. The things I've received seem so small, and there's so much I asked for I haven't seen yet. But... there were a few things I prayed for a lot, and I got great answers to prayer about every one of them. I can't believe this. There are so many things I can't tell them all!

I saw prayer specifically answered.

So now my application is to answer the question.
v24

Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.

The way to be cheerful when your heart is full of sorrow, is to ask the Lord, and you will receive.

I originally took these notes at 2005 12 06 1439.