And we are back
studying the Gospel of John
00:00:01.12\00:00:02.92
with Dr. Jon Pauline.
00:00:02.95\00:00:04.81
Dr. Pauline you
said in your illustration
00:00:04.84\00:00:07.33
with your former girlfriend,
00:00:07.36\00:00:08.41
that she told you that
it is better for me to leave
00:00:08.44\00:00:12.17
and now that you
look back you indeed,
00:00:12.20\00:00:14.43
you know, know that well it
was good for that to happen.
00:00:14.46\00:00:18.04
In the case of the disciples,
00:00:18.07\00:00:20.06
Jesus says it is
better for me to leave,
00:00:20.09\00:00:22.57
what was good about that?
00:00:22.60\00:00:24.92
Well, the answer here of course
is what we're kind of avoiding
00:00:24.95\00:00:28.06
at this point in order
to look at everything else
00:00:28.09\00:00:31.01
that's happening
in these chapters.
00:00:31.04\00:00:32.81
But the ultimate
answer is the Holy Spirit.
00:00:32.84\00:00:35.67
That Jesus is just one person.
00:00:35.70\00:00:38.38
Even though He is
here on this earth,
00:00:38.41\00:00:40.01
He can be with His disciples
or not with His disciples.
00:00:40.04\00:00:43.20
He can be with one
and not the rest, you see.
00:00:43.23\00:00:46.42
But the Holy Spirit would be
with all of them all the time.
00:00:46.45\00:00:50.77
So through the Holy
Spirit, God has a more direct
00:00:50.80\00:00:53.63
and more intimate
connection with us
00:00:53.66\00:00:55.78
that was possible when
Jesus was physically present.
00:00:55.81\00:00:58.81
And of course for
the second generation,
00:00:58.84\00:01:01.54
Jesus is speaking to them
00:01:01.57\00:01:03.48
and say you're disappointed
that you don't have me,
00:01:03.51\00:01:06.96
but I am telling
you it's better for you
00:01:06.99\00:01:09.22
that I am not here.
00:01:09.25\00:01:10.70
Through the Holy
Spirit you have direct access
00:01:10.73\00:01:13.77
to all the power
through the words of the Gospel,
00:01:13.80\00:01:16.88
all the power that I had here
00:01:16.91\00:01:18.72
is available to
you anywhere on earth.
00:01:18.75\00:01:21.42
When Jesus was
there, if He was in Cana,
00:01:21.45\00:01:25.36
you know, someone have to--
00:01:25.39\00:01:26.51
Capernaum, would have
to go see Him, you see.
00:01:26.54\00:01:29.13
That story
illustrates that 16 mile walk
00:01:29.16\00:01:32.48
illustrates the
problem of having Jesus
00:01:32.51\00:01:36.08
as the source
of all the benefits
00:01:36.11\00:01:38.85
that come from God.
00:01:38.88\00:01:40.50
When Jesus goes away
and sends the Holy Spirit,
00:01:40.53\00:01:43.55
the Holy Spirit can be in Cana
00:01:43.58\00:01:45.23
and Capernaum at the same time.
00:01:45.26\00:01:47.58
Now, of course,
in Jesus ministry
00:01:47.61\00:01:50.02
he was able to heal
people 16 miles away.
00:01:50.05\00:01:53.33
But that was the
exception rather than the rule
00:01:53.36\00:01:57.15
and through the Holy Spirit
00:01:57.18\00:01:59.04
the works of
Jesus are multiplied
00:01:59.07\00:02:01.46
all around the world.
00:02:01.49\00:02:03.34
Now we will
elaborate on that next time.
00:02:03.37\00:02:06.89
That--that's
the immediate answer
00:02:06.92\00:02:09.53
to your question. Okay.
00:02:09.56\00:02:10.72
So where does Jesus
continue with these discourse?
00:02:10.75\00:02:14.22
Why don't we go to verses 20-22?
00:02:14.25\00:02:18.63
"Most assuredly, I say to you
that you will weep and lament,
00:02:18.66\00:02:22.23
but the world will rejoice
and you will be sorrowful,
00:02:22.26\00:02:25.61
but your sorrow
will be turned into joy.
00:02:25.64\00:02:27.99
A woman, when she is in labor,
00:02:28.02\00:02:30.17
has sorrow
because her hour has come.
00:02:30.20\00:02:33.05
But as soon as she has
given birth to the child,
00:02:33.08\00:02:35.60
she no longer
remembers the anguish,
00:02:35.63\00:02:38.33
for joy that a human being
has been born into the world.
00:02:38.36\00:02:42.62
Therefore, you now have sorrow,
00:02:42.65\00:02:45.43
but I will see you again
and your heart will rejoice,
00:02:45.46\00:02:48.73
and your joy no one
will take from you."
00:02:48.76\00:02:52.11
So here we have
an irony of reversal.
00:02:52.14\00:02:54.81
You know, the
disciples are gonna suffer.
00:02:54.84\00:02:57.36
The disciples are
gonna be dismayed,
00:02:57.39\00:02:59.54
Jesus is gonna go away,
they're gonna weep and mourn.
00:02:59.57\00:03:02.82
But that sorrow
will be turned to joy.
00:03:02.85\00:03:05.61
First of all it
will be turned to joy
00:03:05.64\00:03:07.64
when Jesus comes
back from the dead.
00:03:07.67\00:03:09.89
Second of all, it
will be turned to joy
00:03:09.92\00:03:12.54
when after
Jesus leaves to heaven
00:03:12.57\00:03:14.43
He will come back to
them in the Holy Spirit.
00:03:14.46\00:03:18.58
So this whole thing
about multiple meanings
00:03:18.61\00:03:22.28
comes in to play here,
00:03:22.31\00:03:23.78
He will go away,
they will be sorrowful.
00:03:23.81\00:03:26.04
But He will return
in the Holy Spirit,
00:03:26.07\00:03:27.80
they will have joy.
00:03:27.83\00:03:28.86
Ultimately, He'll return
physically at the Second Coming,
00:03:28.89\00:03:32.14
they will have joy.
00:03:32.17\00:03:33.65
So the sorrow that they
now have is turned to joy.
00:03:33.68\00:03:39.86
Keeping your
finger in Chapter 16,
00:03:39.89\00:03:41.77
why don't we go back
to Chapter 15 and verse 11
00:03:41.80\00:03:47.35
because that ties in here.
00:03:47.38\00:03:49.54
There is a lot of
repetition in these chapters.
00:03:49.57\00:03:53.61
"Since I have told you this,
so that my joy maybe in you
00:03:53.64\00:03:58.55
and that your
joy maybe complete."
00:03:58.58\00:04:04.42
This concept of joy,
00:04:04.45\00:04:06.35
I think maybe a
little bit difficult
00:04:06.38\00:04:08.10
for people to understand.
00:04:08.13\00:04:10.33
And let me try to
illustrate it little bit.
00:04:10.36\00:04:14.01
I remember one time I
am going to a young person
00:04:14.04\00:04:16.54
and inviting them to church.
00:04:16.57\00:04:18.90
And he said, why
don't-- I don't want to go.
00:04:18.93\00:04:22.82
You know, why don't
you want to go to church?
00:04:22.85\00:04:25.18
Because it isn't any fun. Okay.
00:04:25.21\00:04:30.69
Where do you have fun?
00:04:30.72\00:04:33.47
He said, well,
when I go to a club,
00:04:33.50\00:04:36.00
you know, then I have fun. Okay.
00:04:36.03\00:04:39.84
And when you leave
the club, what then?
00:04:39.87\00:04:42.25
Oh, the fun stops.
00:04:42.28\00:04:44.81
He sees the fun is at the party,
00:04:44.84\00:04:46.99
the fun is at the club.
00:04:47.02\00:04:49.68
But the trouble with fun,
00:04:49.71\00:04:52.24
you know, the fun
could be the amusement park,
00:04:52.27\00:04:56.39
you know,
rollercoasters and stuff.
00:04:56.42\00:04:58.65
When you are
there, you have fun,
00:04:58.68\00:05:00.76
when you leave the fun stops.
00:05:00.79\00:05:04.64
So here is the
thing, the problem with fun
00:05:04.67\00:05:08.45
is it only lasts
as long as the fun.
00:05:08.48\00:05:12.41
Joy, what Jesus is talking about
is something that is lasting.
00:05:12.44\00:05:17.57
It is always with you.
It's even there when you suffer.
00:05:17.60\00:05:22.02
One of the marks
of Christian faith
00:05:22.05\00:05:24.18
is joy in
suffering. Didn't say fun.
00:05:24.21\00:05:29.47
Jesus never says
suffering is fun.
00:05:29.50\00:05:33.82
Jesus wasn't
having fun on the cross.
00:05:33.85\00:05:38.86
But there is joy
even in suffering.
00:05:38.89\00:05:42.12
The joy that Jesus
had in His suffering
00:05:42.15\00:05:44.75
was the knowledge
as Isaiah 53 tells us,
00:05:44.78\00:05:47.41
the knowledge that
through that sacrifice
00:05:47.44\00:05:50.95
multitudes of new
friends would come to God.
00:05:50.98\00:05:56.34
And so that was a joy, in
the midst of that suffering,
00:05:56.37\00:05:59.52
there was a joy that
there was a purpose in it.
00:05:59.55\00:06:02.31
So joy goes a
lot deeper than fun.
00:06:02.34\00:06:04.87
And the
beautiful thing about is,
00:06:04.90\00:06:06.14
is it lasts even
when the fun is over.
00:06:06.17\00:06:09.62
So this concept of
joy is part of the thing.
00:06:09.65\00:06:13.28
It's better for you if I go away
00:06:13.31\00:06:16.01
because with the Holy Spirit
the joy will be always with you.
00:06:16.04\00:06:21.05
Joy is probably not a term
00:06:21.08\00:06:23.55
that we use that
much in today's world,
00:06:23.58\00:06:26.51
and maybe because it doesn't
really click for most people.
00:06:26.54\00:06:31.09
For them, happiness and joy
have turned simply into fun.
00:06:31.12\00:06:35.32
And when you are not having fun,
00:06:35.35\00:06:36.54
you need to go to
work. Work isn't fun.
00:06:36.57\00:06:39.34
But you can have joy at work.
00:06:39.37\00:06:42.25
You could have
joy serving people
00:06:42.28\00:06:44.50
that come to you for help.
00:06:44.53\00:06:46.10
You could have joy helping
other people be productive
00:06:46.13\00:06:48.97
and do things that help people.
00:06:49.00\00:06:51.13
So there can be joy
even in the drudgery of work.
00:06:51.16\00:06:54.63
You know, sometimes I'll
get 80 or 90 emails in a day.
00:06:54.66\00:06:58.05
It's not fun.
00:06:58.08\00:07:01.11
But people write me
00:07:01.14\00:07:03.05
and people engage me at the job
00:07:03.08\00:07:05.38
because we have a
mission to accomplish.
00:07:05.41\00:07:07.92
And there can be
joy in doing the mission
00:07:07.95\00:07:10.83
if it is done for God
00:07:10.86\00:07:13.26
and if it is done
as to Jesus Christ.
00:07:13.29\00:07:16.23
So I think that's
an important dynamic
00:07:16.26\00:07:18.52
that's' going
on in this passage.
00:07:18.55\00:07:20.87
Well, the
difference that I understand
00:07:20.90\00:07:22.54
as well as the
difference between fun and joy
00:07:22.57\00:07:25.59
is that the world can give fun.
00:07:25.62\00:07:28.29
You know, as you
mention, amusements
00:07:28.32\00:07:30.35
and different
types of entertainments,
00:07:30.38\00:07:32.92
but true joy the
world cannot give you know.
00:07:32.95\00:07:38.27
And that's why
Jesus is the only one
00:07:38.30\00:07:40.34
who could give that joy.
00:07:40.37\00:07:41.78
Almost like if Jesus said
you know, my peace I give you--
00:07:41.81\00:07:45.01
the peace not that
the world can give you,
00:07:45.04\00:07:46.84
but the one that I give you.
00:07:46.87\00:07:48.64
So I would assume that this joy
00:07:48.67\00:07:50.62
is also that joy
that only Jesus can give
00:07:50.65\00:07:53.03
and not the world. That's right.
00:07:53.06\00:07:56.11
Let's go on to verse 23,
00:07:56.14\00:07:58.49
because it comes
back to something
00:07:58.52\00:08:00.84
that we've seen over
and over in these chapters.
00:08:00.87\00:08:05.41
23 says, "And in that
day you will ask Me nothing.
00:08:05.44\00:08:09.19
Most assuredly, I say to you,
00:08:09.22\00:08:11.04
whatever you ask the Father
in My name He will give you."
00:08:11.07\00:08:15.29
See, here's Jesus is
still tying into this idea
00:08:15.32\00:08:19.66
that He has come
to reveal the Father
00:08:19.69\00:08:23.67
and now you know, we
say we pray in Jesus name
00:08:23.70\00:08:26.99
but now He is even saying,
you can go direct to the Father.
00:08:27.02\00:08:30.83
The Father is like Me.
The Father loves you too.
00:08:30.86\00:08:34.37
The Father doesn't
have an unwilling hear.
00:08:34.40\00:08:37.21
Now you might
get the impression,
00:08:37.24\00:08:38.79
well, pray to God in Jesus name
00:08:38.82\00:08:40.50
that's' the only way
He will listen to you,
00:08:40.53\00:08:42.25
you know, He is the
stirring guy up there.
00:08:42.28\00:08:44.28
But maybe Jesus
can soften Him up
00:08:44.31\00:08:46.08
and then you can get through.
00:08:46.11\00:08:47.47
Jesus says no, no, no.
00:08:47.50\00:08:48.75
He doesn't have
an unwilling hear.
00:08:48.78\00:08:50.31
He is the one who sent me.
00:08:50.34\00:08:52.20
I am here because of
Him. Continue verse 25-27.
00:08:52.23\00:08:58.43
"These things I have spoken
to you in figurative language,
00:08:58.46\00:09:01.78
but the time is coming
00:09:01.81\00:09:03.88
when I will no longer speak
to you in figurative language,
00:09:03.91\00:09:07.14
but I will tell you
plainly about the Father.
00:09:07.17\00:09:10.13
In that day you
will ask in my name,
00:09:10.16\00:09:13.08
and I do not say to you
00:09:13.11\00:09:15.34
that I shall pray
to the Father for you,
00:09:15.37\00:09:18.02
for the Father
Himself loves you,
00:09:18.05\00:09:19.91
because you have loved me,
00:09:19.94\00:09:21.68
and have believed that
I came forth from God."
00:09:21.71\00:09:24.98
So here we see,
we pray in Jesus name
00:09:25.01\00:09:27.64
and I think
that's helpful to us,
00:09:27.67\00:09:28.93
but Jesus says really,
00:09:28.96\00:09:30.53
that the Father
Himself loves you.
00:09:30.56\00:09:33.31
He didn't change His
mind when I died on the cross.
00:09:33.34\00:09:37.33
The Father sent me to the cross.
00:09:37.36\00:09:40.17
God came to that cross.
00:09:40.20\00:09:43.10
The grief for the
Father over the cross
00:09:43.13\00:09:46.27
is as deep as
the death of the Son.
00:09:46.30\00:09:48.77
And so Jesus is offering
a new picture of God here.
00:09:48.80\00:09:52.76
The picture that the
disciples hadn't understood.
00:09:52.79\00:09:55.67
Do they get it?
Not really. 29-33.
00:09:55.70\00:10:01.69
"His disciples said to Him,
00:10:01.72\00:10:03.26
'See, now You
are speaking plainly,
00:10:03.29\00:10:05.78
and using no figure of speech.
00:10:05.81\00:10:08.26
Now we are sure
that You know all things,
00:10:08.29\00:10:11.14
and have no need that
anyone should question You.
00:10:11.17\00:10:14.22
By this we believe that
You came forth from God.'
00:10:14.25\00:10:17.32
Jesus answered
them, 'Do you now believe?
00:10:17.35\00:10:20.17
Indeed the hour is
coming, yes, has now come,
00:10:20.20\00:10:23.87
that you will be
scattered, each to his own,
00:10:23.90\00:10:26.54
and will leave Me alone.
00:10:26.57\00:10:28.22
And yet I am not alone,
because the Father is with Me.
00:10:28.25\00:10:31.73
These things I
have spoken to you,
00:10:31.76\00:10:34.00
that in Me you may have peace.
00:10:34.03\00:10:36.30
In the world you
will have tribulation,
00:10:36.33\00:10:38.57
but be of good cheer, I
have overcome the world.'"
00:10:38.60\00:10:43.21
So here we see the disciples
00:10:43.24\00:10:45.82
feeling like they've
really got it, you know.
00:10:45.85\00:10:48.71
And yet they don't.
00:10:48.74\00:10:50.29
Just at the
point where they say,
00:10:50.32\00:10:51.99
yeah, we really understand,
00:10:52.02\00:10:54.25
we really know You,
we've really got a doubt
00:10:54.28\00:10:57.30
and Jesus says, "oh,
okay, now you understand.
00:10:57.33\00:11:01.18
I suppose that's why
you're gonna leave me here
00:11:01.21\00:11:02.92
in a couple hours,
00:11:02.95\00:11:03.98
you know, forsake me,
you're gonna run away.
00:11:04.01\00:11:06.61
That must prove that
you really understand."
00:11:06.64\00:11:09.41
I think the
Spiritual point here again is,
00:11:09.44\00:11:12.81
the physical presence of
Jesus is not an advantage.
00:11:12.84\00:11:17.54
Our situation is
not a disadvantage.
00:11:17.57\00:11:20.99
But rather
through the Holy Spirit,
00:11:21.02\00:11:23.32
we have all the
contact with Jesus we need
00:11:23.35\00:11:25.63
and the understanding that
comes through the God's word.
00:11:25.66\00:11:29.97
Well, Dr. Pauline, again we want
to thank you for being with us
00:11:30.00\00:11:32.56
in this Bible
study, the Gospel of John.
00:11:32.59\00:11:34.89
And friends, we also want
to thank you for being with us
00:11:34.92\00:11:37.36
in this very
insightful Bible study.
00:11:37.39\00:11:40.95
You know,
sometimes I don't understand
00:11:40.98\00:11:42.27
the words of the Lord,
00:11:42.30\00:11:43.33
sometimes I don't understand
even the when I read the Bible,
00:11:43.36\00:11:46.76
I go through it and I
don't understand completely.
00:11:46.79\00:11:49.47
But I know that
there is the Holy Spirit
00:11:49.50\00:11:51.42
who leads me in all truth
00:11:51.45\00:11:53.20
and I pray that as
you also study and read
00:11:53.23\00:11:55.35
that the Holy Spirit leads you.
00:11:55.38\00:11:57.20