Transcription downloaded from https://sermons.heritagesermons.org/sermons/6396/john/. Disclaimer: this is an automatically generated machine transcription - there may be small errors or mistranscriptions. Please refer to the original audio if you are in any doubt. [0:00] We'll turn this afternoon to the Gospel according to John, chapter 16, verse 22. [0:23] And ye now therefore have sorrow, that I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you. [0:39] The Gospel according to John, chapter 16, verse 22. And ye now therefore have sorrow, that I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you. [0:56] I had no intention of turning here this afternoon to this word. I thought I should continue with the verse we had under consideration this morning, that the poor man cried. [1:15] As these words come with some degree of power into my heart, I feel I cannot turn from them, sincerely hoping there may be a reason for it in some heart in their little sanctuary this afternoon. [1:42] And ye now therefore have sorrow, that I will see you again. This somewhat, friends, carry on with the text this morning, because as we were trying to speak of prayer, and a one who sits by the side of the Father in heaven in glory, who will accept, will hear the prayers, and be pleased to answer, that is, if it's according to the Lord's will. [2:24] And we have here Jesus, who is churning in that direction, as you know, to the cross, and also to the day of his resurrection, and also to that time when he should return unto his Father in glory. [2:45] I feel these things are very much dovetailed together. But first I would just notice, respecting our text this afternoon, the concern that the Lord Jesus had towards his disciples, and the love so manifested unto them. [3:16] Here is the Lord Jesus journeying toward Calvary, on the way, as it were, to the place of death, to the deep sorrow, sorrow, sufferings of Christ on the cross. [3:33] And yet, how his heart seemed to be, and affections taken up with his disciples, and the love so manifested, and ye know therefore our sorrow. [3:47] But the Lord Jesus had sorrow to face. He had great sorrow and grief. And shall I use the word punishment? [3:58] I think I have right to do so. That is, to die upon the cross. Ye know therefore have sorrow. But his love went, as it were, to his disciples. [4:15] He seems more concerned, respecting the disciples, and leaving the disciples whom he loved, than the path he was about to tread, and the cross at Calvary. [4:29] He says, And ye know therefore have sorrow. And here again, friends, how wonderful it is, how the Lord looked within their hearts, and knew their thoughts, and knew their sorrows, and knew all about them. [4:48] Not that we read much, as it were, of their sorrow, that they was bearing, apart from this, that they were very troubled, because he was going to leave them for a little while. [5:03] But they knew not the reason. Jesus knew. He knew. Yea, he knew. I speak with all levelance. He knew it when he laid as a babe in the manger. [5:16] He knew his pathway. He knew a little what he was going to pass through, and what he would have to endure. But these disciples did not know the reason why Jesus should leave them. [5:31] This word has struck me, in fact, it struck me very forcibly, only a few evenings ago, when I heard it read. [5:43] It is expedient, Jesus said, for me to leave you. Oh, my friends, there's something very, very deep in expedient. [5:53] Well, what does it mean? Well, if the Lord Jesus had not left them, and gone to that place, of crucifixion, well, as I said this morning, no Jesus, there'd be no life, and there would be no heaven at last, no forgiveness. [6:14] But oh, what a deep concern, he had in his heart, to these disciples, as he would go to leave them. You know, therefore, I have sorrow. [6:28] But he gave them also this encouraging word, but I will see your gain. You see, friends, the Lord knew, Jesus, he knew, that where he was going, where he is being led, by the Spirit, as it were, how he was compelled to do it, at the will of his Father, to bring in salvation, for poor, vile, sinners. [6:55] And he did therefore have sorrow. But he says, I will see you again. What an encouraging word, then, to these disciples, when there is in much grief, and in much sorrow. [7:10] There's not been times, when you have been, in the pathway, of sorrow. It may have been, in your troubles, in the things, shall I say, of providence, yes, and more so, in the things of grace, feeling your lost condition, your many sins, and so on, and what sorrow, you would be bearing. [7:35] I go back again, as I mentioned, this morning, strange, it keeps coming to my mind, this day, of Jabez of old. And we read, that his mother, bear him in sorrow. [7:48] And you know, therefore, have sorrow. Have I a poor soul, here this afternoon, with some trial, some burden, some sorrow. [8:02] I haven't touched upon it. I may not. But, you know, you know the sorrow, you know the grief, you know what you are passing through, and not only you, but the Lord knows. [8:17] That's the greatness, of his power, and his love, and understanding. And we read, there is no searching, to his understanding. [8:31] He know therefore, have sorrow. Have I one here, this afternoon? I feel perhaps, there's some poor soul, here, in much sorrow, in some way, or another. [8:45] As I've said, maybe in Providence, maybe in Grace, maybe in your feelings, respecting, the matters of eternity, and how you long, as it were, with the woman, to touch the hem of his garment, which you cannot. [9:02] You now have sorrow, you now have sorrow, but I will see your gain. May we pass this on to you, this afternoon. I will see your gain. [9:16] Maybe in some sorrow, of grief, maybe upon the matters of eternity, your sins may be laid, with such weight, upon thy spirit, and you say, there cannot be, cannot be, any forgiveness of none, to me. [9:36] Are you down in the depth, my friends, this afternoon? No hope for salvation. The vilely sinner out of hell, who lives to feel his need, is welcome to the throne of grace, his precious blood to bleed, he now has sorrow. [9:54] And how would I, and those poor disciples, feeling so sorrowful, and troubled in spirit, because their best friend, was leaving them, for a little season. [10:12] We can see the kindness, in the Lord Jesus, in saying, I will see your gain. The kindness, as he said, I, for a little while, and I will see your gain. [10:25] How little did those disciples know, the work, that the Lord Jesus, going to perform, by the help of his father, before he returned, as it were, to see them. [10:41] The path of sorrow, and this path alone, that leads to the land, where sorrow, unknown, he, he, he, he, and he, now, therefore, has sorrow. [10:55] Well, we spoke this morning, of many sorrows, that the Lord's people have, when they're being, convicted, convicted of their sin, brought to a knowledge of themselves, as sinners, in the sight of God. [11:11] Oh, the sorrow, oh, the grief, but, here's the cheering word, but, I will see your gain. Did the Lord, fulfill this promise? [11:22] He did. Yes, every promise, the Lord made, when he is on earth, to his dear people, and, shall I say, the vows made, in respecting, the standing, of the church of God. [11:37] Has anything failed? No. Has the Lord given you, perhaps the Lord gave you, a word, perhaps many years ago, as he failed, in fulfilling that promise? [11:50] Yea, I have loved thee, with an everlasting love, therefore, with loving kindness, I have drawn thee. Can it you still see, the faithfulness of God, and feel a little of that love, of his, from time to time? [12:08] Now, promises, go back, dear friends, in your thoughts, for a moment or two. Has the Lord ever given you a promise? [12:23] Has he spoken, fear not, for I am with thee. Be not dismayed, for I am thy God. I will help thee, I will strengthen thee, yea, I will uphold thee, with the right hand, of my salvation. [12:38] What does our text say? What's the words of Christ? I will see your gate. His sweet promises, that the Lord has given to his dear people, and spoken them with power. [12:56] Have I one here this afternoon, you say, well, I can't remember, I've ever heard the power, the voice of God. Well, we know, that the scripture, is the voice of God, the inspired word of God. [13:12] It's God's word, not man's. Those dear men, and prophets of old, they were enlightened, by the spirit, and the spirit, the spirit, was their leader. [13:28] He, they, he guided them, into the word, compelled them, the word, as he, the holy scripture is. Now, therefore, ye have a sorrow. [13:45] Well, if you've had a promise, dear friends, from the Lord, ye will fulfill it. Ah, you say, I'm longing, to hear his voice, in the pardon of sin. [13:56] I do want to be prepared, for eternity. And I'm in sorrow. You may be saying, well, the poet has said, the time of love will come, when thou shalt clearly see, not only that he shed his blood, but thou shalt say, for me, ye therefore have sorrow. [14:21] Friends, let me put it this way, in my poor, in my poor, way of speaking. And I feel I've come to the end, this afternoon. [14:33] But I will see you again. Oh, hear the Lord, as be, coming to the house of God, it may be, from time to time. [14:43] And you seem to be much in the dark, cannot behold him, but I will see you again. [14:55] Oh, how blessed it is, when the Lord breaks through those dark clouds, into our poor soul, fulfilling the promise, I will see you again. [15:07] And some of us, in days that have passed, have been in much darkness. And perhaps some belief, has risen in our hearts. And perhaps we have felt, well, there's no truth in the word, in the gospel. [15:20] You fear to be left, entirely to yourself. But friends, he will come again. He will. But I will see you again. Now those dear disciples, they proved it, did they not? [15:36] He died upon the cross. True, he did. But he returned, for a little season. They saw him. Now those who saw him, on the cross, suffering. [15:53] As you know, even the mother of Jesus, and how he spake to her, woman, behold, thy son, I will see you again. [16:07] He opened his eyes, upon the cross, in his suppling, and looked upon them, and spoke to them. Those three are poor, as we read in the gospel, in this same gospel, of John. [16:23] The wife of Cleovas, and Magdalene, Mary Magdalene, a poor, poor, wretched sinner, having many devils, in her heart, but he says, I would see you again. [16:36] Now just for a moment or two, think of these around the cross, and the disciples. Now their hearts must have been grieved, to see one suffering, and dying, upon the cross. [16:49] One day, Lord, I will see you again. Did he open his eyes again? [17:03] We read, as he, was crucified, he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. The work, fully accomplished, the pleasing of the Father, the will of the Father, for the benefit, of his church, chosen people. [17:20] But I will see you again. As you know, he was laid, in the sepulcher, but he rose again. Rose, triumphant over sin, and death, and hell. [17:34] Oh, friends, the glorious, work, of God, the Father, the Spirit, Jesus Christ, rising from the dead, triumphant. [17:47] Some of you have heard me, express those words, of Job. I know. Job says, I know, that my Redeemer liveth. [18:01] And I will see, I will see you again. My mind goes to, who's on the way, to Damascus, sorry, Emmaus, those on the way, to Emmaus. [18:17] Someone's walking, with them. They did not know him, at first. But I will see you again. Jesus looked upon them, spoke to them. [18:29] I will see you again. That's the fulfillment, of his promise. My friends, if he has given you, a promise, he will fulfill it. Though these poor creatures, on the way, to Emmaus, they thought, well, now, all our hope is gone. [18:45] This was the one, we thought, that would be, deliverance of Israel. But now, he's died. He's laid in the sepulchre. He's finished. I will see you again. [18:56] And so, he saw those, on the way, to Emmaus, and spake to them. He dared, therefore, have sorrow, but I will see you again. [19:11] Oh, how wonderful it is, when the Lord, comes to light again. When he reveals himself, when he makes himself known. Let us go again, that evening, as we may be held, to the evening, of his resurrection, from the dead. [19:29] He's in the temple. And these disciples, Thomas Watson, but others, was in the temple. And Jesus came, door being closed, that he went, into the temple, and he spoke, to those disciples, yea, I will see your gain. [19:48] And oh, how true it was. Oh, he spake to them, in the temple, at that time. Spoke to them. And they took him, I will see your gain. [20:02] And then again, on the coast, as those, fishermen, such as John, and Peter, and so on, was fishing, and he came, just where there were, and spoke to them. [20:18] Oh, the four firmaments, my friends, the promises of God, given in his word, and given to us, sometimes, with that power, I will see your gain. [20:29] so he saw them there, Mary Magdalene. [20:40] I think, not often thought, what comfort, great comfort, great comfort, this you convey, to a poor soul, that fear to be, ruined in sin, true he is, or her, ruined in sin, a year was more, Mary Magdalene. [21:01] having seven devils, was it in her heart, but, oh, my friends, the love of Christ, he saw her, before he died, he spoke to her, he turned out, these devils, I will see your gain, now, on the cross, she spotted him, yes, she knew it was him, she knew it was the one, who had spoken to her, she loved, oh, see that great change, wrought in her heart, the time, the call by grace, to turning out, to the devils, till she came, to the cross, and saw Jesus there, and see him, after he had risen, from the dead, oh, how she, look for him, ran to the shepherds, to find him, but no, no Christ, no God, ye know therefore, have sorrow, oh, can't we, cannot we repeat, these words of our text, ye know therefore, have sorrow, in respect of Mary Magdalene, who could not find him, longed for him, but could not find him, now the Lord says, [22:20] I will see your gain, and so he did, as you know, this poor woman, a poor sinner, looking for Christ, thinking he would be risen, that dead, yet, he went where she was, oh, how often we prove that, in the scripture, and I believe, in their own experience, it's not where we go, it's where he comes, and therefore, he went to the woman, Mary Magdalene, drawed near to her, and she asked him a question, did she not, asking if he had seen, thinking it was the gardener, gardener, just a thought here, she'd seen him, only three days, previously, hanging on the cross, no, she didn't recognize him, oh, friends, you can see the difference, when he was in agony, in his body, pain, we cannot begin, to describe, now, he had risen, the work had been accomplished, to perfection, work of salvation, and now, risen from the dead, all the pain, and trouble, and the grief, and sorrow, that that dear man, passed through, previously, now, finished, finished forever, ever, yes, salvation, salvation, yes, he wrought out, and came forth, conquering, over sin, and death, and hell, this is, [24:10] Jesus, the son of God, I will see you again, and when he opened, his lips, and said, Mary, she did not recognize him, but now, she, she knew his voice, my sheep, hear my voice, and they know it, oh, how true are those words, do you know, the voice of the Lord Jesus, has he ever spoken to you, that still, small voice, that we lead of, and sing of, in one of the hymns, I will see you again, have you ever seen him, have you ever had, a little view, of him, I will see you, again, as he left you, sometimes, much in darkness, seems as if he's, turned his back, upon you, seems as if he has said, well, because of all your sins, iniquities, and transgressions, [25:13] I'll have no more, to do with you, no, no, I will see you again, you end sorrow, but I will see you again, I'll come and visit your game, I will not leave you, to perish, I think of those words, in Marachi, the closing of the third, chapter, I believe, of Marachi, they, they that feared the Lord, spake often, one to another, and the Lord heard, and hearkened, and the book of remembrance, was written, for them that fear God, what else, and they that thought, upon this day, do you say, is this question within, do I fear God, but friends, do you think upon him, do you think upon his holy name, what is his name, to you, we've quoted that verse, I believe in prayer, this afternoon, how sweet the name, of Jesus sounds, in a believer's ear, soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds, and drives away his fears, is that name, [26:22] Jesus, precious, precious, precious to you, I will see you again, and they, I've often thought, what a kind word, the Lord, gave, to Manakai, to write, to leave on record, what we've quoted, they that fear the Lord, spake often, one to another, and the Lord heard, and hockoned, and a book of remembrance, was written, for them that feared God, and that thought, upon his name, what else, and they shall be mine, in the day, that I make up, my jewels, I will see you again, and your heart, and your heart, shall rejoice, we know a little, perhaps, perhaps too much, of the heart rejoicing, in things that are, carnal, perishing, fading, but do we know, dear friends, do we know, do we, have we rejoiced, in the matters, of our, the Lord's love, and compassion, toward us, what do we read, in the first verse, of the third chapter, of the first epistle, of John, behold, what manner of love, the Father, hath bestowed, upon us, that we should be called, the sons of God, your hearts, shall rejoice, sometimes, my poor, thought, shall I say, my mind, goes back, over many, many years, and when the Lord, first, called me by grace, and, brought me, to feel the law, showed me, very plainly, [28:31] I could not, fulfill the law, that I should, perish under it, it would swipe me, even to the hell, all the times, my friends, and the past, I walked, pleading, with God, for mercy, for pardon, and some of you, may have heard me, say before, in leaving home, one Sabbath morning, going to the house, of God, and I said, I tried to pray, and I said, to the Lord, this is the last time, no help, no mercy, to my poor soul, is finished, no good me continuing, I turned, into the world, but in a few moments, the word came, with power, to my heart, and your heart, shall rejoice, so I believe, I know, a little of this, and the word, the Lord gave me, was what the word, he gave, to Jeremiah of old, yea, he says, [29:36] I have loved thee, with an everlasting love, therefore, with loving kindness, I have drawn thee, ah, my poor heart, rejoiced in him then, you see, friends, when the Lord speaks, this power, he speaks, right into their heart, oh, many might speak, to us, we hear it, with the outward hear, but oh, when it penetrates, by the power, of the Holy Spirit, into their heart, has he ever spoken, a word to you, I have redeemed thee, thou art mine, some word of comfort, well, oh, true, the Lord, keeps to his promises, ye know therefore, have sorrow, but he says, I will see you again, oh, these wills, these sherels, spoken by the Lord, they stand firm for them, you're on a rock, the rock is Christ, cannot be overthrown, cannot be broken, he's faithful, to his precious promises, what a gracious God, we have, and your heart, shall, rejoice, mine goes for a moment, to Paul and Silas, in the prison, as you know, and the feet, feet in the stocks, and so on, and they were praying, and the Lord, drew near to them, gave them a little of his love, [31:13] I will see you again, Paul, I will see you again, and your heart, shall rejoice, and how their prayers, was turned into praise, into rejoicing, O friends, I wish I could exalt, this precious God, this precious Saviour, this precious Redeemer, he is worthy of it, the path he's tread, of sorrow and grief, to bring us, to rejoice, in his holy name, I will see you again, friends, we are each travelling home, to her eternal home, we shall see him, we read in the word, that he will, bring his angels, and there will be a dividing, as it were, of sinners and of sight, that he is the unrighteous, and the righteous, one on his right, and one on his left, [32:22] I will see you again, I will see you again, and as he's speaking here, to his dear disciples, his dear flock, he can say, I will see you again, and you will actually rejoice, when he says, come ye, blesses my father, inherit the kingdom, prepared for thee, I will see you again, as a solemn thought, dear friends, recorded, when we appear, before the judge, to give an account, of the deeds, done in the body, whether evil, or whether they should be good, if we are upon the right hand, of Christ, we shall come in, this experience, I will see you again, and your heart, shall rejoice, rejoice, have you ever had, a little view, of the Lord Jesus Christ, he says here, [33:31] I will see you, he will see us, again, all his disciples, have you ever seen him, this is by faith, by faith, we see him, have you ever seen him, oh, I speak with all reverence, some years ago, I believe, I had just, a little view, of the Lord Jesus Christ, hanging, upon that, cross, and suffering, it was only for a few moments, but it's not left me for it, oh, it leaves a mark, it leaves a mark, within our poor souls, it leaves a, that, that we shall, not lose sight of, the sweetness of it, may be gone, for a season, but, it will return, when we see him, are you expecting, to see him, you're hoping, to see him, you're praying, that you might see him, yes, in glory, a man, a real man, with wounds, still gaping wide, in paradise, [34:59] I've said at times, that, we should never forget, the cross, we should never forget, the sufferings of God, there will not be, the sorrow of it there, there's no sorrow, in heaven, nothing in heaven, to, in any way, grieve, the Holy Spirit, spirits, glorified spirits, there, but, friend, you'll still, you'll be reminded, of a little, of hell, well, I've told you, I had just a little, glimpse of him, on the cross, if I wasn't, greatly deceived, only lasted, a few moments, but, my heart rejoiced, not to see him, suffering, not to see, what he is, passing through, but, my poor soul, rejoiced, because, I felt, I could see, my sins, on his body, in his soul, that I may go free, free, that he bore, my sins, there, ye know, therefore, our sorrow, but I see you again, and your heart, shall rejoice, hearts, friends, we are blessed, with a little, of peace of God, here on earth, what have we read, in this last verse, these things, have I spoken to you, that in me, he might have peace, in the world, he shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer, [36:39] I have overcome, the world, and your joy, no man, take it from you, the little, that we have here, a little joy, as the Lord, is pleased, to give it to us, well, friends, that'll be good, that'll give us, a little peace of mind, it'll be a token, of heaven, but, oh, the joy, and peace, and glory, to be separated, from a body, of sin, and death, no wonder, the apostle said, oh, wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me, from this body, of sin, and of death, your joy, no man, take it from you, it's a lasting joy, eternal peace, in and through, Jesus Christ, the Son, of God, in the world, ye shall have tribulation, but in thee, ye shall have peace, friends, my strength is gone, [37:43] I leave it with you, may the Lord bless, these poor demands, Amen. Amen.