A Pregnant Illustration

Although not all have nor can experience having a baby, we all have heard about the experience. Jesus uses the child birth experience to illustrate the joy his disciples will have.

John 16:17-22

• 17-18. The disciples wanted Jesus to explain further what he meant by going to the Father and not being seen and then later being seen.
• 19. Jesus knew what their concern was.
• 20. The principle: The world will rejoice that Jesus is gone; but his disciples will weep and lament. But their sorrow will be turned into joy.
• 21. The illustration: A pregnant woman experiences great pain at child birth; but after the baby arrives she forgets the pain and rejoices in the baby.
• 22. The application: The disciples will experience painful sorrow at the loss of Jesus; but when they see him again they will forget the sorrow and they will have a joy that cannot be taken away.

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