x
x
x
John 3:16-17
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
12 friends have opened a study shared with them.
Discuss with friends
Get a daily, five-minute Bible study to discuss with a friend.
I crumpled into a corner of the hospital hallway. The harsh fluorescent lights illuminated the terror of birth. My wife had been in labor for two days, and we didn't know when, or how, it would end. But when our firstborn finally arrived, all we knew was joy.
John 16:16-24
“In a little while, you will no longer see me; again in a little while, you will see me.” Then some of his disciples said to one another, “What is this he’s telling us: ‘In a little while, you will not see me; again in a little while, you will see me’ and, ‘because I am going to the Father’?” They said, “What is this he is saying, ‘In a little while’? We don’t know what he’s talking about.” Jesus knew they wanted to ask him, and so he said to them, “Are you asking one another about what I said, ‘In a little while, you will not see me; again in a little while, you will see me’? Truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn, but the world will rejoice. You will become sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn to joy. “When a woman is in labor, she has pain because her time has come. But when she has given birth to a child, she no longer remembers the suffering because of the joy that a person has been born into the world. So you also have sorrow now. But I will see you again. Your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy from you. “In that day you will not ask me anything. Truly I tell you, anything you ask the Father in my name, he will give you. Until now you have asked for nothing in my name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.
“Your baby will be here soon.” What does soon mean after 24 hours of desperation? A little while, again in a little while. Repeating the words doesn’t reduce the confusion. Their tradition held that God’s people would suffer before God delivered them. Like the Israelites in Egypt before Moses arrived. But Jesus says he’s the one who will labor. His hour of giving birth—of bringing life into the world—will be the cross. We have a hundred thousand paintings of the crucifixion. None of them show a woman in labor. But it’s the image Jesus had in mind. The disciples knew women who had died giving birth. Perhaps one of their own mothers. They were buried and grieved. Jesus surprises: I will see you again. The disciples didn’t overcome the devastation of the cross by believing more. Jesus took the initiative to bring them joy. Because he labored to give us new birth, we have direct access to the Father. The higher our regard for God’s perfection, the greater our joy to know him personally. But the joyful emphasis of this passage has led to disappointment. My friend’s eyes were weary as he told me, “I fasted and prayed, but my son still walked away from the faith.” He asked in Jesus’ name, and didn’t receive. I thought, “What good is a promise to ask for ‘anything’ if it can’t save our loved ones?” His heart ached, and I didn’t have an answer. But then I realized he didn’t need one. When I saw him in the service, singing his heart out, I realized he’d been mentoring me. Prayer is how we know the Son who died giving birth to us. And that is what gives us joy.
What does the imagery of a woman in labor teach us about Jesus?
When you pray, what are you usually asking for?
When was the last time you felt joy in God’s presence?
This week, start one prayer by saying: ‘Before I ask for anything, I just want to be here with you.’ Sit in that for sixty seconds. Then ask a friend how they pray to God.
12 friends have opened a study shared with them.
Discuss with friends
Get a daily, five-minute Bible study to discuss with a friend.
Friends Following Jesus has a built-in discussion feature for you and your friends. It's completely private and it keeps you connected throughout the week.
Create a free account to get started.
We sent a confirmation to
Open that email and tap the confirmation link to start receiving emails.
Look for an email from team@friendsfollowingjesus.com with the subject “Confirm your subscription”.
Didn't see it? Check your spam or promotions folder.
Get 5 practical emails to help you follow Jesus with a friend.
My friend and I met up in Bellingrath Chapel at Rhodes College, where we'd agreed to pray together for an hour...
At Thanksgiving, we gathered in the kitchen, joined hands, bowed our heads, and prayed. But I wondered, "What'...
I remember staring at my phone, willing myself to pick it up, but my arm felt like lead. I needed to raise sup...