This post is Day 30 in a series of studies about “Joy”. I strongly suggest you begin with the introduction to this study, please click here to read it.

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Joy – Day 30

Jesus warned His disciples of his imminent departure from the earth. That must have been a shock to those who had got so used to His being there, performing miracles, healing the sick, teaching things they never knew about God and His Kingdom. Jesus had turned their world upside down.

John 16:22

So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.

The Thought

Jesus was warning His disciples of his imminent departure from the earth. That must have been a shock to those who had got so used to His being there, performing miracles, healing the sick, teaching things they never knew about God and His Kingdom. Jesus had turned their world upside down, changed their lifestyle and given them a life mission.

The disciples were shocked and couldn’t imagine the future without Him.

Jesus had promised them another comforter (verse 13), but the disciples only heard a half of what He said. They heard the words but were slow to understand, and the words didn’t penetrate to their hearts. He also promised them a time of permanent joy, but they weren’t listening, their thoughts were blocked on the negative thoughts of Jesus leaving them.

How many of us are like that today? We read our Bibles regularly and feel as though we know what the words are saying, and then suddenly one day Holy Spirit will show us a different aspect of what is written and we receive a new revelation. That can be an exciting moment.

Action

There are 240 mentions of “joy” in the Bible, either as a simple emotion, or a description of a person, situation or event. Look for some of them as you read or study your Bible regularly.

Read John 16:16-33 today and rejoice with the good news in those verses.

As we move towards a new year remember the last two sentences there. In this world you will have trouble, but take heart! I have overcome the world. That is worth celebrating no matter what is going on in the world around us.

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