Ben's Benediction
Grief Turned to Joy, 24 Hours with Jesus, Pt 4 (John 16)
Dear Church Family and Friends,
Jesus continues a heavy and confusing discussion with the disciples in their last meal together prior to his death. He encourages them to remain in his love. He encourages them in their purpose to bear fruit for the kingdom of God. That he is the vine and they are the branches. He builds them up and preps their expectations to receive hatred from the world. Finally he lays it out that he's going away and the Holy Spirit is coming. He does not withhold the hard truth. But in Jesus there is no hard truth, hard circumstance, hard season of life in which the hope of salvation cannot outweigh. That in and of itself is a hard truth to believe. Jesus told the disciples they would grieve his going away and lose confidence. Yet once God's plan of salvation came to fruition through Christ's death and resurrection, every single disciple passed through grief and experienced joy. Not one of them mourned the coming of the Holy Spirit after Jesus ascended into heaven. And from there on, not a single season of suffering stole away their permanent joy found in the Lord. We too as followers can experience grief turned to joy when we live in the great hope of Jesus Christ.
Love and prayers,
Pastor Ben
Dear Church Family and Friends,
Jesus continues a heavy and confusing discussion with the disciples in their last meal together prior to his death. He encourages them to remain in his love. He encourages them in their purpose to bear fruit for the kingdom of God. That he is the vine and they are the branches. He builds them up and preps their expectations to receive hatred from the world. Finally he lays it out that he's going away and the Holy Spirit is coming. He does not withhold the hard truth. But in Jesus there is no hard truth, hard circumstance, hard season of life in which the hope of salvation cannot outweigh. That in and of itself is a hard truth to believe. Jesus told the disciples they would grieve his going away and lose confidence. Yet once God's plan of salvation came to fruition through Christ's death and resurrection, every single disciple passed through grief and experienced joy. Not one of them mourned the coming of the Holy Spirit after Jesus ascended into heaven. And from there on, not a single season of suffering stole away their permanent joy found in the Lord. We too as followers can experience grief turned to joy when we live in the great hope of Jesus Christ.
Love and prayers,
Pastor Ben
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