Jesus Sweetened The Sorrow Of His Parting

What Did Jesus Do?

“Nevertheless, I tell you the truth:
it is to your advantage that I go away.”
John 16.7

Hearts were now starting to grow heavy. Jesus had spoken of his approaching death several times (Matthew 20.17-19; Mark 8.31; Luke 9.21-22; 9.43-45; John 12.32). Now, as the time of his death drew near, he sensed the spirits of his disciples sinking. He would soon leave them, there was nothing that could change that, but Jesus sweetened the sorrow of his parting.

The Lord had just talked about the great conflict between the world and his disciples (John 16.1-4), acknowledging that it would almost seem to them as if the world were triumphant over Christ. But with his return to the Father, the Son would summon the Helper to the aid of the disciples (John 16.7b). Yes, there would be a bitter parting, but Jesus tried to lessen that bitter anticipation with a promise of sweet relief in the person of the Holy Spirit who would come to, and abide with, his followers.

In this light Jesus could in fact declare, with all sincerity, that it would be to his disciples' advantage that he go away. The world may try in vain to convince us that a bitter loss is actually a gain, but in the instance of the Son departing to return to the Father, the coming of the Helper quite literally resulted in great gain for Christ's followers. There was no denying the bitter sadness and suffering of the parting, but there also was no denying the sweet promise of the coming of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is the Helper, and the disciples would certainly need his help to face the coming conflict with the world. But the Spirit is also the Comforter (see John 14.26—KJV; the Amplified Bible), and he would be of great comfort to the disciples in the days and weeks following the Ascension of Christ back into heaven.

It was not only the first generation of Christians who were confronted with conflict with the world and with persecution. Nor were they the only ones to know the bitterness of parting and loss. But, with the rising of each generation, believers have had the sweet presence, the comfort and help, of the Holy Spirit to rely upon. The Helper is the very power of God at work within believers, both individually and corporately, to accomplish abundantly far more than we can ask or imagine (Ephesians 3.20). More comfort, more forgiveness, more grace, more mercy, more strength, more wisdom than the world could ever conceive of, much less muster.

There is not one person in the world who will not know the bitter sorrow of parting at one time or another. Sadly, there are many who do not now, nor may ever, know the sweetness of the comfort and help of the Holy Spirit who alone can truly mitigate our sorrow. But, there are those who have known, through the Holy Spirit, the “the God of all comfort” who enables us to comfort those “in any affliction” with the very comfort “with which we ourselves have been comforted by God.” (2Corinthians 1.3-4) Even as Jesus warned his followers of how they would eventually share in his suffering, so he assured them that they would share in his comfort (2Cornithians 1.5).

Humanity's suffering began with the first parting, in the Garden (see Genesis 3.22-24), because of sweet, but forbidden fruit which turned so tragically bitter. But God would not let the bitterness of parting define his relationship with humanity. Through the Son the Father would turn the bitter suffering of parting to sweet and lasting reunion.

S.D.G.

Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4