Bible Study Notes - The Community Faces Pain and Joy

The Community Faces Pain and Joy

John 13:21-30; 16:16-24; 20:11-16

Saturday Afternoon Following the Crucifixion

Imagine that you are an invisible witness in the hotel suite occupied by the eleven apostles on the day following the crucifixion.  Chances are you would witness an incredible about of grief, disappointment, anger, hopeless and regret.  All the languages of the world fail to define the utter confusion, extreme pain and overall bewilderment that the apostles share.  Conceivably, one of them ask, “How could we have been so foolish?”  We gave up everything that we owned to join this movement because we thought that Jesus of Nazareth would launch the final resistance to Roman imperialism and restore the former glory of Israel as in the days of David and Solomon.  Surely, a man who performed the heretofore unseen miracles that he did could and would have used that power to benefit our nation, in fact his own nation, as he was a Jew just like us?  Another one might have bemoaned the brutality of Jesus’ death and crucifixion as he never harmed anyone but actually helped countless hurting people.  Someone else might ask about the indifference of the crowd to Jesus’ pain and suffering. In response, someone else would remind the group of their wholesale denial and abandonment of Jesus at the very point of his deepest need.  All would think about Judas Iscariot’s betrayal but none would speak it aloud.  For hours, their group conversation  would continue to distract the disciples from the deep sense of loss and the indefinable sorrow that they felt.

Biblical Background

The collective grief and pain of the disciples blind them to seeing the purpose of Jesus’ teachings and actions.  As they nurse their emotional and spiritual pain, they fail to recall anything that He taught them during the three and half years of His public ministry.  During that time, He specifically tutors them about the nature, principles and purposes of the kingdom of God which He came to establish on the earth.  Imprisoned by their self-seeking ambitions and self-centered fears about the fate of Israel, they do not comprehend these lessons.  Instead, they harbor grand ideas about the forthcoming rebellion and the lofty positions of power that they will hold upon its successful conclusion. 

The second passage of today’s scriptures records the disciples’ ignorance concerning the Lord’s purposes.  Approximately forty-eight hours previous to their sorrowful Saturday afternoon, He once again foretold His death, crucifixion and ultimate return to the Heavenly Father.  He told them that He would be taken away.  Further, He states clearly that they would weep and mourn while the world rejoices.  He prophesies that they will experience tremendous grief and pain.  Yet, He also encourages them with the assurance that their pain would possess an eternal purpose; their laments will become laughter; and their hopelessness will yield to exuberance.

Using the analogy of childbirth, Jesus defines the immediate time as one of anguish.  Like a mother in labor, they will hurt fiercely as they experience the events of the next day.  Also, similar to a mother who is told of the delivery of a healthy baby, their pain will dissipate as they rejoice over the outcome of their heartache.  However, they totally miss the value of this metaphor and its enduring lesson.  They remain focused upon their predetermined ideas about the ministry and mission of Jesus of Nazareth.  Moreover, their communal grief on this Saturday afternoon impedes their recollection of this promise that God will transform their grief into joy.

The Purpose of Pain

“Pain is the touchstone of all spiritual progress.”  In many ways, it  is life’s most formidable teacher.  Most people do not change anything about themselves until the pain reaches an unbearable range.  Even communities do not seek change and growth until the pain and disillusionment of decline, loss of status and possibility of death motivates them to consider alternative ways of conducting business.  In today’s lesson, we observe a community utilizing its pain to heal and grow.  We see how the disciples define the internal source of their collective pain.  We watch them wade through the marsh of confusion to discover methods for helping each other find relief from pain and a new joy.  Their example assists us in finding ways of supporting others in pain and helping them find joy upon discovering the purpose of their pain.