The apostle John wrote how Jesus told His disciples, “you shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and you shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy”, and in chapter sixteen and verse twenty-one of his book John shared how Jesus asked His disciples, “a woman when she is in travail has sorrow, because her hour is come” where we read:
A woman when she is in travail has sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembers no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world.
The verse reads, “A woman when she is in travail has sorrow, because her hour is come: ” John began with the words, “a woman” which means “a female human being” “when she is in travail” or “at the time and moment the woman giving birth”, “has sorrow” which means “possesses pain, grief, annoyance and affliction”, “because her hour is come” or “since and on account that the woman's time for birthing has come forth”. John shared how Jesus used the illustration of a the time when a “woman” has pain and grief when she is ready to give “birth” to her baby.
The verse continues, “but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembers no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world.” John added the words, “but as soon as she is delivered” or “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover whenever the woman begets, engenders and springs forth” “of the child” which means “pertaining to the infant”, “she remembers no more the anguish” or “the woman recalls and brings to mind not any longer the pressure, affliction, tribulation, distress and straits”, “for joy” which means “because, since and account of the gladness, calm delight and cheerfulness” “that a man” or “since a male human being” “is born into the world” which means “is begotten, engendered and arisen into the earth”. John shared how Jesus referred to the way the mother of the child does not recall her “distress and pain” because a male child is arisen in the earth.
When we consider John's words in this verse, we learn how Jesus employed the illustration of a woman having a baby and the pain and grief which occurs during the process. When the baby is born, the woman puts aside all her “anguish” because she “birthed” a child into the world. Jesus was continuing to speak to His disciples by sharing a story with them that has “sorrow” and eventual “joy” over the circumstances. This would be the experience of the disciples of Jesus when Jesus separated from them, and though they would have great “sorrow” in the beginning, afterward they would be filled with exceeding “joy”. God's desire is to have a personal relationship with every person through His Son Jesus, and when they receive Him as their “Savior and Lord”, He forgives their sin, grants them everlasting life and extends to them “joy unspeakable and full of glory”. Let all who read these words who are experiencing “sorrow” at this time turn to Jesus and receive His everlasting “joy”.
Next time John shares how Jesus tells His disciples, “you now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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