Week 3: January 21st, 2018

Topic: Your sorrow will turn to joy – Part 3

Bible Reading: Isaiah 51: 1-11

We shall continue this discussion with the sorrows of Christ, but before we go into the details, we need to know that this study is not to spite anyone. It is meant to make people to be sorrowful in manners that will lead to repentance, after all, your salvation is what is making us to be glad and rejoice before the Lord 2 Corinthians 2: 2.

Emulate people like Apostle Peter whose sorrow brought repentance. Peter denied Jesus Christ three times before the rooster crowed. Then “Peter remembered the word of Jesus who had said to him, ‘Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times’. So he went out and wept bitterly” Matthew 26: 75. Peter was sorrowful in godly manner which made him to be among the apostles that their sorrows turned to joy. The Bible testified that they were rewarded in heaven according to the passage which stated “Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb” Revelation 21: 14. If you want to be rewarded in heaven like Peter whose name is on the foundation of New Jerusalem the City of our Lord, make sure that your sorrowful situations always lead to repentance. Be sorrowful in godly manner if you want your sorrow to turn to joy this year.

The sorrows of Christ

Since Jesus Christ our Lord came into this world in human form, He had numerous sorrowful moments because He is not exempted from sorrow, but all His sorrows turned to joy at the end. Some of His sorrowful moments mentioned in the Bible will be discussed.

Prophecy about Christ ‘A man of sorrows’: Prophet Isaiah prophesied about our Lord Jesus Christ by saying “He is despised and rejected by men, A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him” Isaiah 53: 3.

Jesus wept over Jerusalem: The prophecy was fulfilled when Jesus Christ was so sorrowful that He lamented over Jerusalem by saying “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stone those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were not willing!”. “ See! Your house is left to you desolate; and assuredly, I say to you, you shall not see Me until the time comes when you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’”  Luke 13: 34-35. Jesus later wept over Jerusalem because He knew the impending danger that will befall the city Luke 19: 41, 21:20-24.

The sorrowful situation of the City of Jerusalem will turn to joy, first because the faithful inhabitants of the City together with the believers throughout the world will turn to joy because they will be redeemed Luke 21: 25-28. Their sorrow will be replaced with eternal joy when they are given the grace to occupy the New Jerusalem the City of our Lord Revelation 21: 2. Do not be depressed because of your sorrow, but let it lead to repentance so that you will be admitted into the New Jerusalem when you die and say goodbye to this sinful world.

Prophecy about Christ who carried our sorrows away: The Bible stated about Jesus Christ that “Surely He borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God and afflicted” Isaiah 53: 4. Jesus Christ took up our pain and bore our suffering because of the love He had for us. He carried our infirmities and weaknesses. It was our sorrows that weighed him down. And people thought His troubles were punishment from God for His own errors.

Jesus wept at Lazarus’ tomb: The prophecy was fulfilled throughout the ministerial work of our Lord Jesus Christ because people were comforted, healed, delivered from contrary spirits and they were given eternal salvation. Most importantly when Jesus was informed of Lazarus death; He came to their house and when He saw Mary together with the people with her weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit to the point of anger at the sorrow caused by death so He was troubled. He cannot contain Himself any longer so He wept; Jesus was so sorrowful that He wept at the tomb of Lazarus John 11: 32-35.

The sorrow of Lazarus’ family and friends turned to joy when Jesus Christ woke him up from his sleep. Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father I thank You that You have heard Me. And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me”. Then He cried with a loud voice “Lazarus come forth!” and Lazarus came out alive from the tomb John 11: 40-44. Be sorrowful in godly manner so that everything that is spiritually dead in your life and body will resurrect today. We pray that all your sorrowful situations will end in joy this year.

Christ was sorrowful for mankind: Jesus Christ was sorrowful about mankind towards the end of His mission on earth. He went to the garden of Gethsemane to pray, and then He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. He said to the three disciples that were with Him that “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death, stay here and watch with Me” Matthew 26: 37-38; Mark 14: 34. He even pleaded with His Father concerning the salvation of our souls saying “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will” Matthew 36: 39; Mark 14: 35-36. If Jesus Christ can be sorrowful then no one can escape sorrow, but if you believe your sorrow will turn to endless joy.

Jesus Christ told His disciples that “A little while, and you will not see Me, and again a little while, and you will see Me, because I go to the Father” John 16: 16. The disciples were sorrowful when He died, but their sorrow turned to joy when He sent the Helper/Comforter John 14: 16-17. Their joy will be boundless when He returns to this world according to His promise John 14: 18. If you want your sorrow to be replaced with joy believe in the Lord and His Word.

Promise of Jesus Christ: Jesus Christ told His disciples that “Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy” John 16: 20. This promise will come to pass in your life if you believe in the death and the resurrections of our Lord Jesus Christ. We pray that you will be among those who will be transformed and rapture with Christ. For now you may have sorrow, but the Lord will visit you according to His promise, then you will rejoice and no one will take away your joy from you John 16: 22. It is the promised of the Lord, whatever sorrowful situation that you are passing through will end in joy, and no one will rob you of your joy if you do not deny the Lord or betray His covenant.

At this junction it is better to know that believers shall sing for joy of heart and they will shout for joy from a happy heart, but the evil doers will cry out for pain and sorrow of heart. The wicked people will wail and howl for anguish from a broken spirit, says the scripture Isaiah 65: 14. This year you will sing for joy and you shall forget your past sorrows, but your adversaries will cry in sorrow and despair.