Our daily reflections follow the M'Cheyne Bible reading plan, designed for those who want to read the whole Bible in one year. Each reflection focuses on one of the chapters from that day's readings. Darllenwch rhain yn Gymraeg.
Lord, have mercy. Cleanse me. Still my mind. Help me to listen as you speak.
John 16 not only reveals the confusion of the disciples as Good Friday draws close, but seems to reflect the turmoil of a young Church which is facing persecution and no longer has Jesus in its midst. 'When is he coming back to take us home?' must have been a regular question on people’s lips.
Our passage speaks of pain, weeping and mourning. But just as Easter morning was the turning point from anguish to joy for the first disciples, John comforts his readers by reminding them that, through the Holy Spirit, Jesus is still among them.
A lesson I quickly learnt as a young Christian was not to misread a phrase that was common at the time – 'God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life' – as 'all will be hunky-dory from now on'. As every seasoned lover knows, not only does love not rule out pain, it includes it. The belief that God’s sovereignty and providence are an insurance policy against trials and tribulations is mistaken.
But this is not where Jesus ends. 'You will have pain, but your pain will turn into joy', he says (verse 20). The analogy he uses is that of a woman about to give birth: love and suffering are inextricably linked and the outcome is worth the struggle.
Lord, as life as we knew it grinds to a halt and anxiety rules the day, help me to keep trusting that your Spirit is there to guide me and that pain will turn to joy.
This reflection was written by Michael Pfundner, Bible Society's Publishing Support Manager
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