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Our difficult times last only a little while and then they are replaced with joy—finally with joy everlasting!

BibleGateway: John 16:17-33

ESV Text: John 16:17-33


KJV Text:

The section starts at about 1:53 and ends at about 4:34

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17 Then said some of his disciples among themselves, What is this that he saith unto us, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me: and, Because I go to the Father? 18 They said therefore, What is this that he saith, A little while? we cannot tell what he saith. 19 Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him, and said unto them, Do ye inquire among yourselves of that I said, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me? 20 Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. 21 A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. 22 And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.

     23 And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. 24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. 25 These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father. 26 At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you: 27 For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.

     28 I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father. 29 His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb. 30 Now are we sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou camest forth from God. 31 Jesus answered them, Do ye now believe? 32 Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. 33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.(KJV)


Hymn: TLH 592:
I Know of a Sleep in Jesus’ Name

Hymnary.org

— Organ Audio

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1. I know of a sleep in Jesus’ name, 
A rest from all toil and sorrow; 
Earth folds in her arms my weary frame 
And shelters it till the morrow; 
My soul is at home with God in heaven, 
Her sorrows are past and over. 

2. I know of a peaceful eventide; 
And when I am faint and weary, 
At times with the journey sorely tried, 
Through hours that are long and dreary, 
Then often I yearn to lay me down 
And sink into blissful slumber. 

3. I know of a morning bright and fair 
When tidings of joy shall wake us, 
When songs of from on high shall fill the air 
And God to His glory take us, 
When Jesus shall bid us rise from sleep, – 
How joyous that hour of waking! 

4. Oh, that is a morning dear to me, 
And oft, o’er the mountains streaming, 
In spirit its heavenly light I see 
As golden the peaks are beaming. 
Then sing I for joy like birds at dawn 
That carol in lofty lindens. 

5. God’s Son to our graves then takes His way, 
His voice hear all tribes and nations; 
The portals are rent that guard our clay, 
And moved are the sea’s foundations. 
He calls out aloud: “Ye dead, come forth!” 
In glory we rise to meet Him. 

6. O Jesus, draw near my dying bed 
And take me into Thy keeping 
And say when my spirit hence is fled, 
“This child is not dead, but sleeping.” 
And leave me not, Savior, till I rise 
To praise Thee in life eternal.