A Greater Joy Awaiting

John 14:28 ~ "You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I."

Dear Christian, do not tremble too much at death. For those who belong to Christ have a greater joy awaiting than any transient delights on earth.

Consider our LORD as He quickly came upon the final days of His life. As He gazed forward toward the suffering that would bring us peace with God, and the horrific experience of what was going to be His greatest triumph for the salvation of those who believe, He rejoiced. Hebrews 12:2 says, "...looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."

In our text today, the LORD reminded His disciples that He was going away. Jesus had told them on many occasions that there was coming a cross for Him, a suffering at the hands of sinful men and, ultimately, His death. But the LORD continued to remind them that His resurrection would follow. We see this in texts such as Matthew 16:21, "From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised."

But now Jesus also tells them that there is going to be a departure of His physical presence from them for a period of time--that He was "going away." When the payment for sins was complete and His final instructions spoken, the LORD would depart from this world and return to His Father.

And, for that, He looked forward with joy. 

He even told the disciples that it was to their advantage that He depart. Jesus said in John 16:7, "Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you."

Consider this from our text today, Jesus said that if they loved Him, they would rejoice at His departure, for He was going to again be with the Father. Oh how difficult it is for us to grasp this! To love Jesus, and all those who belong to Jesus, is to rejoice at their departure to glory. Please don't mistake me, I do not set aside the grief of loss or the pain of the vacancy of a loved one who departed. But, can we not also rejoice because they departed--and because we love them are we not blessed to know that they entered into that greater joy that awaits all who belong to the LORD?

As the Apostle Paul considered the matter between remaining here to serve the LORD or departing to be with the LORD he said this in Philippians 1:23, "I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better." Dear ones, don't hold so tightly to the temporary joys of this transient life. There are blessed moments and great opportunities to serve the LORD and find joy in the journey, but there is a greater joy awaiting. There is a heavenly joy--an eternal glory. 

It is a blessed thing to have a long and fruitful life in serving the LORD while we are here. And even the Scripture teaches of the blessing of years in this life (see Psalm 91:6). But let us hold fast to the truth that the presence of our LORD is far greater, and to depart to be with Christ is a glorious reason to rejoice. 

And, my friends, I know this: the day when God has determined it is my time to depart and be with Christ, I will exceedingly rejoice. 

In His Grace,
​Pastor Michael

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