Show Don't Tell: John 16:16-33

Instead of saying "Jesus promised joy after sorrow," picture the woman in labor. "In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me." Some disciples ask each other: "What does he mean?" They don't understand. Jesus sees that they want to ask him about this: "Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world." Pain with purpose. "So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name." Then clearly: "I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father." The disciples: "Now you are speaking clearly! Now we can see that you know all things... This makes us believe that you came from God." "Do you now believe? A time is coming and in fact has come when you will be scattered... You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me. I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."