Nevertheless

“Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away...” - John 16:7

I’m not sure I would have ever considered that my sorrow could be associated with my good. That is, unless Jesus told me so. Nor could I work out how Paul could pair sorrow and rejoicing in the same sentence—maybe he understood something about Jesus I’d missed. I don’t feel too bad, though, and neither should you if these matters are confusing to you too, I mean, the other disciples didn’t really get it either.

Sorrow seems to reside as one of the last great taboos of our society; we do all we can to avoid, or distract ourselves from it. Yet Jesus was willing to risk sorrow for a greater joy. “Nevertheless”, that’s Jesus’ heart here, nevertheless. Jesus was willing to go places in the relationship with his followers, knowing that sorrow would enter the soft places of our lives; nevertheless, he knew it would be worth it. Just moments before, Jesus acknowledges the pain that was present:

But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. - John 16:6

“Nevertheless”. Jesus knew the joy that was coming. A comforter was on the horizon, and as Jesus was preparing to leave, the Spirit was preparing to enter. Not just God with us, but now God in us! What glory.

Sorrow is still hard, and the pain that travels with it often leaves scars, but I’m learning to not be so scared of it. It seems Paul was right after all, we are a people who can be sorrowful but always rejoicing.