Title: Happy Believers” (John 16:20-24)
As I read the Gospel of John (chapters 12-16) every morning between these days, I meditate on the last appearance of the Lord walking toward the cross and pray. I talked about “happy believers” while reading John 16 this morning, but I am going to preach on “happy believers” again this Wednesday evening.
First, a happy believer is a believer who approaches the cross.
“In a little while” (16,17,18,19) refers to the crucifixion. Like John, those who can be held close to the Lord come near to the cross. A person who, like Mary Magdalene, can shed tears of love for the Lord, can even come close to the cross. A person who can obey the Son Jesus, like the Virgin Mary, can come close to the cross. A person who has experienced thorough repentance like Paul can even come close to the cross. Paul was the happiest man of the cross who knew only the cross (1 Corinthians 2:2), boasted only about the cross (Galatians 6:14) and lived with only the cross (2 Corinthians 4:10, Gal 6:17). This is because there is no way under the world to receive forgiveness of sins and salvation except through the cross, there is not a single person in the world who can go to the Father’s house without going through the cross, and all the love, grace and blessings of God are revealed on the cross. Whether we live or die, what we should strive with all our might is to draw near to the cross. We must cast off these “heavy and entangled sins” related to the world and the body, as they block the way to the cross (Hebrews 12:1). Hymn 496
Second, happy believers are those who are moved by the Holy Spirit.
Third, a happy believer is a believer who lives for the glory of God.
“For God is also glorified in the Son of Man” (John 13:31). Believers who live for their own glory, status, and honor are unhappy and perilous believers. Believers who humble themselves like Paul (1 Corinthians 4:13, 1 Tim 1:15) and live for the glory of God, whether they eat or drink or whatever they do, are those who live for the glory of God. He is the happiest believer (1 Corinthians 10:31). Hymn 53