“Don’t Cry Because It’s Over; Smile Because it Happened”

(Jn. 16:13-33)

By Gary L. Fiscus, 2024

 

Introduction:

I.       “Don’t cry because it’s over; smile because it happened” is attributed to a German poet, Ludwig Jacobowski, in his book Leuchtende Tage published in August 1899. The title means Bright or Radiant Days.

II.      Even though this phrase is not biblical it does convey the idea that we often miss in some of Jesus’s last words in Jn. 15-17. Let’s analyze this text with the poet’s sentiment in writing, “Don’t cry because it’s over; smile because it happened.”

Discussion:

I.       THE CRUCIFIXION

          A.      Most of us are overwhelmed by the sadness of Jesus’s crucifixion, and we should be. It was a horrible means of torturous death.

          B.      We may miss the point, however, of Jn. 16:1, that the disciples sorrow would turn to joy.

                   1.       Joh 16:16, “A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father.” 

                   2.      His death would occur in a short time. In fact, it took place the next day.

                   3.      This treatise began back at Jn. 14:19, “Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.”

                             a.       He would be concealed from their view in the tomb.

                             b.      After three days He would rise again and appear to them.

          C.      So, what is there to be happy about? He says, “Because I go…”

                1.       It is a part of the plan that He should ascend to God.

                   2.      That would bring happiness as He and this action would be the evidence that He was still their friend.

                   3.      Jn. 7:33 states, “Yet a little while am I with you, and then I go unto him that sent me.” In other words, to put it informally, “I know your sad because I must die but remember it is God’s plan, and I will be resurrected. Don’t be sad because you think it’s over. This is just the beginning. Be happy because it happened!”

II.      LACK OF UNDERSTANDING

          A.      Most of us regret the past, not just because of sins we have committed, but because we can’t see the overall plan of God.

          B.      This was the problem the disciples had, “ 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? They said therefore, What is this that he saith, A little while? we cannot tell what he saith. Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him, and said unto them, Do ye enquire 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? 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.” (Jn. 16:17-20)

                   1.       Notice that they talk to each other, not to Jesus. Not that talking things over is bad but it cannot replace the communication with have with the Lord.

                   2.      I.E., we don’t always understand things because we apply human reasoning, social conversation and collective thinking.

                   3.       We must remember the OT principle of Isa. 59:1-2, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” 

                             a.       Granted there are some things, even religious things that can be considered with human rationale and reasoning. We must remember that Jehovah is the authority.

                             b.      To understand the situation that we are not sad it is over but happy that it happened, we must consider God’s plan and His providence in our everyday life.

                   4.      Note this very thought of our Lord again at Jn. 16:20, “…ye shall be sorrowful, BUT your sorrow shall be turned into joy.”

                             a.       Do we miss that point?

                             b.      Are we able to smile because He was put to death that we might be happy?  That seems at first to be a paradox, an oxymoron an enigma. It is a true statement, divinely stated, and inspirationally written.  

III.    THE EXAMPLE OF PHYSICAL PAIN

          A.      All of us can relate to physical pain. Jesus uses that familiarity to make His point on “Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.”

          B.      Jn. 16:21 says, “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.” 

                   1.       What explanation can one give for evil, sorrow, agony?

                   2.      Take the passage for what it says, “My child, you cannot bear to know now. Trust me, I will tell you as soon as you are able to understand.” (Jn. 16:12).

                3.       The limitations of the present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall follow in God’s own time.

                   4.      Rom. 8:18, “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”

                             a.       Yes, of course there is that physical and mental pain and anguish that we all go through, especially the remembrance of our Lord’s suffering. The glory and joy afterward, however, are like the woman suffering childbirth pain and yet forgetting it when she sees and holds her baby!

                             b.      To state it in contemporary language, Jesus is saying, “You are worth it, my friend. You are my child. I love you. I know your sorry. I was crucified but be glad that it happened as My Father’s plan for your salvation!”

                             c.       Perhaps the apostle Paul understood this principle better than we. 2 Cor. 4:17, “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” 

IV.     MY JOY

          A.      This idea of “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened” is again stated in Jn. 16:22-24, “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. 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. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.” 

                    1.       This is personal.

                   2.      My love for the Christ and His triumph over death removes the threats and persecutions of men.

          B.      My faith, my love, my joy cannot be taken from me. Paul’s letter to the Romans states, “Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. 

Rom 8:35  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 

Rom 8:36  As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 

Rom 8:37  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 

Rom 8:38  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 

Rom 8:39  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom. 8:34-39)

                   3.       As one source stated, “…the [apostles] amid all their afflictions, had an unshaken source of joy.” (Albert Barnes) Do we?

V.      OVERCOMING OF THE WORLD 

          A.      We are in a time capsule by which we tend to judge the basis for sadness and happiness on current events. We may look at the world and say, “I’m glad that’s over…[or] I’m sad that’s over.” Neither position has much to do with eternal joy unless we understand the agony of defeat compared to the joy of victory.

          B.      The remaining nine vv of Jn. 16 gives us a better understanding of “Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.”

                  1.       This address is directed toward His disciples of that day and to the apostles in particular. Joh 16:25  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. 

Joh 16:26  At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you: 

Joh 16:27  For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God. 

Joh 16:28  I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father. 

Joh 16:29  His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb. 

Joh 16:30  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. 

Joh 16:31  Jesus answered them, Do ye now believe? 

Joh 16:32  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. 

Joh 16:33 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.”

                   2.      The joy began in prophecy and was manifested in Jesus coming to this earth, “And when they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.” (Mt. 2:10).

                   3.       Before ascending into heaven, the joy for mankind was realized at Jesus’ death, Mt. 28:8, “And they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy and ran to bring his disciples word.”

                   4.      We strive to have that ultimate joy as did Paul with the brethren. “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, in the power of the Holy Spirit, that I may come unto you in joy through the will of God, and together with you find rest. (Rom. 15:3, 32) There is an eternal joyous rest in Christ Jesus, (Matt. 11:28-29).

                   4.      By overcoming the world Jesus, as painful as crucifixion is, provided us the joy of His resurrection to be enjoyed throughout eternity.

Conclusion:

I.       “Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.”

II.      Since it did happen, we as God’s children understand His crucifixion, his physical pain, His death, burial and resurrection.

III.    Yet, in all this we have the joy, i.e., we are happy, we can smile, we can live in hope because it did happen. We are sad for His suffering, but we rejoice in the providential plan and reward for our salva-tion!

IV.     “I do not cry because it’s over. I am joyful because it happened!”