When Jesus Speaks from (Heavenly) Experience

My wife Mollie is one of the wisest people I know. She’s always had a knack for finding the right words to lift someone up who is struggling. That gift has only grown deeper during the ups and downs of raising six kids. 

Recently, Mollie was talking with our daughter Liz about the many difficulties of pregnancy, especially how long nine months can seem. Liz is expecting her first child in August so she still has a little ways to go. Mollie let her know that the long wait and the trials of pregnancy and childbirth would immediately be forgotten the moment Liz held her baby for the first time. It was exactly what she needed to hear. 

This reminded me of a passage from John’s gospel. It takes place during the Last Supper as Jesus is preparing the disciples for His crucifixion and resurrection. (I think He’s also preparing them for the suffering they would encounter as His followers). Jesus says: 

Amen, amen, I say to you, you will weep and mourn, while the world rejoices; you will grieve, but your grief will become joy. When a woman is in labor, she is in anguish because her hour has arrived; but when she has given birth to a child, she no longer remembers the pain because of her joy that a child has been born into the world. So you also are now in anguish. But I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you. On that day, you will not not question me about anything. (Jn 16:20-23) 

I came across this passage in April when my Dad had just gone on Hospice. It was one of the hardest times for him and for us because we knew that he was not going to get better. As I read Jesus’ words that day, I was struck by the end of the passage. He promised that despite the suffering we have to face, we will not question Him about anything once we see Him. It gave me so much hope. Like the mother who forgets the pain of childbirth the moment she holds her baby, we will have that same experience the second we meet Jesus in heaven. Our joy will be so great that we will not even question why we had to suffer. 

Liz trusted that Mollie’s words of comfort were true because she knew Mollie spoke from experience. It did not take Liz’s suffering away but it made it easier to bear because she knew it would all be worth it. Is it any different with Jesus? He is the voice of experience on all things “heaven” because he “came down from heaven”. (1) He’s telling us that no matter what suffering we face in this life, it will all be worth it. The question is do we trust Him? 

(1) The Nicene Creed