Fourth Sunday of Easter (1883)

Many want to know nothing about Christianity because they do not suffer with
Christ, do not walk on the narrow path, but be merry and happy with the world and
want to enjoy this life aright. So many Christians are blinded by the pleasures of the
world and leave the narrow path. A sad example is Demas, who left the Apostle Paul
and again loved the world. A very different example we have in Moses. With whom do
we want to remain?

John 16:16-23a

Why should we prefer to mourn with the disciples of Christ than pleased with the
world?

1. because the joy of the world is a vain thing; though Christians sometimes take
offense to the happiness and joy of the world
1
, when they go into the sanctuary of God
2
,
they see:
a. how brief it is; "They may rejoice a little while, Christ says, but no longer, for
in the meantime you mourn. This is especially a brief joy" etc.
3
;
b. how it has been mixed with bitterness
4
; "Those who should be sorrowful here
are happy and have a good time, but still in a way that this outward joy works their
ruin. For they cannot acquire the true inner joy they long for, therefore their outer joy
will also be their destruction.... These are always poor, miserable people whom one may
truly pity.... (Joy) is always spoiled by wormwood and gall, so in our case sorrow has
within itself its sugar and honey."
5
;
c. how it is turned into eternal sadness
6
;

2. because the sadness of Christians is a blessed one; although it is often great.
7
"For
there is also many kinds of sorrow on earth.... But the really great sorrow above all
sorrow is for the heart to lose Christ, so that he is no longer in view and there is no hope
of further comfort from him."
8
Yet it is a blessed one; for it is

1
Psalm 73:2-3; Jeremiah 12:1-2.
2
Psalm 73:17.
3
Luther, Church Postil.
4
Isaiah 57:21; Luke 6:25.
5
Luther, Church Postil.
6
Matthew 22:13; Luke 16:23; 1 John 2:17.
7
John 16:20-21.
8
Luther, Church Postil.
a. brief.
9
"However, my dear little children, only think of these words and forget
not entirely what I now say to you. It shall not be so forever" etc.
10
"For what is it that
the poor Lazarus" etc.
11
;
b. already sweetened here with joy.
12
"For this, however, there is already
mingled with the sorrow the sugar that Christ speaks...so in our case sorrow has within
itself its sugar and honey.... Even by this the sorrow is already sugar-coated and
tempered."
13
"And such is also highly necessary, so that we can bear it" etc.
14
; the
sadness of Christians shall
c. be turned into joy that shall not be taken from them.
15

Gnther

9
John 16:16-17 ("in a little while"); Psalm 30:6; Isaiah 54:7-8; Romans 8:18; 2 Corinthians 4:17; 1 Peter 1:6.
10
Luther, Church Postil.
11
Luther, House Postil.
12
Psalm 23, 77:4, 91:15, 94:19, 97:11; Romans 5:3; 1 Corinthians 10:13; 2 Corinthians 6:10.
13
Luther, Church Postil.
14
Luther, House Postil.
15
John 16:20, 22; Psalm 126:6; Matthew 5:4; Luke 6:21, 16:25; Revelation 21:4.