John 16:16-24 (NIV)

When my wife and I found out that we were pregnant with our first child, we anticipated a lot of things. But the sheer volume of advice and stories of other’s experience was not one of them. I can remember fathers telling me what it would be like when I first laid eyes on my newborn, what it would be like to hold her, and how everything would change. And they probably saw, as it usually went, my mind wandering off, scarcely able to imagine what to expect.

In today’s passage, the disciples cannot fathom the next 24 hours, much less the next three days. By their next Sabbath, they will have seen Jesus crucified, placed in a tomb, resurrected, and appearing to them to teach and eat fish. It’s like what all the dads said who’d tried to prepare me: “You’ll see.”  Jesus says the same today, in the midst of our grief and pain, and endless ambiguity.

----------REFLECT----------

1. What word or image stood out to you in the passage?

2. What about this passage encouraged you? What about it surprised you?

3. In what way is the LORD inviting you to respond to this passage today? How might things need to be different?

----------CONNECT----------

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