May 18, 2025

Today's Reading: John 16:12-22

Daily Lectionary: Leviticus 20:1-16, 22-27; Luke 11:37-54

“When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.” (John 16:21-22)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. 

As each of our children was coming into the world, I remember the labor process well. I remember the easiest natural birth when my wife and I were walking around the hospital waiting for the contractions to bring the birth. Especially I remember my poor, obvious, and generally unsuccessful attempts to distract her from the labor pains. I also remember the planned C-Section, which seemed oddly effortless as far as the actual birthing process went. Then I remember the long labors when my wife expressed her pain and fatigue. Most of all, I remember how every time there was joy in the new life my wife held in her arms when the work was finished.

This is life in the world as Christians, isn’t it? Sometimes our life in the world is relatively painless, and we get to see the joy easily. Sometimes, it’s difficult, but we can still get through it relatively unscathed. Then there are those times when we have no idea how we’ll finish the course. 

Jesus’ warning here tells us that the end is attainable, and it is attainable by the joy that is to come. In fact, what we see is that He is our joy. He is the One on whom we fix our eyes, the Author and Perfecter of our faith, who, for the joy set before Him, endured the cross and scorned its shame. What do I mean?

I mean that as Christ has loved us, He has carried our sin to the cross to redeem us. He has desired that we would be with Him in the joy of His Eternal Kingdom, and so He has suffered what our sin deserves. He has experienced with that the suffering of death. But in His resurrection on the First Easter is the promise that all suffering has been overcome. 

So why still the birth pangs and the suffering now? Because through this, He forms us as those clinging to Him and to His promises of eternal life alone. Through this, He promises us, promises you that as you are His baptized child, as you have been born that child out of the water and the Spirit, you will have eternal joy with Him. But it’s that baptismal promise that becomes the way He also strengthens you to endure it. It’s hard now, but the light of that life with Him is the light shining at the end of the tunnel of this suffering. It’s shining and brightening your life even now so you would know He will never leave you nor forsake you in it. 

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

O God, You make the minds of Your faithful to be of one will. Grant that we may love what You have commanded and desire what You promise, that among the many changes of this world, our hearts may be fixed where true joys are found; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

- Rev. Matthew Zickler, pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Western Springs, IL.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.

Andrew R. Jones identifies ten lies Satan uses in attempts to dismantle God’s people and His kingdom. Find encouragement in God's Word of Truth and remember the final victory we have in our Savior, Jesus Christ.