Charles Spurgeon Commentary John 16:20

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, that ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy." — John 16:20 (ASV)

And you shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.

I think we may conclude our reading at this verse, with these words for us to savor all this week: Your sorrow shall be turned into joy. God grant that it may be so with many here present, for Christ's sake! Amen.

And ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.

So, the more of it the better. If your sorrow is to be turned into joy, then the more sorrow, the more joy. Happy is he who endures trial, since his trial is to be turned into happiness.

Truly, truly, I say to you, that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice:

"I am going away from you, and while I am gone, it will be all weeping and lamenting with you; but while I am gone, the world will have its hour of triumph, it will think that I am killed, and that my cause is defeated."

But the world shall rejoice:

But not for long; the world's joy at Christ's death was soon over.