Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.
Verily, verily, I say unto you (ἀμὴν ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν/amēn amēn legō hymin)—Jesus's solemn double ἀμήν (amēn) introduces critical truth, used 25 times in John's Gospel. What follows demands attention.
Ye shall weep and lament (κλαύσετε καὶ θρηνήσετε/klausete kai thrēnēsete)—κλαίω (klaiō) means to weep audibly, shed tears of grief; θρηνέω (thrēneō) means to wail, lament, mourn formally. Jesus predicts the disciples' anguish at His crucifixion. Good Friday saw their hopes crucified with Christ.
But the world shall rejoice (ὁ δὲ κόσμος χαρήσεται/ho de kosmos charēsetai)—the fallen world system opposed to God celebrates Christ's apparent defeat. Satan, religious leaders, mockers rejoiced at the cross, thinking they'd silenced God's Son.
Your sorrow shall be turned into joy (ἡ λύπη ὑμῶν εἰς χαρὰν γενήσεται/hē lypē hymōn eis charan genēsetai)—the passive verb γενήσεται (genēsetai, "shall become") indicates divine transformation. God will convert grief to gladness through resurrection. Not merely relief after sorrow, but sorrow itself metamorphosed into joy—the suffering becomes meaningful, purposeful, even glorious in retrospect.
Historical Context
Jesus spoke these words Thursday night; by Friday evening, they were tragically fulfilled. The disciples watched Jesus beaten, mocked, crucified, and buried. They scattered, hid, wept—all hope seemingly dead (Luke 24:21). Meanwhile, the world rejoiced: Pharisees congratulated themselves, Roman soldiers gambled for His garments, mockers ridiculed (Matthew 27:39-44). Saturday's Sabbath was the darkest day in redemptive history. But Sunday morning, resurrection transformed everything. Grief became gladness, death became victory, shame became glory. The early church, facing persecution and martyrdom, clung to this pattern: present suffering would be transformed to eternal joy (Romans 8:18, 2 Corinthians 4:17).
Questions for Reflection
How does understanding that sorrow will be 'turned into joy' (not merely followed by joy) change your perspective on present suffering?
What does the world's rejoicing at Christ's crucifixion reveal about fallen humanity's hostility toward God, and how should this shape Christian expectations?
In what ways does the crucifixion-to-resurrection pattern appear in believers' lives—times when apparent defeat becomes glorious victory?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
Verily, verily, I say unto you (ἀμὴν ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν/amēn amēn legō hymin)—Jesus's solemn double ἀμήν (amēn) introduces critical truth, used 25 times in John's Gospel. What follows demands attention.
Ye shall weep and lament (κλαύσετε καὶ θρηνήσετε/klausete kai thrēnēsete)—κλαίω (klaiō) means to weep audibly, shed tears of grief; θρηνέω (thrēneō) means to wail, lament, mourn formally. Jesus predicts the disciples' anguish at His crucifixion. Good Friday saw their hopes crucified with Christ.
But the world shall rejoice (ὁ δὲ κόσμος χαρήσεται/ho de kosmos charēsetai)—the fallen world system opposed to God celebrates Christ's apparent defeat. Satan, religious leaders, mockers rejoiced at the cross, thinking they'd silenced God's Son.
Your sorrow shall be turned into joy (ἡ λύπη ὑμῶν εἰς χαρὰν γενήσεται/hē lypē hymōn eis charan genēsetai)—the passive verb γενήσεται (genēsetai, "shall become") indicates divine transformation. God will convert grief to gladness through resurrection. Not merely relief after sorrow, but sorrow itself metamorphosed into joy—the suffering becomes meaningful, purposeful, even glorious in retrospect.