Lately, it seems there are many who believe the message of CHs 15 and 16 is as pertinent to us today as it was when Christ was speaking to his disciples. Certainly, there is an anti-Christian bias evident in current events and the trend seems to be growing. If we are in the end times, we can expect increased persecution as Satan becomes more and more desperate and powerful. Jesus has spoken to us through His Word even more clearly than He was able to speak to the disciples here. He does so for the reason that His joy might remain in us, and be full. His revelation of things to come makes us His friends, and gives us a clear directive to love one another. The world hates us; Satan hates us and wants to destroy us. If we are to be persecuted, we need to pay good attention to the message here. We will experience His joy, fully, in spite of what the world might do to us. The things that bring us sorrow will increase that joy. It is not easy to understand, but there is a joy in communing with Christ when our hearts are broken. The deeper the sorrow, the greater the joy. If we read about the martyrs, we often find them singing and praising God even as they are dying horrible deathe. We need to understand what Christ was telling his disciples here before his death and know that the time of sorrow is nothing compared to the joy that follows. We have Christ as our advocate, friend and example; and the Holy Spirit to give us comfort, joy, strength, prayer-interpreting. We have access to the God of the Universe through Christ, who has overcome the world and prays for us. We have many reasons to rejoice, and we should!