Don’t Forget “After These Things…”

Burdens. Difficulties. Disaster Illness. Pressures. Problems. Suffering. Tragedies. Trials. Untimely death.

We all have experienced situations that we could put in those categories.  We have all experienced situations that we could put in those categories too often. 

At times we have experienced the suddenness of those trials.  We receive an unexpected phone call with unwanted news, or receive an unexpected diagnosis at a routine doctor visit.  And in an instant our lives are shifted dramatically. 

We saw the reality of that again this week with the flash flood in Kerrville and the surrounding region.  Over 100 are confirmed dead with well over 100 still missing.  Dozens of families are unexpectedly walking through the valley of the shadow of death (Ps. 23:4).  And numbers of those families are grieving the death of more than one family member.  And many of those who died were children.

Even those who are not directly impacted by these deaths and destruction of property lament over the suffering and heartache.  We grieve with those who are grieving (Rom. 12:15). 

And we remember.  We remember “after these things.”  There is a kind of remembrance that comforts our hearts when we lament.

The phrase “after these things” is a particular favorite of the apostle John.  It is used 19 times in the New Testament, and John uses it 15 of those times, and six times in his gospel. 

That phrase gives us a hint of what we might remember when suffering.  Consider the examples of three successive chapters in which John uses the phrase.

In John 5:1 “after these things” introduces an event that seems to be joyous — Jesus heals the man at the Bethesda pool who had been sick for 38 years.  But that healing then precipitated a verbal battle with the Pharisees who objected to Jesus healing the man on the Sabbath (5:9-10).  And the Jewish leaders became so angered that they intensified their efforts to kill Jesus (5:18).  That’s a day of trouble.

In John 6:1 “after these things” initiates the story of Jesus healing, teaching, and then feeding the 5000 (6:2-14).  But even the miracle was noted by John as a test (6:6), and the test was followed by an even greater exam when the disciples found themselves on the Sea of Galilee in a terrible storm (6:15-21).  A day of blessing quickly turned into a night of testing. 

In John 7:1 “after these things” is the prelude to the announcement of a shift in Christ’s ministry.  He delayed going to Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles because the Jews were attempting to kill Him (7:1-2).  He was so hated that even His biological half-brothers would not believe in Him (7:5).  Feasting and celebration was overshadowed by hatred and unbelief.

What is the connection between all these trials and troubles and the phrase “after these things?”  

In one sense, John is simply using the phrase to indicate a shift in time and stories.  It is akin to “and a while after that, this other thing happened.”  It’s simply a chronological marker that is designed to indicate that two or more stories are separated by some undetermined amount of time.

But it may be that John is also using the phrase to tie together two or more events with a theological connection:  “There was another event, but as I tell you that story, don’t forget the previous story.”  He wants us to see the relevance of the one story to the other.

So in John 5:1 the healing at Bethesda and the rejection of Christ by the leaders follows the salvation of many Samaritans (4:39) and the healing of the Roman official’s son by the declaration of a simple word (4:50).  This miracle was a sign of the Messianic authority of Christ (4:54, the verse immediately before 5:1).  As John tells the story of Jesus at Bethesda he does not want the readers to forget that Jesus is also the Messiah who is authoritative to save spiritually and heal physically (and He is compassionate to the “outcast” Samaritans and even Roman officials).  

The stories of testing in chapter six follow the declarations at the end of chapter five about the various testimonies to the nature of Christ — that He is the One who has come to resurrect the dead (5:25ff) and that John the Baptist, Christ’s works, the Father, and Scripture all provide authenticating testimony to His nature and deity.  The readers should not forget (even — no, especially — when they are in trials) that Christ’s words are worth believing (5:47) because He is the Messiah and God incarnate. 

Finally, the stories in chapter seven follow Christ’s promise that He is the bread of life who will feed His people spiritually for all eternity when they believe in Him (6:47-51).  He declared that He would return to Heaven to continue His role as the second person of the Trinity there (6:62).  And Peter affirmed that Christ alone had the words of eternal life and that they believed in Him (6:68-69).  As John tells of the rejection of Christ in chapter seven (even by His brothers), John doesn’t want the readers to forget the gift of Christ and that while people do reject Him, yet many also believe in Him (and He is worth believing).

Trials and difficulties and tragedies tempt us to have a skewed vision of our circumstances.  Whether it is the devastation in south Texas that is tempting you to lament and question God, or some other more personal sorrow, don’t forget the truth of the nature of God and the provision of Christ.  These circumstances have not overwhelmed Him and He is still working and sovereign.  

Don’t forget the truth of Christ that you have known from the Word of God.  Don’t forget “after these things.” 

Security camera, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.