John 16:21
A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world.
Jesus spoke these words to His faithful disciples in the upper room on the night before His suffering, after Judas had withdrawn, just before His separation from them. They belong to His extended instruction in John 14 through 17, including the plain discussion in chapters 15 and 16 about the difficulties they would meet in the world, given as words of comfort, counsel and prayer to keep their hearts from trouble when they could not yet understand sacred truth.
They show what God desires to do for the human race and every provision the Father has made for it, so that obedience to this teaching would transform humanity and bring a new world bearing the mark of heaven. Jesus gave it because He knew every phase of experience and every conflict the disciples would meet, and He was grieved that they must pass through many afflictions from the world into a dark and troubled future of great trial and temptation to lose faith. He told them beforehand to guide their future work, prepare them for coming trials, and help them remember His love in their work, so that they would remember, stand firm through severe trials, not fall away, not fail or be discouraged, but maintain active faith. He deliberately mingled dark predictions with bright and hopeful promises, presenting the hopeful side of the future and offering encouragement through the ever-available consolation, hope and courage of the Comforter.
The disciples did not fully understand these words until after the resurrection, but afterward they repeated them again and again to steady their sinking hearts and sustain one another in great disappointment and trial. This teaching remains of highest value for everyone dedicating life to God's service, spreading through testimony to all lands and living through all ages; as the Holy Spirit comes as at Pentecost to open blinded eyes, it comforts the discouraged and gives peace and hope to thousands who believe.