He Has Overcome the World
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John 16:17-33
23. In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask anything of the Father, he will give it to you in my name. 24. Hitherto you have asked nothing in my name; ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. 25. "I have said this to you in figures; the hour is coming when I shall no longer speak to you in figures but tell you plainly of the Father. 26. In that day you will ask in my name; and I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you; 27. for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from the Father. 28. I came from the Father and have come into the world; again, I am leaving the world and going to the Father." 29. His disciples said, "Ah, now you are speaking plainly, not in any figure! 30. Now we know that you know all things, and need none to question you; by this we believe that you came from God." 31. Jesus answered them, "Do you now believe? 32. The hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, every man to his home, and will leave me alone; yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. 33. I have said this to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."
When Jesus told the disciples he would soon no longer speak in figures, he wasn’t kidding! The Cross really answers any questions the disciples might have posed. “Oh . . . this is what he meant!” And how sad for them that they felt they must run and hide to avoid a similar fate! Peter did more: He denied his beloved teacher! I think it’s so interesting—and so loving—that Jesus told Peter ahead of time about the denial, and the apostles about their actions to remain safe after the arrest and crucifixion. They may have denied that they would turn their backs on him at the time of the prediction, but must have been comforted somehow as they cowered in fear and dread in their homes.
Jesus knew, of course, that it would happen. And he didn’t want them to beat themselves up with shame and self-loathing for being less than they thought they were. It must have been pretty humbling, too for these select few! I’ve often wondered if, being human like us all, they didn’t have a sense of pride and perhaps a glimmer of self-importance at being the chosen ones. You really couldn’t blame them. Jesus was quite dynamic and mesmerizing. And they must have reveled in seeing his miracles performed and savored the time afterward—the afterglow. And they surely relished the intimate meals and relaxed evenings after dinner, reclining at the master’s side and hearing him tell them of a wonderful future.
I wonder, too, if they started scratching their heads and exchanging puzzled glances when the tone changed to the sadness and the danger that was to come. The foretold grieving over the loss of their teacher and friend, their beloved companion for three years, was just too hard to imagine. And what years they had been! Life changing! Mind boggling!
But Jesus knew, of course. Since he walked the earth as a man, he knew mankind’s tendencies and flaws. He knew they would run and hide. But he knew they would come back around, too! And he wanted them to understand that the real work would begin when they were ready to hit the streets again! If you are afraid, it’s okay. The Holy Spirit will be with you. You will not be alone! Be of good courage! Take heart. Be brave. The world will hate you. But I have overcome the world!
That’s what Jesus wants us to understand too. It’s not always easy being faithful. The world doesn’t see things the way Christians do. In fact, so often I’ve discovered that “the world” is diametrically opposed to what I stand for! And that is so frustrating! Life would be so much better for everyone if they believed in the Risen Lord! We could all live in peace. We would take care of each other. We would love each other.
But short of heaven, we’re not going to see that kind of existence. All we can do is strive to achieve as much of the promise as we can—to bring about as much of heaven on earth as we can muster.
I hope today as you minister to this fallen world, that you’ll remember Christ’s encouragement to all disciples. “In the world you have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." And that you’ll tell everyone you know that He has overcome the world.
Mary
