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John 16:25-33
I love this part of the study. We know what’s coming up next, it’s the terribly grueling part of God’s plan of salvation for humanity. But here, Jesus is telling His Disciples, and remember He is telling us today – that no matter what is happening next, He has overcome it all – everything. Let’s listen to what He says.
John 16:25-33 (NIV) “Though I have been speaking figuratively, a time is coming when I will no longer use this kind of language but will tell you plainly about my Father. In that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.”
Then Jesus’ disciples said, “Now you are speaking clearly and without figures of speech. Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God.”
“Do you now believe?” Jesus replied. “A time is coming and in fact has come when you will be scattered, each to your own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me.
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
This is such an awesome passage. Jesus starts out by speaking to them in a way that is no longer figurative. It seems to be very plain and understandable in that the Disciples themselves have no need to ask questions. They can rightly and clearly see that Jesus is the Son of God, sent from Heaven – from the Father. Now they get it.
Here Jesus is telling His Disciples, that things are going to happen which will make you scatter and go to different places. You won’t be together because it’s going to get bad – really bad. But that’s ok. Did you notice that Jesus didn’t tell them they are failures for doing so? Jesus didn’t chastise them, He is concerned that they know He loves them and here’s the best thing of all – no matter what is happening, no matter that you all scatter, I want you to know that I know all of this goings on is for a purpose. It has to be this way. And I’m telling you all of this so that – SO that – SO THAT – you will have peace about it all.
Then Jesus says this next thing. I think if He were talking today He would say it and DROP THE MIC!!! You can have peace about all of what will happen – and beyond this particular happening – because I have overcome this world. BOOM – DROP – THE – MIC!!!
Now – let’s tie some of this together and answer the “why” question. Why you and I as believers in Jesus Christ can have peace in the midst of everything that seemingly is going wrong in our world. It is simply this…
Jesus told the Disciples that the Advocate, we call Him the Holy Spirit, can come and live in us and through us. And because Jesus has already overcome this world, we are overcomers as well. Did you get that? The Jesus that lives in and through the believers has already overcome this world. And because He lives in us and through us, we are overcomers as well.