John 16:29-33 (NIV)
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.”
“You believe at last!” Jesus answered. “But a time is coming, and has come, when you will be scattered, each to his 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.”
The lights were finally starting to come on for the disciples, at least in one area, and they were feeling better about that. They now understood that Jesus would be taken from them, but they also understood that it would be a temporary, even short-term separation. He would come back to them soon. They looked forward to the Counselor that He would send to them. They had already experienced His presence and power in their lives when Jesus had sent them out in pairs (Luke 9:1-2), but now they were being promised His presence as a permanent part of their lives.
They were also amazed that Jesus not only seemed to truly know what they were thinking but was able to easily address their every question. To them, this confirmed that Jesus had indeed come from God.
But Jesus didn’t allow them to become smug in this new awareness. Despite what they were feeling now, in just a short time the trap would close on Jesus, and His closest followers would scatter, leaving Him without human support. However, He also knew that He would have divine support through the entire ordeal, and he was fine with that.
The key reason Jesus had told His followers all these things in advance was so that when they did happen the disciples would not entirely lose heart, but would have hope and peace, knowing that it was all happening exactly as expected. Even though they did freak out in the moment and fulfilled Jesus’ worst predictions of betrayal, desertion, and denial, they weren’t completely scattered, but stayed holed up together until everything could be fulfilled for them.
But Jesus’ predictions went far beyond the immediate future. His prediction that, “In this world you will have trouble,” looked to the time when all the force of the world system would come against the disciples as they faithfully shared the good news of the kingdom. And His statement that they should “take heart! I have overcome the world” would remind them in that time of suffering how to stand firm in their faith, just as Jesus had done.
Father, it is easy for us to buckle in the face of opposition, to back off, be silent, or even retreat from the threat as the disicples did. In those times, we instead need to remember Jesus words in Matthew 10:24-31 (NIV): “A student is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for the student to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebub, how much more the members of his household! So do not be afraid of them. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” And in the knowledge that we can overcome just as Jesus did, because we have the same Spirit who strengthened Him, we need to stand firm, continue in obedience, and keep moving forward, knowing that, in the end, You have us. Thank you for that sure knowledge, and for the presence of Your Spirit to confirm it. Amen.
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