Written ~ 09-10-2023
John 16:33
“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in Me. Here on earth, you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
The time was drawing near for Jesus to be betrayed and arrested. In John chapters 14, 15 and 16, Jesus is giving His last words of explanation, instruction, and encouragement to His followers. Jesus knew it was getting close for Him to die on the cross, to be raised from the dead and go back to the Father in Heaven. He was trying to explain these things, delicately, so the disciples would understand. The disciples were alarmed by the things Jesus was saying to them, they still weren’t understanding or believing what Jesus was telling them. But by the time we get to the end of chapter 16, they finally seem to believe.
In John chapter 14, Jesus was explaining to the disciples that if they had seen Him, they had also seen the Father in Heaven. This explanation was not going over very well, Jesus was being questioned again and again about the meaning of what He was saying. Here is part of that conversation, verses 14:8-11,
“Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” Jesus replied, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father! So why are you asking Me to show Him to you? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me? The words I speak are not My own, but My Father who lives in Me does His work through Me. Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me. Or at least believe because of the work you have seen Me do.”
What’s interesting to me, the disciples had been with Jesus, walking side by side with Him, for 3 years! After all that time they still didn’t get it! We can feel a little astonished by that, wondering how in the world they couldn’t see who He was. We read the Scriptures and know who Jesus is, we have the benefit of reading His story and choose to believe the accounts written in the Bible. For the disciples and all the other followers, Jesus was a man, and this man did some really incredible things, so I would imagine it was easy to get caught up with the excitement of the things He did, rather than focus on who He was. Think about your MOST FAVORITE public figure. Whether it’s a pastor, speaker, musician or even a self-made business mogul. What if, for three years, you had the opportunity to study under their teaching, their musical expertise or even learn how to grow your business by their example. All your time, all your attention was on them, you had three years to learn everything you possibly could, you were completely in awe of everything they did or said. Then suddenly, they were gone! All you had left were the memories of their instruction and some written down notes. You weren’t ready for them to leave! There was so much more for you to learn, to experience. For a time, you may even feel a little lost. I don’t know, but maybe that example can give us some insight as to how the disciples were feeling. Here they were in the height of ministry alongside Jesus and He’s telling them He must leave. The biggest difference with Jesus from your favorite public figure is that Jesus was sending someone in His place. John 14:15-31 Jesus tells the disciples, for the first time, about the Advocate, the Encourager, the Comforter, the Counselor… He is the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit was coming as soon as Jesus went back to Heaven to be with His Father. In verses 14:26-29 Jesus says,
“But when the Father sends the Advocate as My representative – that is, the Holy Spirit – He will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you. I am leaving you with a gift – peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. Remember what I told you: I am going away, but I will come back to you again. If you really loved Me, you would be happy that I am going to My Father, who is greater than I am. I have told you these things before they happen so that when they do happen, you will believe.”
One of the warnings Jesus gives to his disciples and to us, when we become His follower and proclaim who He is to the world, the world is going to hate us. The message we proclaim throughout the world is not going to be an easy one for all to understand or believe, therefore, persecution will follow us wherever we go. That’s why Jesus made it clear we would have many trials and sorrows while here on earth. But that does not mean we give up when life gets tough. In John 15:26-27 it says,
“But I will send you the Advocate (the Holy Spirit) – the Spirit of truth. He will come to you from the Father and will testify all about Me. And you must also testify about Me because you have been with Me from the beginning of My ministry.”
As Jesus continues to explain the Holy Spirit and clarify His leaving to go the Father, the disciples are saddened, they do not want Jesus to leave. In John 16:16-33, Jesus is letting them know that even though they will grieve for a time, soon they would understand and the grief they were feeling would soon be turned to joy. Verses 16:22-24 says,
“So, you have sorrow now, but I will see you again; then you will rejoice, and no one can rob you of that joy. At that time, you won’t need to ask Me for anything. I tell you the truth, you will ask the Father directly, and He will grant your request because you use My Name. You haven’t done this before. Ask, using My Name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy.”
What a wonderful promise Jesus is leaving with the disciples. Even though there will be sorrow, trials, and persecution, there is the promise of abundant joy! Not only is Jesus promising joy to His disciples, but He is promising abundant joy to us as well. When we believe in who Jesus is, when we come to know the Father in Heaven, even in the times we feel alone, we have the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, to help reignite that joy within. Our Scripture reading for today summarizes all Jesus is trying to convey to His followers, including us! John 16:33,
“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in Me. Here on earth, you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
I don’t know about you, but when I read those words from Jesus, all I imagine is the love in His eyes. He does not want our hearts to be filled with sorrow, He doesn’t want us to feel alone in our trials. What He does want, is for us to share in His glory, to spread the gospel message and use the Holy Spirit’s help to live a life full of joy no matter our circumstances. If our minds are filled with the lack of clarity like that of the disciples, let’s be reminded that the Advocate is here to infuse our confused minds with truth and guidance, He will speak to our hearts and minds with the words of Jesus. So here is a question, straight from the mouth of Jesus, John 16:31,
“Jesus asked, ‘Do you finally believe?’”
My prayer is that each of us would ask ourselves that question.
Do we believe in everything Jesus did and said while He walked here on the earth? Do we believe He is the Son of God? Do we believe He died on the cross, and paid in full, the entire debt for the penalty of our sins? Do we believe He stayed in that grave for three days but on the third day rose again, alive, and glorified? Do we believe He is now seated at the Right Hand of God? Do we believe that one day He will come again and bring us all back to Heaven to live with Him for all eternity?
The Holy Spirit is the one who helps us answer all those questions with a resounding, YES!
Let’s end here with these words from Jesus, John 20:29,
“Then Jesus told him, ‘You believe because you have seen Me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing Me.’”
Be blessed, my dear ones that you believe even without seeing Jesus here on earth. Be blessed for believing even without witnessing His marvelous works with your own eyes. Yes, we are blessed for believing in Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God.
~AMEN~