Scripture John 16:29-33
Then Jesus' disciples said, "Now you are speaking clearly and without figures of
speech. 30 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."
31 "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."
SONG: Click here for song: Overcomer
There isn’t a father anywhere who has not faced a million
troubles from: how to put the bike together on Christmas Eve, to how he will
ever pay the bills with so little income. From how can I protect my family from
Covid 19 to mass shooters with a gun? From how do I balance time at work and
time with family and how do I balance my checkbook and still give generously to
the work of the Lord?
This comforting verse is found John-Chapters 13-17 =
the Farewell Discourse. These are Jesus’s final words of reassurance, comfort,
and encouragement to his disciples in the upper room before his betrayal, arrest,
and crucifixion.
In chapter
16, he speaks to them of his impending
death and departure, as well as their desertion. In John
16:32, Jesus tells them, "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. Certainly,
this must have been disconcerting for the disciples to hear, which is why Jesus
immediately followed up with his comforting words in John
16:33, “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.”
In this verse, we see two certain realities:
1) the followers of Jesus will suffer
great troubles, and
2) Jesus has already won the victory. (Not I might, or I
will – rather I HAVE!)
He didn’t want his disciples to be under the delusion
that their future ministry would be full of ease and comfort, and he doesn’t
want us to think that either.
Following Christ would find opposition and victory.
In Which Bible Version
Does Jesus Say, ‘Take Heart, I Have Overcome the World?’
The
specific phrase, “Take Heart, I Have Overcome the World,” is found in the NIV.
Other versions say, (Greek: tharseite) “take courage” (NASB) or “be
courageous” (CSB). The word “overcome” (Greek: nenikeika) could
also be translated “conquered” (CSB, NRSV).
Jesus’s
claim of victory over the world is in reference to his death, burial, and
resurrection. Earlier, in John
12:31, Jesus stated that his crucifixion
would conquer and cast out the “ruler of this world.” Hebrews 2:14-15 says,
Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so
that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death — that is,
the devil.
The finished work of Christ removes the teeth from
suffering. By entering into our world and suffering alongside of us, Jesus
offers certain hope that transcends the temporal sorrow and suffering this
world throws at his followers.
Therefore,
we are not called to overcome the world ourselves because Jesus already did. He
provides his children with a certain future — a “living hope through the
resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” and “an inheritance that can never
perish, spoil or fade” (2 Peter 1:3-4). It
is because of this reality that we can “take heart” and “be of good courage.”
The apostle Paul stated bluntly in 2 Timothy 3:12, “Everyone
who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” Anyone
who claims that believing in Jesus brings financial prosperity, physical
health, and perfect relationships hasn’t read his Bible. Life is tough and the
Christian life is often tougher. The Bible, far from dodging this fact,
acknowledges it and embraces it. Jesus himself guaranteed it. And instead of
promising to eliminate trouble from our lives, Jesus instead promises to give
peace and comfort in the midst of trouble.
Proverbs 13:12 says,
“Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of
life.” Could it be that troubles and trials make our heart sick because we are
placing our hope in that which does not satisfy—a job, a relationship, a
position? Christ calls us, not to place our hope in temporal, uncertain things,
but in his eternal victory over sin and death on the cross of Calvary. As one
commentator states, “It is the victory of God that the Christian celebrates,
knowing that all enemies (past, present, and future) have already been
defeated, even death itself”
This
is why Jesus exhorts us to “store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where
moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Matt. 6:20-21)
What Are the Two Principle Lessons of John 16:33?
1)
Count on trouble. 2) take courage in Christ’s victory.
We should never be shocked or surprised when trials come
our way. As the Apostle Peter says, “Don’t be surprised at the fiery ordeal
that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to
you.” (1 Peter 4:12)
We are called to take heart, not in our own abilities or
will power, but in the finished work of Jesus.
Scripture
is filled with assurances of peace amidst trials and the courage to persist
through them.
What, then, shall we say in response to these
things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not
spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along
with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any
charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who
justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who
died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of
God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the
love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or
nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:
“For
your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be
slaughtered.”
No, in all these things we are more
than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that
neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[b] neither
the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth,
nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of
God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Take Heart,
Christian—Jesus Has Already Won the Ultimate Victory
If you’re facing trials right now, you can have joy while
your tears flow. You can be courageous even when your strength fails because your
savior, Jesus, took on your sorrow, pain, and weakness. Most importantly, he
took your sin and nailed it to his cross. This trial can’t remove you from his
love.
After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and
prayed:
"Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your
Son may glorify you. For you granted him authority over all people that he
might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal
life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you
have sent. I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me
to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with
you before the world began.
Job
is an obvious overcomer.
Noah
is an obvious overcomer.
Jairus is an obvious overcomer.
Joseph is an obvious overcomer.
Abraham is an amazing overcomer and most
closely reveals what I mean when I say “My Father is an Overcomer”
was a father who
was an overcomer.
Ur to Haran (75
yo) to Egypt. (Built altars)
Ishmael born to
Hagar (86 yo)
Lied twice about
Sarah as sister
Isaac born
(90/100)
God, the Father also had a son whom people never really believed would come – did not believe he was God’s son when he did come – and he was mistreated by his own until he allowed his son to be laid on an altar – like Isaac, he was God’s only true begotten son and yet needed to be sacrificed. The difference is why. Isaac was almost sacrificed to prove Abraham’s love for God. Jesus, the Heavenly Father’s son was being sacrificed to prove God’s love for us.
OVERCOMER
Stay in the
fight 'til the final round. You're not going under 'Cause God is holding you
right now. You might be down for a moment feeling like it's hopeless. That's
when he reminds you that you're an overcomer.
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