Peace In Christ – John 16 (Winter SWO)

John 16

[1] “I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away. [2] They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. [3] And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me. [4] But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you.

“I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. [5] But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ [6] But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. [7] Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. [8] And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: [9] concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; [10] concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; [11] concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.

[12] “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. [13] When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. [14] He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. [15] All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

[16] “A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see me.” [17] So some of his disciples said to one another, “What is this that he says to us, ‘A little while, and you will not see me, and again a little while, and you will see me’; and, ‘because I am going to the Father’?” [18] So they were saying, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We do not know what he is talking about.” [19] Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, “Is this what you are asking yourselves, what I meant by saying, ‘A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me’? [20] Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. [21] When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. [22] So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. [23] In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. [24] Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

[25] “I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father. [26] In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; [27] for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. [28] I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.”

[29] His disciples said, “Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech! [30] Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that you came from God.” [31] Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? [32] Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. [33] I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

What’s The Point?

It is important to read this whole chapter to get the context of all that Jesus is saying. Jesus warns his disciples that hard times will come—times of difficulty and persecution. We know this came to pass for almost all of the twelve disciples. History and tradition tell us that all but two of the original disciples were martyred for their faith; Judas betrayed Christ, and John was exiled to the island of Patmos.

This chapter should be an encouragement to us today. It promises coming persecution and trouble, but it gives a promise that is greater than the coming trouble, the promise that Christ has “overcome the world” (v. 33). Although that is the last verse in this passage, that is what everything else in the chapter is looking toward.

Three times in this chapter, Jesus tells his disciples the reason he is telling them what he is telling them. That sounds redundant (and maybe confusing), but we often need that type of repetition. Jesus isn’t just repeating the same thing to his disciples because they have thick skulls (although they did). He is giving his disciples the proper application of his teaching that they likely would have missed if he had not explained it to them.

These three instances come in vv. 1, 4, and 33. Let’s look at them one at a time.

“I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away.”

Right before Jesus said this, he told the disciples that the world was going to hate them and persecute them. He also told them that he would be leaving them and sending them his Spirit. It would be easy for us to look over this, but it is important that we put ourselves in the disciples’ shoes (sandals).

How would they be comforted in the midst of these trials? They would be comforted knowing that Jesus said this would happen. The things they would experience were not out of his control. In fact, Jesus was so in control that he used these things to spread the Gospel to the whole world!

And the same is true for us. Jesus knows your situation. He knows us, and he cares about us. Even if we cannot understand how God is going to use a situation, even if it seems bad from our point of view, we can trust that God is good, and he is in control. Knowing this helps keep us from falling away.

“I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you.”

Again, Christ’s knowledge of the future and our circumstances should lead to hope because Jesus is greater than our circumstances. The beauty of this is the very thing that could cause us to despair now leads us to hope. For the disciples, there was no reason to fear persecution or death because Christ was still in control, even in the worst of circumstances.

We must always be remembering.

We must fight to remember the faithfulness of the Lord rather than trust ourselves. We must remember the truths we read in Scripture rather than trusting what the world tells us. We must remember the words of Jesus when he told us hard times would come. If we don’t remember Christ’s words and worship him we will forsake him and worship something else.

“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

This is the truth that fulfills everything Jesus said in this passage, but we have to believe Jesus. That is both the hardest and easiest thing to do. In one sense, all we have to do is take Jesus at his word. All we need to do is believe what Jesus said. But will we really believe it when hard times come?

When you are tempted to sin, do you really believe Jesus is better? When we see the state of our world today, do we really believe that Jesus has overcome? When people ridicule you for your “ignorance” or “bigotry,” do you really trust what Jesus said?

If we believe Jesus, if we trust his words, then we may have peace! This isn’t peace like the world offers, where everything is just peachy. This is peace in the midst of trials, peace in the middle of suffering, peace in the middle of war.

Psalm 23:5 says, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” This is a picture of sitting down for a meal in the middle of the enemy’s camp. How secure would you need to feel to sit down in the middle of a war zone for a three-course meal? Pretty secure!

That is what Jesus means when he says he has overcome the world. Nothing can come against us if we are in Christ. Anything that is done to us, spoken about us, or comes against us is pitiful when compared to the overwhelming hope and overcoming power of King Jesus!

Scripture Memorization

1 John 4:4

Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank you for overcoming the world. I know that I would have drowned in doubt and temptation and sin if you had not rescued me. I was in need then, and I am in need now. Satisfy me with your goodness and don’t let me seek comfort or peace in anything the world offers. Grow in me a desire for you and you alone, and don’t let me cling to anything other than you. Help me remember your faithfulness every day. You have always been good. You will always be good. I worship you alone because you are worthy and you are my redeemer.

Reflection

1. When is it hardest for you to remember that Christ has overcome the world?
2. What sin, temptation, or distraction causes you to forget about Jesus?
3. The peace and comfort Jesus offers us is in the midst of hard times, not a removal of hard times. Think about your daily life and make sure you are seeking Jesus more than comfort.

Discussion Questions

1. In what ways do you seek comfort or worldly peace more than you seek Christ?
2. How is Jesus’ promise that he has overcome the world a practical encouragement to you in daily life?
3. Is Jesus’ knowledge of our suffering and sovereignty over it enough to give you peace in the middle of that suffering?