“I have overcome the world”

Why was it so important for Jesus to say to his disciples in John 16:33, “Take heart, I have overcome the world”? 

He gave two reasons: first of all, that “In this world you will have trouble,” because he knew the world would do to his disciples what it had done to him. And secondly, when that trouble hit, “in me you may have peace.”

Because in an hour or so trouble would hit, and trouble the disciples weren’t prepared for either, because they thought they’d got everything sorted out already. What more did they need to know, or questions did they need to ask when they’d always had Jesus close by with all the answers (29-30)?

But Jesus knew their confidence would evaporate when he was taken from them. They’d scatter off back home, and in Peter’s case even deny knowing Jesus at all. So Jesus told them ahead of time that “You will leave me all alone” (32), but not to criticize them. It was to let them know that, no matter what the world threw at him, he would be able to overcome it all “for my Father is with me.” 

Now that’s something the disciples could relate to, because in the three years they’d been with Jesus they’d noticed the amazing relationship he’d had with the Father. Jesus clearly loved the Father and he knew the Father loved him. He totally trusted the Father as well, to live to perfection in him all that the Father wanted said and done. And when it came to seeking his Father’s will and wisdom Jesus always got an answer. 

But the disciples were merely observers during this time, never experiencing this relationship with the Father themselves, having always relied on Jesus’ relationship with the Father to see them through.

But that was about to change, and in a wonderful way, because with Jesus gone the disciples would receive “another” helper, the Holy Spirit, who would bring Jesus’ relationship with the Father to life in them (14:17-19), so they too would experience it. They too, therefore, could experience the same peace Jesus experienced in his relationship with the Father when trouble hit. That’s why Jesus could say, “Take heart, for I have overcome the world,” knowing they’d discover the Father was with them too. A new world would be opening up to them, therefore, of “The love of the Father”….(next blog)