“These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you might have peace. In the world you have trouble, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”
I have thought often of these words of Jesus over the last several days. It seems that in every direction that I look I see suffering. Today’s news out of Afghanistan of multiple bombings at the Kabul airport which have left many dead including children and members of our own military serves as a glaring reminder of the misery in the world.
Easily though I could have written a similar statement of Haiti or Waverly, Tennessee or any number of local communities that presently are battling through the latest surge of COVID-19. There’s no shortage of troubles. Job’s words resonate among us, “Man, who is born of woman, is short of days and full of turmoil.”
Interestingly enough when Jesus spoke these words to His disciples, He alone knew what was about to happen within the coming hours. The disciples had no clue of how their world was about to be turned upside down. As Jesus would be arrested and sentenced to death, the disciples would scatter. Fear would overshadow their newly-professed, well-meaning faith in Jesus.
So, Jesus, knowing what He was about to experience, seized the moment to encourage the disciples. He did so by giving them a couple of promises surrounded by a harsh truth. In the world you have trouble conveys a message of reality that I imagine the disciples didn’t really want to hear anymore than we do. After all they had just enthusiastically expressed their commitment to Jesus as the One who has come from God.
Surely that meant that blue skies and sunny days were ahead for them, right? Well no, not in the least. Actually the next day would be one filled with darkness and pain and disillusionment. They would watch Jesus suffer mercilessly. They would hear crowds cheer for Barabbas and mock and ridicule Jesus. They would cower among the crowds. They were living out His declaration of troubled times in the world.
While we can certainly appreciate their dilemma and identify with their struggles, we must hear the words of Jesus that flanked this harsh truth. In Me you might have peace and I have overcome the world are promises that enable us to face the difficult days of life. The first promise assures of peace in our relationship with Jesus. Notice that His words are not a statement of no troubles or struggles. Instead, they invite us to rely upon our intimacy with Him in order to experience peace. The world cannot produce peace. It only brings trouble. Peace is in Jesus alone.
What great news this is!! We can have peace even in the midst of suffering and pain in Jesus. Over the last several weeks I have spoken and prayed with a number of fellow disciples who have claimed and experienced that promise. As they watched or received news of family member or friends who died of COVID, they had peace even in their pain.
As I pray for those suffering through the miseries of Afghanistan, I seek that they might have peace. I am lifting up equally those struggling through the devastation of Haiti as well as the disaster of Waverly. I am praying for those communities to experience this peace that comes exclusively through Jesus.
The second promise of Jesus is one of complete and total victory. When Jesus said, “I have overcome the world,” He spoke so confidently of a triumph that had not even occurred yet. The disciples would remember these words following the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. They would turn their world upside down sharing the Gospel of Jesus with everyone they met. Because Jesus overcame the world, the source of their troubles, they knew that through Him they would experience victory as well. Despite persecution, imprisonment, beatings, and even death they confidently carried out the mission of the Gospel.
So, today if you are a disciple of Jesus I say to you as Jesus said to the first disciples, “Take courage.” He has overcome the world! In Him we have peace. Through Him we have a victory that no one can take way. Regardless of wherever you are or whatever you might be experiencing His promises are certain and yours. So let’s rest in Him as we confidently carry out the work of the Gospel.
If you are not a disciple of Jesus, I pray that you might turn to Him and trust Him during these troubling times. Just as Jesus wanted His disciples to know His peace and experience victory so He does for you equally. It’s the very reason that He suffered and died on the cross that next day. It’s why God raised Him from the dead; that you might have peace in Him and victory through Him.
In the world we have troubles, but peace and victory are in Him! Blessings!
Butch Knight 