John 16:33 “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world."
What are “these things” of which Jesus spoke that provided a basis for peace in His disciples, and all those who follow after them? The immediate things He had spoken are these: He knows what is to come and is in total control. They are going to be scattered in the next few minutes, and Jesus and the Father are going to accomplish what He was sent to accomplish. But even in that difficult hour, they may have peace in Jesus Himself. Earlier in the evening, He had told them that He was going to prepare a place in Himself for them so that where He was, they could be with Him. The only place of peace in this world is in Jesus. Why? Because He has overcome the world.
Jesus told them He had already overcome the world. He didn’t say to them that He would overcome the world. What did He mean? I think He was referring to the fact that He had lived for 33 years in this world and Satan, the devil, the god of this world, still had nothing in Him by which to snag Him, trip Him up, or cause Him to fail in His mission of redemption. It had already been settled in Him, He was giving Himself up for His friends, and nothing and no one could stop Him or prevent it. Not only could the disciples take courage from that great truth, so can all who trust in Jesus.
We can expect tribulation in this world. It hated Jesus, it will hate us. But, that can’t stop us from living to love anymore than it could stop Him from living to love. Nor can it destroy our peace, because our peace doesn’t come from anyone or anything in this world. It comes from Jesus, Himself. His life. His death. His resurrection. His presence. As we go through the tribulation in this world, may our hearts take courage as we follow Paul’s admonition in Colossians 3:15, “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.”
Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com
