Overcomer's Joy

Read John 16:16-33.

One of the convincing proofs, to me, of the veracity of the Gospels is that there is not a "perfect" portrait of the disciples in these pages. Even in the Gospel of John, one of the latest New Testament books written, the disciples are still fumbling, bumbling, trying to understand what in the world Jesus is all about. By the time John was written, these same disciples would have become leaders, and would have been martyred for their faith in Jesus and his resurrection. If you're trying to make up a story, you don't paint your main leaders, your insiders, as being clueless. And yet, that's what they are, so much of the time, in the Gospels. They just don't get it.

And that's not seen anywhere more clearly than this section of Jesus' last night, when he's trying to comfort them and they're just not getting it. He knows what is coming, and they keep asking questions, trying to clarify points and understand his teaching. They especially don't understand what he's saying about leaving them. They had no thought that they would be without him anytime soon, certainly not within the next day! And yet that's what is about to happen, and Jesus wants them to be prepared. "Trust me," Jesus says, "you will be grieving soon, but in a short time after that, your grief will turn to joy."

Granted, Jesus is referring to the events that were to happen in the next couple of days, the crucifixion and the resurrection, but he seems to also be seeing beyond those three days, especially in the remarks at the end of the chapter. Those words seem to apply not only to the disciples, but to anyone who follows Jesus even after them.

"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" (John 16:33).

It's an amazing promise, one I hold close to my heart. Even when the world seems so dark or difficult, we're to be reminded that Jesus is present, he has not left us, and he has, ultimately, overcome the darkness of the world. It's a reminder, in some ways, of what John said in the beginning of the Gospel: "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it" (John 1:5).

The word for "overcome" means to conquer, vanquish, prevail over. It means...Jesus has already won! No matter how much suffering, hurt, pain, anger, attacks or anything else—whatever comes our way, we have not lost. Jesus has won. He has won—and because of that truth, Paul says we are "more" than conquerors. "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, 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" (Romans 8:38-39).

He has overcome and because of that, Jesus says, we can have joy—true, deep down, joy.

Rejoice in that hope and that truth as you listen to Cheri Keaggy (who will be at Mount Pleasant in November) sing that message...


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