#23 Top 40 New Testament Passages: The Faith that Overcomes (John 16:33)
“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)
The Apostle John contributes four of the books of the New Testament. Some argue, from a traditional understanding, that the Apocalypse of John (Aka The book of Revelation) is also by the young apostle whom Jesus loved. Most scholars consider that book to be by a different John, a bishop to Asia Minor and suffering exile under Roman oppression.
The first letter of John is a short five chapters and loaded with memorable verses and great theology. John is the one who coined the phrase, "God is love." (1st John 4:8, 16) He is the one who defines agape love.
This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. (1st John 3:16)
It is John who says that a full and complete love (or a perfect love) casts out fear. (1st John 4:18) The style of writing in 1st John feels like reading his gospel account. And so It's always been a pleasing experience for me to read John's first letter to the Church and feel resonance with his gospel account.
Consider Jesus words on that last night with his disciples as they celebrated Passover. John's gospel dedicates five chapters to the Last Supper. John tells us that Jesus knew he was going to die, and so he shared the fullness of his love with his chosen. (John 13:1) Jesus began the evening meal by setting the example for humble service and washed the feet of his disciples. Instead of the sacrament we have come to know as the Lord's Supper, Eucharist, or Holy Communion, foot washing takes center stage. Jesus predicts his betrayal and secretly identifies his betrayer, Judas, by passing him bread dipped in wine. (John 13:21-27) Jesus also predicts that Peter will deny that he knows Jesus. (John 13:38) After making it clear he is going away (death) and the disciples cannot follow him there, Jesus comforts them with the promise of one like him, an advocate to come to them after Jesus has gone. (John 13:33)
Jesus tells them that he will come again after his departure. He is going to prepare a place for them in his father's house where there are many rooms. When he returns he will take them to be with him. Thomas doesn't know the where Jesus is going and expresses his frustration.
Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” (John 14:5-7)
Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” (John 14:5-7)
Jesus' statement that he is the way to the Father is often quoted by Evangelicals. Jesus is addressing their desire to see God. They've been with God the whole time they have been following Jesus. Jesus promises the Holy Spirit (The Advocate) to lead them into all truth and to remind them of all Jesus had taught to them. The gift of the Spirit's presence would mean the presence of Christ Jesus and the Father. (John 14:20, 23) He urges his faithful to remain in him, or abide in him. Like a branch of grapes must be connected to the vine in order to bear fruit, so also the disciple must be connected to Christ in a vital life-giving way, if they are to bear fruit for the kingdom of God.
“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. (John 15:9-10)
He calls the Church to love one another, just as He has loved us. By remaining in His love, we are empowered to love one another just as Christ loves.
Consider what John wrote in his first letter.
This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. (1st John 4:17)
I don't know about you, but I have a lot of growing to do in order to be like Jesus, and yet that is our destiny and calling. We are destined to be conformed to the image of God in Jesus Christ (Romans 8:29) God promises to make us complete in Christ. While we will always be striving for perfection in Christ, we know one day God will complete us. (Philippians 1:6; 3:12-14)
Just before Jesus offers his high priestly prayer for the Church, he warns the gathered disciples that persecution from those who oppose the gospel will come. The Church will endure rejection and oppression. (John 16:1-4) He tells them plainly that he is going back to the Father, back to the glory of heaven which Jesus knew before time began. Now is our time of grief, but when he returns our joy will last forever. (John 16:22)
Now is our time of grief. We live in the time between times. Jesus announced that the Kingdom of God was close at hand, indeed it had come with his appearance on earth through the power of God in his teaching and ministry. He preached with life-changing authority. He healed every disease and disability. Even demonic spirits obeyed His voice as Jesus drove them out of the possessed. Jesus was well aware of the suffering in this life. He was moved to tears as he shared in our humanity, as he experienced personal loss (John 11:35) and compassion for the suffering. (Mark 1:40-42)
Knowing fully the grief the disciples will face when they see the one they love crucified, when they are hunted and persecuted for their faith in Christ, Jesus offers them hope.
In this world you will have trouble, but take heart (be encouraged)! I have overcome the world! (John 16:33)
John refers to these consoling words of Jesus in his first letter.
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. (1st John 5:1-5)
John refers to new birth, or being born again or born from above. This is spiritual transformation that occurs through the redemptive action of the Holy Spirit. (John 3:5-8) As John said in his prologue to his gospel, we are children of God through faith in Christ. (John 1:12-13) Those who love Christ keep his commands (John 14:23) A sign of our transformation in the Spirit of Christ is that we do as Jesus does. We love as Jesus loves. We are like Jesus in this time of grief and trouble.
It is easy to go the way of the world, to hate and complain and blame in the midst of trouble. I dropped a heavy tin on my toe yesterday, right after I burned my lip on hot splattering oil, and after I'd endured having a dysfunctional car towed. It was a bad day, to say the least. I did not behave like Jesus. I ranted, cursed, and complained. But when I chose to settle into Christ's spiritual presence, my grief turned to gladness. This is the faith that overcomes the world!
Our faith in Christ, the Risen Lord and Savior, is what gives us the peaceful power to endure all things with grace. Yes, we will fail, but we will not ultimately fall in utter defeat. God is always resurrecting our falls with the full force of His love. I fall and He picks me up again and again. Our spiritual rebirth is the source of our victory. Just as Christ conquered death and everything the world threw at Him, so in Christ's power at work within us through the Holy Spirit, we too shall conquer!
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 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 8:35, 37-39)
This is the faith that overcomes this troubled world. Be encouraged and, in His courage, reemerge to love the world in its brokenness until Christ makes everything new!
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