"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE FOR THOSE WHO HAVE LOST A LOVED ONE"

"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE FOR THOSE WHO HAVE LOST A LOVED ONE"

John 16:33 “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

Some explanatory thoughts, application, and a prayer:

1. Jesus said what He said here, in the context of His apostles understanding that He would be leaving them, and no doubt they were troubled. John 16:32  “Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me.

2. What He said to them in John 16:33 really breaks down into a number of important and easy to understand truths that bring peace to us as we believe in Him, and act upon His Word. Let's look at them together.

(1) First of all, Jesus reminds them of His Word. He says, “These things I have spoken to you," So, He is telling them and us about His Word, about what He had said, He was essentially directing them back to His Word. And, as we will see, His Word becomes the source of our comfort.

(2) Next, He explains why He had said what He had said. "that in Me you may have peace." Or that you may have peace in Me. He was letting them know, and wants You to know that also. In Him You can have peace. The word peace here, means, rest, quietness, a state of tranquility, exemption from rage of war and havoc. Peace between individuals,

(3) Jesus went on to explain what is in the world, that is, the atmosphere of the world, the expectations we can have in the world, or in this life we are living. He tells us in no uncertain terms what we can expect, and it's in one powerful and sobering word. " In the world you will have tribulation;" That is what we have.

Tribulation, or trials and sorrows. So, in Him we can have peace, but in the world we will have trouble and sorrow, trials. What a contrast, and what an expression of two realities for the Christian. The non-christian of course only has the latter, the trials, the trouble, and the sorrow, but for the Christian, in and through the Word, in Christ, we can have that peace, that tranquility.

(4) Finally, and this is a beautiful and comforting statement. "but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
What does this mean. Well, first of all, it's a call to be of good cheer. Jesus is telling us what to do, in light of what is true about what He has done.

But, what does it mean? What do these two things mean. To be of good cheer, means, to take heart. That's it. Take heart. And, Jesus adds, that He has overcome, or conquered the World. He is greater than this world, He is different than this world, He died and rose again in this world.

6. Let's just take one more look at John 16:33, only in Three different versions.

The J. B. Phillips translation says it this way.
John 16:33  " I have told you all this so that you may find your peace in me. You will find trouble in the world—but, never lose heart, I have conquered the world!”

The Amplified says it this way.
John 16:33  "I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]"

The NLT says is this way.
John 16:33  "I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

A prayer:

Father, You above all know what it is to suffer the loss of a loved one. You gave, and Lost as it were Your Own Son at the Cross. But, Father, You did this for us. And, Lord Jesus thank You for these wonderful words, and thank You that indeed, in You, and in and through Your Word, we can find the peace we so desperately need.

We pray as we read this, and pray, that You Lord would help bring peace to those reading, who have recently lost a loved one, or are still suffering the pain of that loss, even though the loss may have been not so recent. But, the pain of the loss is very present with them. May they find the peace You speak of Lord, In Jesus name, Amen.

Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia.