There is a place to claim (John 16:29-33)

There is a Place to Claim (16:29-33)

The disciples suddenly emerged from their spiritual stupor and made a tremendous affirmation of faith in John 16:29–30. First, they said they knew what He had been teaching them, but that was probably presumptuous, as their subsequent actions proved. They didn’t appear to understand what He meant by the promise of resurrection. Even after His resurrection, they were uncertain about the future of Israel (Acts 1:6ff.). I am not criticizing them, for we today have just as many blind spots when it comes to understanding His Word. All I’m saying is, their affirmation was a bit presumptuous.

They confirmed their understanding and they confirmed their faith and assurance. "Now are we sure that thou knowest all things . . by this we believe." (v 30). It was quite a statement of faith, and I believe the Lord took it. In the next chapter Jesus tells the Father about His disciples in His prayer and gives a report of their spiritual condition (John 17:6-8). Of course He knew their weaknesses but was quick to approve of their growing evidence of faith and assurance.

But you can have faith, and understanding, and assurance, and still fail the Lord. If we do not live that faith, exercise that understanding, and rely upon that assurance, we shall fail in the time of testing. This is what happened to the disciples, and Jesus warned them that it would happen.

He had already told Peter that he would deny Him, but now He warns the whole band of disciples that they would all forsake Him. John does not quote the prophecy of the Old Testament (Zech. 13:7); it is quoted in Matthew 26:31. The Lord’s statement should have been a warning to Peter not to follow Him when He was taken. Our Lord’s word in the garden was “Let these go their way!” (John 18:8). He knew it was not safe to linger with them.

Interestingly, Jesus has promised He will never leave us alone (Matt. 28:20; Heb. 13:5). Yet His own disciples left Him alone. Peter, James, and John went with Him into the garden, but then they fell asleep. Jesus knew the Father would be with Him. If I judge, my judgment is true, for I am not alone, but I and the Father are with me. “He that sent me is with me. “The Father hath not left me alone” (John 8:29). How comforting it must have been for the Son to know He was doing the Father’s will and could count on His help.

But at one point Jesus did feel the absence of the Father: “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken Me?" Matt. 27:46; Ps. 22:1). When He was made sin for us, He was separated from the Father. He was alone so that we might never be alone. He was forsaken so that we might never be forsaken.

John 16:33 is the climax and summary of the Upper Room message. Why did He send this message? He sent this message so that the disciples might have peace in a world of tribulation. Note the contrast of “in me” with “in the world.” In Christ there's peace; in the world there's tribulation. This is the place we need to stand. We are in Christ, and therefore we can overcome the world and all its hatred.

As believers, we all have all the resources we need in Jesus Christ. Our peace also depends on proper relationships, since spiritual resources depend on spiritual relationships. The key is that we are in Him. We have nothing in ourselves, but "in Christ" we have all that we need.

All believers are either overcome or are overcomers. And our faith is the victory that overcometh the world (1 John 5:4). Because the world is against us, Satan uses it to persecute and pressure believers. The world wants us to be the same as it. The world doesn’t want us to be different. When we yield ourselves to Christ and trust Him, He makes us overcomers. We must take our spiritual position in Christ and believe Him for victory.

“Be of good cheer!” is one of our Lord’s repeated exhortations. There is the “good cheer” of His pardon (Matt. 9:1-8), His power (Matt. 9:18-22), and His presence (Matt. 14:22-27). Here in John 16:33, He declares the “good cheer” of His victory over the world. He first overcame for us, and therefore we are overcomers.

As we work our way back through this section, we can see how all three of these explanations our Lord gave fit together. And he announced a profound principle—God turns sorrow into joy. But this principle will not work in our lives until we believe His promise and pray. God has ordained that His work shall be done by praying in faith believing He is able. However, we cannot pray effectively unless we claim our position as conquerors in Jesus Christ.

John 16:33 is also a preface to His great High Priestly prayer. He had taught them the Word. He would now pray for them. The Word and prayer are to go together always (Acts 6:4). He uses the word "world" nineteen times in this prayer, for in it He is teaching us how to conquer the world. He was facing the hatred of the world and the devil Himself, but He would be able to bear the suffering and win the victory.

There is joy when we allow God to change sorrow into joy. When God answers a prayer, there is joy. There is joy in our triumph over the world.

Let is be of good cheer!