Take heart! I have overcome the world (John 16b)

John 16:16-33

Key Verse 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."

Ch 13-16 is called upper room discourse. At this time Jesus taught his disciples what was necessary for them to get through the most difficult time for their lives. In Ch 13, the beginning of this discourse, Jesus showed his love by washing his disciples’ feet. The love is expressed in a particular way, washing the disciples’ feet.  In this symbolic act of love, Jesus wanted them to understand all the forthcoming events in this periscope of love by washing their feet. Next, in Ch 14, Jesus explained his whereabouts: he was going to the father to prepare a room for them and would come back, indicating that he was the way to the Father.  This is followed by (the first part of Ch 15) Jesus’ teaching on their inseparable relationship with Jesus because He is the true vine and they were the branches. Only by remaining in Him, they could bear fruit that would last. Having taught them all about himself and his disciples, Jesus (In the latter half of ch 15 and the first part of ch 16) spoke about the world that would impose hostile forces against Jesus, the Son of God and the truth for life. He revealed that the world’s hate against Jesus and God His father is the source of evil alluding that the evil of the world would come in this hour of darkness.  

As the last message of this discourse (today’s passage), Jesus talked about the things that would entail the hours of darkness when they could not see Jesus. This would be the most difficult time for them and it would come to them in a matter of hours or has already come at the door.  

What would be the meaning and purpose of this hour? What would entail this hour/ What should the disciples do through this hour? Leaving these questions unanswered, Jesus ended his discourse by saying; “I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace.”   As we know the unexplained hour is the hour of condemnation, judgment, and crucifixion. This must be seen and understood through His word and the love that Jesus had shown for them. By holding on these two, they must persevere through this hard time until they meet Jesus again in resurrection and glory.

The hour of darkness was not exceptional just for Jesus’ disciples. We all must go through this hour at one point of our lives in order for us to see and follow Jesus to his glory. May God strengthen us to set our hearts and mind on Jesus’ love and his word so that we may go through the hour of darkness with perseverance, patience as well as with confidence and peace. May God bless us all to see Jesus in His glory and taste the joy, the joy of seeing Him and being one with the father!

1.       In a little while, you will see me no more (16-19)

The final hours of life are the most difficult time to endure, physically and emotionally. It is because the power of death overwhelms one’s life which no one can overcome it and no one is certain of what lies beyond the death. 

Here Jesus told his disciples of the coming of these final hours of his life. The final hours of Jesus life is addressed in terms of separation and reunion. The time of separation would be the worst hours of Jesus’ life as well as the life of his disciples. Jesus gave them a glimpse of what this period will entail.   and bears enormous importance because how we do in these final hours comes from what we know and believe in the depth of our heart. This final-hours of life decision is always on the question ‘What is life and where is life?’ John condemned Judas Iscariot for his last hour decision to choose money over Jesus’ love.  Many aren’t sure and this uncertainty continues to the last minutes of life and easily fall into the pressures of the world.

16 Jesus went on to say, "In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me."

It is the hour which they could not see or have Jesus with them. In order to understand exactly what Jesus was saying, we can look at the words, ‘see’: Here first ‘see’ (θεαομαι: theoreite) is to behold, seeing with attention (NAS translated ‘behold’).   Second see (οραω: opsesthe) means perceive by sight. In a little, while they could not see/behold with attention and then after a little while, they could see by sight.  It puzzled the disciples. Simply if Jesus said that they could not see by their eyes, and after a little while, they could see again by their eyes, it would have been a little easier for them to understand. But you could not behold him and later you could see him in your eyes, is somewhat enigmatic. So, they talked this about themselves.

17 At this, some of his disciples said to one another, "What does he mean by saying, 'In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me,' and 'Because I am going to the Father'?" 18 They kept asking, "What does he mean by 'a little while'? We don't understand what he is saying."

The disciples repeated Jesus’ word and could not come up with any answers. It would be the hour veiled by darkness or mystery. Out of fear and uncertainty of this hour, they kept asking among themselves what Jesus meant by ‘a little while’. In the back of their minds is a question why Jesus did not disclose fully or describe exactly what would happen in this hour. Jesus knew well of their struggle and Jesus answered to their question. In order to make sure for them to understand that what he was about to say was the answer that they were looking for, Jesus repeated their question exactly (19). And he gave the answer.

2.       It is the hours of pain and sorrow (20-22)

20 Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.

Jesus did not explain what would happen on those hours. Instead, he said that they would weep, mourn and be filled with grief. It would be the hours of pain and sorrow for them. Without disclosing what the causes of pain are, Jesus taught them how to understand the pain and how to bear with the pain.

 21 A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born, she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. The time of childbirth is the time when they see Jesus again.

Labor pain is the worst pain in human life. It starts slowly and progresses in its intensity and duration as the labor gets near to the delivery of the baby. At or near the end of the delivery, the pain is so intense beyond their ability to control herself—by writhing, screaming, shouting and even cursing. This pain is relieved only by delivery of the baby. It cannot be stopped in the middle and from the beginning of the labor to the time of delivery of a baby, there is only one way. The pain that Jesus would face and the disciples should share along with Jesus would be exactly like the labor pain. By giving the analogy of labor pain, what was Jesus teaching the disciples?    

First, this period is characterized by pain, pains on Jesus and on his disciples as well.

Second, they were to have this pain and sorrow because this would be the way to get to the time of the joy, i.e., the time of the childbirth. So, the pain must come and they should not escape from the pain and could not be done away with if they wanted to join in the joy of seeing Jesus. Because it is the path to the joy as birth pang is the only way to see the joy of delivering a new baby. It means that they had to endure the pain for only through this pain they could reach to the time of seeing Jesus again.

Third, as we know that the time when they could not behold Jesus is the hours from the arrest to his death and then to burial. During this time, he would be in chains and rugged clothes and demeaned and wounded. During this time, they could not talk to and ask him at all and could not see(behold) the glory and power as the Son of God, the Messiah. They could only see a mere man, powerless, helpless, under judgment and punishment. This would be the most unbearable for the disciples for in him is the full expression of God’s judgment. 

By leaving these uninformed and by implication of this birth pain illustration, they were told to endure the pain along with Christ hoping to let this hour to pass. At this time, the things that would help them would be His word, ‘I am going back to the father’ and the hope of seeing him again by eye. Could any words help them? It must be experienced by life and learn the entirety of the truth concerning this by going through that pain.

How could the disciples endure the pain then?

Jesus spoke about the labor pain that the world would go through (Mark 13:8-26). This pain would end when Jesus comes back in glory as the king of the world (13:26).   OT also spoke many time of the labor pain that looks forward the time of delivery. The delivery time was often called ‘that day’ or day of the Lord. As much Jesus’ disciples must go through the labor pain, so must all human beings individually and collectively as kingdoms in order to welcome Jesus the king of the world. Then what is the cause of the pain? Just before this, Jesus spoke about the enemies of the world (John 15:18-16:4). Their hate to Jesus and his disciples would cause harms to Jesus and his disciples. God gave us a glimpse of insight on the causes of this pain in Isa 26.  

Isaiah 26:16 LORD, they came to you in their distress; when you disciplined them, they could barely whisper a prayer. 17 As a pregnant woman about to give birth writhes and cries out in her pain, so were we in your presence, LORD. 18 We were with child, we writhed in labor, but we gave birth to wind. We have not brought salvation to the earth, and the people of the world have not come to life.

Here ‘they’ is Israel. God disciplined Israel for their sins according to the Law of Covenant. They were to deliver a baby, the way of the salvation of the world, but they failed and just gave birth to wind. The result was so disappointing; the world would remain dead and have no hope for life.  

26: 19 But your dead will live, LORD; their bodies will rise-- let those who dwell in the dust wake up and shout for joy-- your dew is like the dew of the morning; the earth will give birth to her dead.

Suddenly God gave a message, saying that your dead will receive life; the earth will give birth to her dead. How could this happen?

Isa 26:20 Go, my people, enter your rooms and shut the doors behind you; hide yourselves for a little while until his wrath has passed by. 21 See, the LORD is coming out of his dwelling to punish the people of the earth for their sins. The earth will disclose the blood shed on it; the earth will conceal its slain no longer. (Isa 26: NIV)

His chosen are to hide themselves and see how God brings His wrath. The pain and troubles are from God’s wrath on earth. How would He do is in v21. God comes out from his dwelling and punishes the people of the earth from their sins. Jesus was sentenced to crucifixion on the charge of blasphemy (Matt 26:65). God let His wrath come on Jesus in place of the people of the world. So, Jesus was beaten, wounded, and disfigured. He was nailed and hung on the cross.  On his beloved and the only begotten son, God let His wrath come and displayed fully through the hands of the wicked of the world.  Because of this, the disciples could not behold the glory, power, and holiness that they had seen in Jesus. What could they behold when they saw the corpus wounded and rugged?  The pain would come because of the wrath of God on the sins of men. The wrath would come on Jesus at this time but the next time it would come on each who reject Jesus and the kingdoms of the world that reject the kingship of Jesus when he comes in His glory.  In this way, God made it clear; sin shall be punished and men cannot escape God’s judgment. What is the unmissable message of this hour? The people of the earth has shed the blood of the Son of God in their rebellion against the Lord and they cannot hide their wickedness any more(21b).

The darkest hour is the hour of God’s wrath upon His son Jesus. How would Jesus go through this hour?

During this time of wrath, God’s people are to hide themselves for a little while as Jesus told his disciples that only after a little while they could see Jesus again. Watching Jesus go through the wrath of God is an awful thing for his disciples. How could or should they understand all the things in which they could not behold in their Lord Jesus? Instead, they were to see something else, then what would that be?

Hebrews 10:5 Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said: "Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; 6 with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased. 7 Then I said, 'Here I am--it is written about me in the scroll-- I have come to do your will, my God.’”

They were to see Jesus’ resolute will to obey the Father even to the point of death. In his wounded and rugged body, what else they should see?

Ephesians 5:2 and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. 

Jesus was giving himself as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to the Father to honor His glory, His holiness, and His righteous judgment. Seeing and enduring the pains that Jesus was going through surely cause so much anger, sorrow, and bewilderment. Beyond all these, they must search the will or purpose of Jesus and His father God for it is a birth pain and this was the way for him to go to the Father. Sin of man is fully displayed in Jesus their Lord. Only in its full display, they could begin to see the true picture of themselves and then to open their hearts Jesus’ love that He showed as he washed their feet with a word, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me!”.   

Only then, they could see Jesus again.

3.       On that day, your joy will be complete (23-27) 

Having gone through the darkest hours along with Jesus, the disciples would see Jesus again. On that day, this will happen:

23 In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 24 Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.

Only when you get to that day, you will have a full understanding and you would not need to ask anything [‘ask’ ερωταω (erotao)= ask questions]. Further, when you ask [αιτεω (aiteo)=ask for something] for something, then God the father will give you. All the questions of life are answered in full satisfaction. In addition, whatever they need, God the father would be eager to give them.  In this way, on that day, their hearts are satisfied and their needs are met fully; this is the picture of having the true happiness.  This was not the first time that Jesus taught about this.

14:11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. 12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

15:7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. (Joh 15:6 NIV)

15:16  You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit--fruit that will last--and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.

As seen in these passages, for three times, Jesus talked about this and this blessing would come to them when they become one with Jesus and with the Father. Being fully one with Jesus and with the Father!  How could they be one with Jesus and with the father? It is by going through this time of intense pain and sorrow along with Christ and endure until they see Jesus again.  In other words, in order for them to be one with Jesus and with God the Father, they must go through God’s judgment that was laid upon His son Jesus. After going through the pain along with Christ, they would be one with him as Jesus comes back. At that time the father himself would be with them. So, three are one—the disciples, Jesus and God the Father.

25 "Though I have been speaking figuratively, a time is coming when I will no longer use this kind of language but will tell you plainly about my Father.

By this time, God’s word would not be hidden or ambiguous. The reason, the hearts of the disciples are fully conformed to the understanding of life and will of the Father and His Son Jesus. What God said or what Jesus had said to them would be plain to them. Being one with the further emphasized.

26 In that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. 27 No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.

Here Jesus repeats what he said in v23-24. When they go through the judgment and suffering, the death of Jesus by faith, then Father Himself would count them as His and would be willing to do whatever they ask. They would become completely children of God and God would be so happy with them. For good and without any further encumbrance, they will be God’s children and God would be their father for God’s love would be set upon them for good! In this way, Jesus laid out fully what would entail the day when they see Jesus again. This was eagerly hoped for as they were just at the door to the time of ‘pain’. Now Jesus shares his victory with the disciples.

4.       I have overcome the world and is going back to the father (28-33)

So, he concludes this: 

28 I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father."

In between now and that day when they would see Jesus again lies the darkest hour. It would be filled with so much pain. Most of the things that would happen at this time are veiled or hidden. It is God’s prerogative for His salvation purpose for the salvation cannot be imparted by the words only; sin and its judgment must be experienced to the depth of one’s being as the righteous judgment of God as well as the love that God has for them by letting His son take all the punishment of sin on behalf of them.  For the disciples, one thing was made clear. It would be the time of pain and sorrow, far beyond one could imagine.  The only thing that they could hang on to is Jesus’ word given in the basket of his love. Nevertheless, even in the midst of such uncertainty in darkness, one thing is clear to them; Jesus is going back to the father since he came from the father.

This is the hour when Jesus was leaving the world and going back to the father. The pain is the path to the father and it must be. Since this is the path to the father, Jesus must go through and his disciples must follow along with him.

The world would put its evil and injustice upon the Lord Jesus, the full expression of their rejection of the Lord of creation. Though they knew it so well of their wickedness, it is not the time for them to be angry and upset; pull out a gun or sword; play human tactic or calling for a fight for the righteous.; Also, it is not the time of fear, being unsettled or caught with anxiety. They must neither give themselves disappointment and frustration nor give up the hope. Retreating to themselves in fear and judgment shall not be theirs; such thing belongs to the unbelief such as monks or hermits, those who are living under the power of sin and judgment. Lastly, it shall not the time of doubt what Jesus was doing or God was doing; Not the time to sever the love of Jesus or our trust in Jesus.

Instead, it is the time of remembering Jesus’ love who washed their feet and his word, that says ‘I have overcome the world’. This also be the time to see/behold the peace flowing deeply in the depth of Jesus spirit. When they endure with him, they can join in His glory. Jesus concluded the upper room teaching with his words of encouragement: 

 “now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father." (28b)

How did the disciples understand Jesus’ explanation?

29 Then Jesus' disciples said, "Now you are speaking clearly and without figures of speech. 30 Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God."

The hour of darkness is difficult to understand. But one thing is plain and clear; Jesus is going back to the father. In this single plane of thought, the disciples were happy and accepted Jesus word. Since it is written by John, the beloved disciple of Jesus, it is not clear if this conviction was his own or few among the eleven or all of the eleven.

31 "Do you now believe?" Jesus replied.

Jesus came from God. They believed this. Now Jesus is going back to the Lord. In this simple truth, they must be willing to bet their lives on it. Did they do that? Or could they do this? Here Jesus’ question is subtle and not clear if he believed in their faith or not.  But After seeing the things of the dark hour, even his horrific death on the cross, could they see this as the way to the father? (Cf. John 17:8)

32 "A time is coming and in fact has come when you will be scattered, each to your own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me.

No one could think that death is the way to the father; condemnation as a blasphemer is the way to the father. Disciples wouldn’t be an exception. They would run away. No one would be left behind with Jesus. But Jesus said that he would not be alone for the Father is with him. The entirety of the judgment and suffering is of God and His will. In it is the love that no one in sinful flesh could fathom. In this faith Jesus overcome the trials and pains; 

In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

Even before going through this dark time of God’s wrath, Jesus has already overcome the world. Though he was yet to go through the pains, in his heart he has already conquered the trouble for he firmly put his trust in His father.

“you will have trouble in the world” Yes, all men will have trouble in this world for all have sinned and must pay the cost of sin. No one is exempt from this pain.  Jesus’ disciples also must go through that trouble so as to get to the father.  But it wouldn’t be as worse as they would see Jesus going through in peace.

What does this teach us?

Jesus’ disciple went through the time of darkness by faith as Jesus prayed (John 17:8) as we understand through his resurrection appearance to the eleven disciples. That day came to them and full understanding of life in the Lord was imparted to them and they received what they prayed for confirming God’s abiding presence in and through lives. The day of the Lord would continue until they join with him in the Father’s house. In other words, the rest of their lives would be the time of living out the victory that they experience in Jesus’ suffering and death leading to his resurrection.

Jesus said even before he was going through the darkest hours that he has overcome the world. Likewise, the disciples have overcome the world as they went through Jesus suffering and death and saw Jesus again in His resurrection. Here the word ‘overcome (νικάω)’ was used most often by John (28/34) translated often to victory, overcome, triumph, prevail, conquer, conquest.  In the first epistle of John, it is used 9 times to encourage the believers to overcome (evils of) the world. The rest of this word (19 times) is found in revelation, translated victory, triumph, prevail, conquer, and conquest in denoting the destruction of the forces of Satan.

What the disciples attained by going through the darkest hours of Jesus’ suffering and death shall be the depot of knowledge, confidence, empowerment that would enable them to go through their personal ‘darkest hours’ as they would fight the evils of the world. 

What if one of us has not gone through this hour of darkness along with Christ? He or she would face a hard time to go through the most vulnerable and fragile time for his or her personal hours of darkness to fight sin, judgment, and condemnation, leading to death. But in Christ, God has imparted to each of us the power over sin and death and let us taste the victory in His resurrection. Praise God for His amazing grace!

“I have overcome the world,” said Jesus. In Him and with Him, we, each of us, have already overcome the world. Yet we are yet to live out that victory in our struggle against the forces of evils of the world. Through this tenuous time of our lives, we are not to fight a fight but stay being one with Christ, and with the Father in Jesus. In careful observation of Revelation, we will find that the believers are to witness the truth and God is the decision maker and imposer of His justice upon all the rebellions of the world. As Jesus took upon himself all the sins of the world, through which he testified against their evil, and testify for God’s truth and love for the world, we are to follow his path, the way of life. In this sense, the word ‘overcome’ is so important. Sin and evils are rampant. As time goes, pride and arrogance in sin is getting far deeper and wider than any time in human history. They unnerve our confidence and faith and pushes us even to the point of death.  Yet we shall stay one with Christ and one with the Father of the heaven and the earth. We must prevail, not by our own flesh but by fixing eyes on Jesus. And we shall overcome the world as Jesus did.

In him, we have overcome! May God bless us richly through Jesus’ suffering and death on the cross!