Parting Words-Part 11- Overcomers

Introduction-John 16:29-33

Last week we saw how the disciples sorrow would be turned to joy at the realization of the true significance of Jesus death and resurrection.

We also saw how that fullness of joy is directly connected to our understanding of our relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

Through faith in Jesus we become children of God and can approach our heavenly father directly assured of His love for us.

The Disciples Affirmation (Vs. 29-30)

It seems now that the disciples are confident that they now understand all that Jesus has been saying to them.

They profess that they are now sure that Jesus knows all things an affirmation of His omniscience and by extension His deity.

They also express their confidence that Jesus has come from God.

Mentally it would seem that the disciples are now at least beginning to understand what Jesus has been trying to communicate to them.

The true strength of their faith and the depth of their understanding would however soon be put to the test.

Their newfound confidence would soon be shaken as Jesus now warns them.

The Reality of Failure (Vs. 31-32)

Jesus responds to their confident assertion with a simple question: “Do you now believe?”

It was not as though the disciples did not believe that Jesus was indeed the Savior and the promised Messiah, but their faith was still at this point quite limited.

It has been said that all our failures are prayer failures but I think it could more appropriately be said that all our failures are faith failures.

The disciples had faith in Jesus but it will soon become clear that their faith was not strong enough to prevent them deserting the Lord in His darkest hour.

Jesus now plainly describes what will soon come to pass and the fact that these devoted disciples will be scattered leaving the HIm alone with no human companion.

Yet through all that the Lord Jesus would endure the Father would remain with Him to comfort and strengthen Him.

The truth is we may like the disciples feel confident that we have strong faith and that we will not fail.

Yet the true strength of our faith is only revealed in the time of trial and testing.

The disciples were confident but Jesus knew that their faith was yet lacking and that they would fail when their faith was put to the test.

The disciples did not fail because they were weak or cowardly but rather because they had not the faith to stand with Jesus in the hour of trial.

We could begin to point the finger at the disciples and yet how many times have we failed the Lord ourselves because we lacked the faith required to follow through?

We must come to understand that our failures in following the Lord are never the result of our own weakness or inability. Every spiritual failure can be traced back to a lack of faith in what Jesus has said.

A Vital Truth (Vs. 33)

Now Jesus makes a statement that we need to give careful attention to as He concludes this conversation with His disciples.

Jesus here contrasts what the disciples will find in Him with what they will find in Him.

In Christ there is peace (freedom from worry). This is not speaking with regard to salvation but rather about abiding in Christ.

In Christ there is victory (the ability to overcome).

Jesus is expressing here the necessity of abiding in Him. This is only possible by faith as we place our trust in Him and allow Him to direct us and to work in us.

We may face great opposition and serious suffering as we follow Christ but when we are abiding in Him we can have confidence that we will ultimately overcome the enemy.

The only way that we will be able to face the tribulation that we face in the world is through abiding in Jesus.

Jesus has overcome the world and through Him we can overcome the world as well.

“Fear turns to peace when we learn how to apply Jesus’ victory in our lives.”

At the moment of Jesus’ arrest the disciples were filled with fear and each of them went their own way but they would soon learn of the peace and victory that can be found in Jesus.

The disciples would soon learn that they could be confident but that their confidence must not be in themselves but in Jesus.

1 John 5:4 KJV 1900

For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

Conclusion

We like the disciples can often become sure of ourselves and overestimate the strength of our faith and the depth of our understanding.

God will often allow testing and trial in order to reveal to us our own weakness that we might learn to trust Him more.

Victory is won and peace is gained when we learn to abide in Christ, living in constant fellowship and obedience to Him allowing Him to work in and through us to accomplish His will.

Are you enjoying peace today or are your fearful and anxious?

Are you experiencing victory today over sin and the flesh?

If you are not there is hope to be found in Jesus!