Reason For Cheer

Reason for Cheer

John 16:29-33, NKJV

His disciples said to Him, “See, now You are speaking plainly, and using no figure of speech! 30Now we are sure that You know all things, and have no need that anyone should question You. By this we believe that You came forth from God.” 31Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? 32Indeed 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. 33These 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.”

Setting the Scene

In our experience, belief is always tenuous, with sparkling moments of certainty. Today’s assurance deflates into tomorrow’s apparently empty hope. We “arrive” one day, only to feel lost the next.

When Jesus paused after his comments about prayer, the disciples thought they had reached an important moment of understanding. Jesus was finally “speaking plainly.” Their testimony in that moment is revealing: “Now we are sure that You know all things.” They were willing to affirm, “You came forth from God.” This is the last recorded statement by the disciples during the Last Supper.

Jesus gently challenged their statement of faith: “Do you now believe?” (NKJV), which perhaps is another way of saying, “Finally, you believe!” Jesus knew that what they believed at that moment would not be enough to prevent them from scattering under pressure. Then Jesus added some statements that have provided relief to countless believers over the centuries: “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, NIV).

Getting Personal

How have you experienced Jesus’ guarantee, “In the world you will have tribulation”?

What is your source of “good cheer,” and what causes you to “take heart” when the world threatens to overcome you?

How did Jesus overcome the world?

Jesus gave those words of hope to his disciples because their faith was—as ours is—tenuous. Sometimes we hold on by a thread. Ultimately, our frail faith and our peace must be anchored to the one who did overcome the world. He gave that message to his disciples before he finished overcoming the world so that they could pass on the Good News to us who would come later. In him we can have peace; in him we can overcome the world. Any other means we try will prove inadequate.

Talking to God

Don’t let the ups and downs of your feelings of faith keep you from coming to the Lord, no matter how you feel. Ask him to help you understand the confidence you can have that Jesus has overcome the world, and that it would give you “good cheer.”