There Is a Position to Claim (16:29-33)
In John 16:29-30, the disciples suddenly moved out of their spiritual stupor and made a tremendous affirmation of faith. First, they claimed to understand what He had been teaching them, though this claim was probably presumptuous, as their subsequent actions proved. They seemed unable to grasp the meaning of His promised resurrection. They were bewildered even after His resurrection as to the future of Israel (Acts 1:6ff.). I am not criticizing them, because we today have just as many blind spots when it comes to understanding His Word. All I am suggesting is that their affirmation was a bit presumptuous.
They not only affirmed their understanding, but they also affirmed their faith and assurance. “Now we are sure … by this we believe.” It was quite a statement of faith, and I believe the Lord accepted it. In His prayer recorded in the next chapter, Jesus told the Father about His disciples and reported on their spiritual condition (John 17:6-8). Certainly He knew their weaknesses, but He was quick to approve their growing evidences of faith and assurance.
But it is possible to have faith, understanding, and assurance and still fail the Lord. Unless we practice that faith, apply that understanding, and rest on that assurance, we will fail when the time of testing comes. That is what happened to the disciples, and Jesus warned them that it would happen.
He had already warned Peter that he would deny Him, but now He warned the entire band of disciples that they would all forsake Him. John does not quote the Old Testament prophecy (Zech. 13:7); it is quoted in Matthew 26:31. This statement from the Lord should have been a warning to Peter not to follow Jesus when He was arrested. “Let these go their way!” was our Lord’s word in the garden (John 18:8). He knew that it was not safe for them to tarry.
Jesus has promised never to leave us alone (Matt. 28:20; Heb. 13:5), yet His own disciples left Him alone. Peter, James, and John went into the garden with Him, but then fell asleep. Jesus knew that the Father would be with Him. “I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me” (John 8:16). “And he that sent me is with me. The Father hath not left me alone” (John 8:29). What an encouragement it was to the Son to know that He was doing the Father’s will and that He could depend on the Father’s help.
At one point, however, 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 that we might never be alone. He was forsaken that we might never be forsaken.
John 16:33 is the summary and climax of the upper room message. Why did He give this message? So that the disciples might have peace in a world of tribulation. Note the contrast between “in me” and “in the world.” In Christ there is peace; in the world there is tribulation. This is the position we need to claim: We are in Christ, and therefore we can overcome the world and all of its hatred.
George Morrison defined peace as “the possession of adequate resources.” In Jesus Christ, we have all the resources that we need. But peace depends also on appropriate relationships, because spiritual resources depend on spiritual relationships. “In me” is the key. In ourselves, we have nothing, but “in Christ” we have all that we need.
Every believer is either overcome or an overcomer. “And this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith” (1 John 5:4). The world wants to overcome us; this is why Satan uses the world to persecute and pressure believers. The world wants us to conform; it does not want us to be different. When we yield ourselves to Christ and trust Him, He enables us to be overcomers. We must claim our spiritual position in Christ and believe Him for victory.
“Be of good cheer!” is one of our Lord’s repeated statements of encouragement. Literally it means, “Cheer up!” 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 announces the “good cheer” of His victory over the world. We are overcomers because He has first overcome for us.
As we review this section, we can see how these three explanations our Lord gave all fit together. He revealed a wonderful principle–God transforms sorrow into joy. But this principle will not work in our lives unless we believe His promise and pray. God has ordained that His work is accomplished through believing prayer. But we will not be able to pray effectively if we do not claim our position as conquerors in Jesus Christ.
But John 16:33 is also a preface to His great High Priestly Prayer. He had taught them the Word; now He would pray for them. The Word and prayer must always go together (Acts 6:4). He used the word world nineteen times in this prayer, for in it He shows us how to overcome the world. He Himself was facing the hatred of the world and the Devil, yet He would be able to endure the suffering and win the victory.
There is joy when we permit God to transform sorrow into joy. There is joy when God answers prayer. There is joy when we overcome the world.
Let there be joy!
Questions for Personal Reflection or Group Discussion
- Describe a situation in your life when sorrow or pain has turned into joy.
- Read John 16:16-33. What was the cause of the disciples’ sorrow?
- How was the disciples’ sorrow going to be transformed into joy?
- How much joy do you get when you think about these things that Jesus said would give His disciples joy? Why is that?
- What can we learn about joy from this passage?
- What can we learn about prayer from this passage?
- In what way did Jesus suggest that He knew the disciples’ weaknesses as well as their faith?
- What was the source of Jesus’ encouragement when the disciples left Him? How much encouragement does that give you, and why?
- What does it mean for us to have His peace in the world?
- How are joy, prayer, and overcoming the world related?
- How can you cooperate with God to experience His joy more fully during painful circumstances?