John 16:25-33  Jesus: “I have overcome the world”

Prayer and Praise

Jesus said, “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” Matthew 26:40,

So we start our journey of giving God time to work in us, by praying along with this hymn…O Jesus I have promised…, at this link…

25 “I have said these things to you with the help of illustrations; however, a time is coming when I will no longer speak indirectly but will talk about the Father in plain language. 26 When that day comes, you will ask in my name. I am not telling you that I will pray to the Father on your behalf, 27 for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.”

We can pray to God DIRECTLY as He is our Father. 

(Compare Jesus’ statement with the Roman Catholic Church and High Anglican teachings of using “saints” as middle-men.)

28 “I came from the Father and have come into the world; again, I am leaving the world and returning to the Father.”

Jesus knew who He was. 

He knew where He came from. 

He knew His time was up and that He was about to be killed.

He knew He was returning back to His Father after His resurrection. 

29 The talmidim, (disciples), said to him, “Look, you’re talking plainly right now, you’re not speaking indirectly at all. 30 Now we know that you know everything and that you don’t need to have people put their questions into words. This makes us believe that you came from God.”

Now they understood what Jesus had been trying to tell them.

31 Yeshua, (Jesus), answered, “Now you do believe. 32 But a time is coming — indeed it has come already — when you will be scattered, each one looking out for himself; and you will leave me all alone.” 

Jesus even knew that the disciples would desert Him after He was taken by the authorities. 

Yet I am not alone; because the Father is with me.

In spite of all that, He knew God was His Father and that He was with Him.

33 “I have said these things to you so that, united with me, you may have shalom, (peace of heart). In the world, you have tsuris, (tribulation). But be brave! I have conquered the world!”

As for our relationship with God;- if we remain united with God we have a special kind of peace – we have His SHALOM.

But that means the world will reject us – bringing trouble down on us. 

But God is on top of that situation – because Jesus overcame the world. 

Previously we had the internal problem of trouble in our heart with external acceptance by the world.

Now we have the opposite – of acceptance by God bringing peace to our hearts, but now instead we have external problems of rejection by the world – with all the problems that brings. 

As John Bunyan pointed out in Pilgrim’s Progress – we are to walk between the lions. 

—-Summary

• Today’s Verse…

Who is Jesus? John 16:28 “I came from the Father and have come into the world; again, I am leaving the world and returning to the Father.”

• Today’s Challenge

33 “I have said these things to you so that, united with me, you may have shalom, (peace of heart). In the world, you have tsuris, (tribulation). But be brave! I have conquered the world!”

Are you prepared to suffer rejection by the world?

Prayer suggestions;-

1. The world. (ie ‘For those in authority.’)
2. The ‘suffering church.’ https://barnabasfund.org/nz/pray/daily-prayer/#previous-dates
3. Your own situation. (Suggest ‘needs’ rather than ‘wants’.)

“… He went up on a mountainside by himself to pray.” Matthew 14:23. 

Jesus taught His disciples what we call ‘The Lord’s Prayer’; (Luke 11).

Listen here to Albert Malotte’s ‘The Lord’s Prayer’. 

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, 

thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 

Give us this day our daily bread. 

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. 

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever;- Amen.

‘I treasure your Word in my heart, so that I won’t sin against you.’ Psalm 119:11 

Closing Prayer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDHAf1-cA0I

25 I have used examples to explain to you what I have been talking about. But the time will come when I will speak to you plainly about the Father and will no longer use examples like these. 26 You will ask the Father in my name, and I won’t have to ask him for you. 27 God the Father loves you because you love me, and you believe I have come from him. 28 I came from the Father into the world, but I am leaving the world and returning to the Father.

29 The disciples said, “Now you are speaking plainly to us! You are not using examples. 30 At last we know that you understand everything, and we don’t have any more questions. Now we believe you truly have come from God.”

31 Jesus replied:

Do you really believe me? 32 The time will come and is already here when all of you will be scattered. Each of you will go back home and leave me by myself. But the Father will be with me, and I won’t be alone. 33 I have told you this, so that you might have peace in your hearts because of me. While you are in the world, you will have to suffer. 

But cheer up! I have defeated the world.