Today’s Reading: John 16:21-33
John 16:33 — I have said these things to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.
God promises peace. On the night of the Passover, Jesus was with His disciples in an upper room. He was trying to prepare them for what would happen soon. Jesus knew that He was about to be betrayed, arrested, put on trial, and crucified. The disciples would be shocked, fearful, and dismayed. Jesus wanted them to have peace in knowing that He has overcome the world.
What is the world? The world is the product of satanic influences and the sinful nature of man. It is a system that is in rebellion against God. It seeks to steal, kill, and destroy all that God has made and loves. The world is a kingdom of darkness built on lies about God, Jesus Christ, the Bible, Christians, Christianity, and the Church. The world systematically substitutes counterfeits for everything godly, holy, truthful, and righteous and turns the hearts of people from knowing God.
The world hated Jesus Christ. From the time of Christ’s birth, the devil incited the world system to murder Him. The world hated Christ’s message, the gospel, and hated Christ’s ministry of love and compassion. The world tells people that the gospel is foolishness and people can live good lives, be good people, and save themselves, if necessary. The world deceives and destroys people because the world, like the devil, hates people.
Jesus overcame the world. Jesus was free because He knew God the Father. Jesus was light and life and truth and the love of God in a human body. Jesus was not intimidated or taken in by the world’s lies. Jesus was in total oneness with the Father and lived a godly life. Tribulations came, but Jesus overcame them through His relationship with God. He had a peace that surpassed human understanding and an inexpressible joy, even when His enemies sought to destroy Him.
Jesus wants us to know that in Him, we can have true peace. In Him, we can experience His victory and take heart. In Him, we are seated above in heavenly places far above the enemies of our souls. We can have peace and joy is sickness, in financial difficulties, in relationship problems, in times when there seems to be no hope in this world. You may lose everything in this world, but you have eternal life in Christ and this world is not your true home anyway. In Christ, you have overcome this world.
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