NEVER DEFEATED
John 16.16-33
S: Victory in the face of Pain and Opposition
C: Holding it together when “bad” things happen
Pr: WE ARE CONFIDENT OF VICTORY.
?: How? How is it to be observed?
KW: Contrasts
TS: We will find in our study of John 16.16-33 two contrasts that show how and why we can be confident of final victory.
Type: Proposition
The ____ contrast is…
I. SORROW & JOY (16-24)
II. DISARRAY & PEACE (25-33)
PA: How is the change to be observed?
• Realize that hardship is a part of life.
• Rejoice that God reveals Himself when chaos abounds.
• Don’t lose faith in the midst of conflict.
Version: ESV
RMBC 18 February 07 AM
INTRODUCTION:
I think we all realize it, but let me repeat it here…
1. Sometimes, life just hurts.
ILL Pain (H)
There were some students in a third-grade class who were bombarding the teacher with questions about her newly pierced ears:
"Does the hole go all the way through?"
"Yes."
"Did it hurt?"
"Just a little."
"Did they stick a needle through your ears?"
"No, they used a special gun."
Silence followed, and then one solemn voice called out, "How far away did they stand?"
I think a principle comes to light here.
To get pierced ears, it is going to hurt.
In the bigger picture of things…
2. To get to the good stuff, we must go through some pain.
This certainly is a biblical concept, and is borne out in today’s text.
TRANSITION:
As we come to the 16th chapter of John, we observe that…
1. Jesus is giving His final words before the cross.
As we have moved through the teaching in chapters 13 to the present, we have gone from the upper room where Jesus washed the feet of the disciples and had what we often refer to as the Last Supper, and now to the Garden of Gethsemane.
It is now just a matter of hours before the impending arrest of Jesus.
These are some of the last moments Jesus has with His disciples before His death.
It is His last opportunity to say many of the things that needed to be said before the cross happens.
As we noted two weeks ago, Jesus has communicated that it is better that He leaves.
For, when the Spirit comes, He will release Jesus’ life within them.
Then they will be able to live by Him, as He has lived by the means of the Father.
This is the secret which makes the fulfillment of the high demands of Christian living possible.
A Christian lives by the same principle that Jesus did.
He lived by means of the Father, in dependence and trust in Him, moment by moment.
In the same way, we are to live by then means of the Son, in dependence and trust in Him through the Holy Spirit.
Jesus communicates that when this happened, the Spirit would guide them into all truth.
Gradually, He will unfold the facts about life, the reality of existence, and will enable them to love one another.
That was the good news.
But it was not all the news.
For…
2. Jesus says that it is going to be bad before it gets better.
Jesus never hid the truth from the disciples.
They did not always get it, but He is clearly seeking to prepare them for the tough time that is momentarily ahead of them.
You see, Jesus never painted a picture of discipleship that was only the good news.
He clearly communicated the cost that was involved.
In this passage, though, the cost was not the end of the story.
The end of the story is victory.
It is a victory that we do not earn, but we are given.
You see…
3. WE ARE CONFIDENT OF VICTORY.
Why?
Because pain and suffering is not the end of the story.
So, how does it happen that we can be confident of victory?
Well…
4. We will find in our study of John 16.16-33 two contrasts that show how and why we can be confident of final victory.
OUR STUDY:
I. The first contrast is SORROW & JOY (16-24).
(16) “A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see me.” (17) So some of his disciples said to one another, “What is this that he says to us, ‘A little while, and you will not see me, and again a little while, and you will see me’; and, ‘because I am going to the Father’?” (18) So they were saying, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We do not know what he is talking about.” (19) Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, “Is this what you are asking yourselves, what I meant by saying, ‘A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me’? (20) Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. (21) When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. (22) So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. (23) In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. (24) Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.
Have you ever noticed how…
1. We struggle seeing past the moment.
This is what Jesus is trying to get across to the disciples and us when He says “in a little while.”
We are like children.
Children often don’t understand "tomorrow" when their hearts are ruled by the moments of today.
For example…
ILL Time
On the Saturday evening before Easter, Kate Runyan was trying to distract her hungry four-year-old son, Scott, and get dinner on the table.
She decided to explain the importance of Easter — that because of what Jesus did, we could all go to heaven.
Scott thought for a moment, then asked, "When will we come back to earth?"
"We won’t need to come back. We’ll live there forever," she replied.
Scott’s expression suddenly turned to panic as he shrieked, "Then how are we going to eat dinner?"
Kate Runyan, Michigan, "Small Talk," Today’s Christian Woman.
Just like Scott, we often can’t get past the moment.
But, God’s timing is not like ours.
If we’re in pain, we just want it to be over.
We just want out.
But God knows that pain is necessary to get us to a real peace.
If it comes too soon, we do not value it.
If peace arrives too easily, we will not understand how important it is.
This is certainly a lesson the Lord has been taking me through recently.
You and I, we just want out of our troubles…now.
We do not want to take the time to get it right.
But the Lord cares enough to take us through the darkness…the sad times…the painful times…the hard times…so that we will have real joy and peace.
You see…
2. Jesus wants us to have perspective.
The disciples need to understand that though His death is approaching, they will see Him again.
Jesus uses the picture of childbirth.
Though the labor is painful, it is considered secondary to the joy of a newborn child.
The pain is overcome by joy.
Jesus says to the disciples that joy is on the way.
And it is a joy that is connected with prayer.
For…
3. The secret of joy is being lined up with the Lord.
It is coming to Him on the basis of His merit.
It is not our virtue.
It is not in something that we do.
It is coming with a poverty of spirit…having nothing to offer the Lord but our mere selves.
This is what it means to pray in His name.
It is being in line with God’s character and objectives.
It is asking according to His nature.
It is an acceptance of the process in which God works.
Asking in Jesus’ name is not about my spontaneous desires, though God asks us to bring everything to Him.
It is submitting to the sovereign process.
II. The second contrast is DISARRAY & PEACE (25-33).
(25) “I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father. (26) In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask 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. (28) I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.” (29) His disciples said, “Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech! (30) Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that you came from God.” (31) Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? (32) Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. (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.”
In this next section of verses, Jesus begins to speak about the relationship between Himself and the Father, and how it relates to the disciples.
He is of heavenly origin.
And He has a heavenly destination.
But what we learn from the disciples’ response is that…
1. We need to be humble about what we think we understand.
The disciples seemed very confident.
But Jesus asks: “Do you now believe?”
For what Jesus predicts is exactly what happens.
Because of their lack of faith, they will abandon Him here in the garden.
They will fail to attend His trial.
Except for John, they will not go to the cross.
And on Saturday and Sunday, they will lock themselves into their houses and rooms.
Interestingly, Jesus is not calling into question their faith.
But He is directing their attention to its inadequacy.
They do believe.
But there is room for so much more growth.
ILL Pain
Alan Redpath is well known for saying…
“When God wants to use a man, He takes him and crushes him.”
These guys are going to be crushed, but God is not done with them by any means.
So we learn from them that…
2. We are not to panic.
We are not to panic, even when our world seems to be caving in.
Jesus says that though they are going to get it wrong, it is okay.
He says, “I will overcome.”
They are courageous, and even audacious words.
The demonic hordes are on the attack, but Jesus believes in the plan.
He believes in the ultimate plan that God has.
3. God’s ultimate plan for us is wholeness.
Though they would fail…
Though they would need rescued…
He loved them anyways.
And in the same way, He loves us anyways.
He wants us to know His peace.
ILL Lord, You Rescued Me
Lord, I was sinking fast, into the murky mire
I knew I couldn’t last, I was beginning to tire
But You heard my plea, and You rescued me,
Thank You Jesus, Thank You Lord
I thought it was the end,
I knew I couldn’t hold on
I thought I would I would descend,
into the pit and be gone
But You heard my plea, You came and rescued me, Thank You Jesus, Thank You Lord
I’m wounded and I have so many scars my Lord
from the trials I’ve been through
and I’m torn between the need to keep pressing on, and my longing to be with You
I remember when, I thought that I had found
an easy way then, I came tumbling down
I couldn’t drink from your cup,
you had to lift me up
Thank You Jesus, Thank You Lord
Again and Again, I try to do my best
But again and again, I seem to fail the test
I get so discouraged, but You give me new courage, Thank You Jesus, thank You Lord
I try to walk on water but I sink like a stone, right to the bottom of the sea
I say Lord I’ll never do that again
but then I know Lord that You know me
So here I go again, down another new trail
It’s probably just another dead end,
and I’ll most likely fail
But I believe, You’ll be there to rescue me, Thank You Jesus, Thank You Lord
I guess my story’s not new,
others have traveled the same
trusting only in You, calling on Your name
You never turn us away, and I’m here to say, Thank You Jesus, Thank You Lord
When rewards are given out in heaven I think there’s one Lord that I deserve too
It’s the one that goes to those
who call on You most,
cause Lord that’s all I seem to do
© 2001 Wm. Hamlen
APPLICATION:
Bill’s song illustrates a truth that we must accept…
1. Trouble is coming.
Salvation is not accompanied by a trouble exemption certificate.
We would like that, but it doesn’t happen.
In fact, the world guarantees tribulation.
As Christians, troubles, pain and difficulties are a part of life.
As Felix Neff has said:
A Christian without affliction is only like a soldier on parade.
But Jesus said, just as much as troubles are sure to happen, victory is assured.
ILL Victory
I am sure that many of you recognize this date: June 6, 1944. On June 6, 1944, a date known ever since as D-Day, a mighty armada crossed a narrow strip of sea from England to Normandy, France, and cracked the Nazi grip on western Europe. The battle was far from being over – there would be months and months of more combat. But this battle, this day, was the beginnings of a decisive victory. Final victory was certain, even if the war was not altogether over.
It led to a date that many of us don’t know as well: May 9, 1945. This is the day that the German army unconditionally surrendered to the Allied forces. This is day known as V-E day, when the Allied victory in Europe was secured.
The victory isn’t always as obvious as we like it, but the truth is that…
2. God reveals Himself when chaos abounds.
We know that God does not always stop tragedy.
He is a master of brinkmanship.
He pushes you right to the brink, sometimes over the brink, in order that out of what appears to be an absolutely hopeless condition, from our point of view, is His opportunity to demonstrate His control and love.
Scripture speaks of this over and over...
…Abraham and Sarah receiving a promise of a child, but remaining barren way past child bearing age; then Isaac came…
…Joseph placed in prison unjustly for crimes he did not commit; then he becomes second in command in Egypt
…Moses being burdened to do something for the Hebrew people, but put on the run for forty years after he had killed an Egyptian; then he becomes God’s instrument for saving his people.
We are not able to triumph in these situations, but God is.
We need to realize that we are powerless.
Life is continually troublesome and stressful.
But when we try to make it work ourselves, we fail to see the need of a Savior.
Jesus tells us here that the victory he was about to achieve was, and is, for us.
It was for His glory and our benefit.
This means then…
3. We are not to lose faith in the midst of conflict.
Jesus goes to the cross as conqueror.
He states, “I have overcome the world.”
We Christians stake everything we are on one astonishing fact: that God has raised Jesus Christ from the dead.
He who knew no sin, became sin for us.
By allowing Himself to be put to death, He overcame sin and defeated death’s power.
So…
When it is dark, don’t lose hope.
When troubles come, don’t lose faith.
When suffering has come your way, don’t give up.
Again, as Bill sang…
Lord, I was sinking fast, into the murky mire
I knew I couldn’t last, I was beginning to tire
But You heard my plea, and You rescued me,
Thank You Jesus, Thank You Lord
I thought it was the end,
I knew I couldn’t hold on
I thought I would I would descend,
into the pit and be gone
But You heard my plea, You came and rescued me, Thank You Jesus, Thank You Lord
Victory is ours, not because we earned it, but because it has been given to us.
For Further Study: Isaiah 55.8; John 14.27; Romans 8.26-39; I Corinthians 15.57-58; I Peter 4.12, 5.7
BENEDICTION:
Now to him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.
RESOURCES:
SermonCentral:
Blount, Stuart No Tribulation Please, We’re Christians
Buls, Harold John 16.23-33
Deese, Dennis It’s Going to Get Better
Marquardt, Dennis A Promised Future
Melanson, Derek Overcoming the World
Smith, Joseph Eleventh Hour Peace
Stedman, Ray C. The Abiding Principles
Willis, Bruce The Truth About Trouble
Books:
Hughes, R. Kent. John: That You May Believe. Preaching the Word. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1999.
Morris, Leon. The Gospel According to John. The New International Commentary on the New Testament, ed. F. F. Bruce. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1977.
