Confidence within the Chaos
John 16: 32-33
We have read a passage from one of my favorite sections of Scripture. Beginning in chapter thirteen, and going through chapter seventeen of John, we find an intimate account of the last hours Jesus spent with His disciples prior to His arrest, trial, and crucifixion.
As you read these beautiful passages, you can sense the heaviness felt by all. Our Lord is dealing with the coming crucifixion and the burden of sin. The disciples are in a state of shock – trying to make sense of all they have heard, and pondering their very uncertain future. In the midst of this great heaviness, Jesus offers words of wisdom to reassure and comfort the disciples.
This moment happened thousands of years ago, and yet it remains relevant in our day. While our current situation may not be as intense as that particular moment, we have all dealt with heaviness in life. We have faced situations that were beyond our control, and we have contemplated which path to take, or how we are to survive. The Lord never promised we wouldn’t face moments like these, but He did promise to be there with us. He offers confidence even in the midst of great uncertainty. Let’s look in on this touching moment and examine the affirmations of Jesus as we consider: Confidence within the Chaos.
I. A Moment of Preparation (32) – Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. Knowing what would soon transpire, Jesus seizes an opportunity for a final moment of preparation with the disciples. He was aware this was:
A. A Time of Difficulty (32a) – Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own. His arrest at the hands of the Roman guard is just moments away. Jesus knew the disciples would flee in fear, being scattered into the darkness of the night. Fear would grip their hearts. Their world would soon be turned upside down. After years of faithful service, following the Lord, they would see Him arrested by His accusers and led away to stand trial. Their future at that moment would seem very uncertain. They would face the greatest difficulty of their lives very soon.
Trials and difficulty come to all of us. They appear in varied forms, and in different levels of intensity, but we are all familiar with difficulty. It is unavoidable and unpreventable. Facing and enduring difficulty is simply part of life. Difficulty often leads to isolation. I have never understood why we respond as we do, but often when faced with adversity, we hide away in seclusion, separating ourselves from those we need most. If we aren’t careful, our fellowship with the Lord will even suffer. Extreme adversity has the ability to “scatter” even the most faithful of believers.
Soon after Jesus spoke these words, the disciples experienced great difficulty. We cannot predict the future, but such difficulty may soon be reality for us as well. We live in a world filled with those who do not embrace the Gospel. Persecution is on the rise around the world, and it will likely find its way to America. As it does, we must be prepared for the difficulties we will face. Our only hope is to abide in Christ and in His Word.
B. A Time of Doubt (32a) – Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone. As Jesus continued to prepare the disciples for what lay ahead, He knew they would experience a season of doubt. The disciples would scatter into the night, leaving Jesus to face the mock trial and abuse alone. Such desertion would lead them to question their faith. They enemy would plant seeds of doubt in their minds, causing them to question if Jesus was in fact the Christ. They will eventually be tempted to abandon their faith all together and return to their old way of life.
Satan continues to use the same tactics today. He first seeks to isolate us from the Lord and fellow believers. During those seasons of isolation, he attacks our faith. He plants seeds of doubt, causing us to question the doctrines of the faith, and even our own salvation. Fleeing in fear, away from the Lord, is a vulnerable and dangerous place to be. Unfortunately, many never recover. They continue to wander alone, listening to the voice of dissension, and fail to live their lives for the Lord.
Such doubt and desertion will intensify as the trials of life and persecution increase within the world. When this time comes, and I am confident it will, those who lack a personal relationship with Christ will fall away quickly. As the struggles continue and worsen, even some devout believers will begin to question their faith and succumb to doubt and fear. They will question their faith and begin to wonder if it is worth it to continue for the Lord. I do not say that to create fear, but to cause us to consider what we may soon face. If we are to endure, we must prepare. Again, our only hope is to abide in Christ and in His Word.
C. A Time of Determination (32b) – and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. Jesus revealed His determination to fulfill the plan of God for the redemption of mankind. He will soon face unimaginable pain and suffering. He will be abandoned by the disciples. He will bear the sin of the world as He hangs in agony upon the cross. There will even be a season that the Father will turn His back on Christ as He bears the righteous judgment for sin. However, Jesus knew the Father would never abandon Him. He would be there with Him, to offer strength and help.
It is important that we understand this great truth. Although we cannot predict what we will face, or who will abandon us in the journey, we are assured that the Lord will never leave us or forsake us. Regardless of the difficulties we face, He will be there as our constant Companion and Guide. We have the presence of the Spirit within. While it may appear that we are alone, the believer is never really alone. Our Lord is always with us, in every situation we face!
II. A Message of Transformation (33) – These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. Jesus had shared much with the disciples on this faithful night. They would soon scatter in fear, being forced to evaluate their faith, but Jesus knew they would endure. During the next forty days their faith would be strengthened. As the church was born, and they began to share the Gospel, intense persecution would come, but Jesus knew they would reflect on His teaching. Their faith in Him would bring about a total transformation in life. Jesus offered:
A. A Word of Comfort (33a) – These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. Their world would soon be filled with turmoil. The one they believed to be the Christ, hoping He would restore Israel, would soon die on a Roman cross. Following His miraculous resurrection, and the renewal of their faith, they would face intense persecution for sharing the Gospel. Life would be more difficult than they ever imagined, but in the midst of their turmoil they would experience great peace in the Lord.
Our Lord never promised life would be easy. Contrary to popular opinion, He never promised He wouldn’t put more on us than we could bear. In fact, Jesus and others affirmed we would face persecution and difficulty for our faith. There will be seasons of adversity and trials in life. However, we serve One who offers peace in the midst of a raging storm. He may not remove the trial, but He has the ability to give peace and assurance as we endure adversity! John 14:27 – Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
B. A Word of Confirmation (33b) – In the world ye shall have tribulation. Jesus doesn’t seek to mislead the disciples. He is very honest with them about what they will soon face. He doesn’t speak of a mere possibility, but of a certain reality. They will have tribulation. This revealed the intensity of what they would endure. It speaks of “crushing pressure, trouble, anguish, a heavy burden.” Jesus wanted them to be aware of what was coming. He wanted them to prepare for tribulation, and realize they could endure and overcome in Him.
I fear we have been lulled to sleep in our western culture. We have somehow been taught to believe that suffering and adversity is reserved for those who are disobedient and rebellious. We tend to think those who face trials have deep, hidden sin. These were the men Jesus had chosen to follow Him. He had devoted three years of His life teaching them. They were not perfect, but they were His disciples. If anyone believed the Lord, these men did. They were told to expect tribulation. We too must prepare for it. In fact, if you have faithfully served the Lord, you have dealt with it in the past. You may be dealing with it now. Tribulation is not a sign that we have been forsaken, or that we are out of God’s will. In fact, it may reveal the exact opposite. John 15:19 – If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Acts 14:22 – Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. 1 Thes.3:4 – For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know.
C. A Word of Conquest (33c) – but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. No doubt the disciples were a bit overwhelmed at this point. Human nature doesn’t like persecution and adversity. Jesus knew they would experience fear and doubt. He knew they would question their faith and wonder if they would be able to endure. He encouraged them to be of good cheer. There was no need to fear or doubt; He had overcome the world. He had lived a sinless life, providing Himself as the worthy sacrifice. Although it was yet to happen, Jesus would soon defeat sin, Satan, and death as He died on the cross for sin and rose triumphant in life! They would face nothing that Jesus hadn’t already been victorious over.
Trouble and adversity will remain. Doubt and fear will creep in from time to time. In our moments of weakness, we may even question our faith. Death is certain, but none of us know what to expect when it comes. We have all these uncertainties in life, but there is no reason to fear. Victory was secured at Calvary; it has already been won. The saved by grace are right now victorious in Christ! Take a moment to consider Romans 8:31-39. We are more than conquerors in Christ and nothing shall separate us from Him or His great love!
Conclusion: This was a time of great uncertainty for the disciples. The next few days would be very difficult, and there would be great adversity in the years to come. Regardless of the trials they endured, they were victorious in Christ. He enabled and sustained them by faith through the Spirit.
We have the same assurance in Christ today. He is more than enough for whatever you may face. If you are struggling our discouraged, look to Jesus. If you are unsaved, run to Him and respond in repentance and faith unto salvation!
