John 16:33
[ 33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”]
Do you remember where you were for big moments in history?
For example, if I say the date 9/11/2001, you probably remember where you were when you first heard about the twin towers. I was in the tenth grade and in Coach Nolte's world geography class. Class was going on as usual until Mrs. Pevito walked into the class and whispered something to the Coach. They then preceded to tell us something happened and we watched about it on TV for the rest of the day.
When you talk to people that were alive when Pearl Harbor was attacked, they more than likely remember where they were when they heard about it.
There is something about big moments that stick out. We remember them because they are important. We remember them because they change everything.
Do you remember the details about big things that were personal to you?
I was 17 when I gave my life to the Lord on July 10, 2003 at East Texas Baptist Encampment.
In 2007 in the country of Ukraine is the first time I remember hearing the verse at the top.
I know a favorite verse may not seem like that big of a deal to you, but this verse has shaped my thoughts and actions ever since I can remember hearing it.
It is a simple verse that gets to the point and describes what your walk with Jesus should look like.
["I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace."]
Jesus is referencing everything he just told his disciples. He had just told them that times weren't going to be easy. Stuff was going to happen. He(Jesus) was going away. The disciples would then receive the Spirit once he was gone. Jesus was just preparing them. In essence He is saying, "It isn't always going to be easy, but remember that I told you that. And remember where your peace is found. It is not found in man. Your peace is found in me."
Jesus is saying that the only place our peace should reside is in Him. When we put it somewhere else, we will start to have issues. The troubles of this world will get to us and we won't be able to cope and hang and do the work that needs to get done.
Next, Jesus just reiterates what He had been telling His disciples for quite some time.
["In this world you will have trouble."]
I am not quite sure the disciples fully grasped this concept until they say Jesus hanging on a cross.
If we follow Jesus and everything that a statement like that means, we will run into opposition.
People do not understand the message. There a few reasons for this. Those reasons are not terribly pertinent at the moment so maybe we will look into those at another day. The point is that following Christ will lead to times that you have trouble. It might be a long period of time, it might be short, but if you follow Christ, you will face opposition at some point.
And when this trouble happens, it points you to the beginning and ending of the verse.
["But take heart! I have overcome the world."]
This is such a great way to end a verse and a chapter.
Jesus provides the peace so that when you have trouble it does not matter because he is your peace provider and your peace provider has overcome the world.
One of the great things about this is that Jesus was still on the earth with His disciples. He had not died yet. He had not been arrested and put through a phony trial yet. No. He was still walking with and teaching the disciples everyday. He was telling the disciples nothing can stop them. He was empowering them to take on the world and change it through the love of Christ.
The simplicity of this verse is beautiful. There are no hidden meanings. It is out in the open.
1. Christ provides peace.
2. You will have trouble.
3. I have overcome it so it doesn't matter.
Our peace is found in the man that the grave could not hold down. So when trouble comes your way, it does not matter. Put your faith in Him and it will not even seem like trouble. You will be able to handle anything that comes your way because Christ lives within you.
I think if we all started to live our lives this way, we would start to see a better world and a world that was changed in the name of Christ. It is a challenge that we need to live out and accomplish.
[ 33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”]
Do you remember where you were for big moments in history?
For example, if I say the date 9/11/2001, you probably remember where you were when you first heard about the twin towers. I was in the tenth grade and in Coach Nolte's world geography class. Class was going on as usual until Mrs. Pevito walked into the class and whispered something to the Coach. They then preceded to tell us something happened and we watched about it on TV for the rest of the day.
When you talk to people that were alive when Pearl Harbor was attacked, they more than likely remember where they were when they heard about it.
There is something about big moments that stick out. We remember them because they are important. We remember them because they change everything.
Do you remember the details about big things that were personal to you?
I was 17 when I gave my life to the Lord on July 10, 2003 at East Texas Baptist Encampment.
In 2007 in the country of Ukraine is the first time I remember hearing the verse at the top.
I know a favorite verse may not seem like that big of a deal to you, but this verse has shaped my thoughts and actions ever since I can remember hearing it.
It is a simple verse that gets to the point and describes what your walk with Jesus should look like.
["I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace."]
Jesus is referencing everything he just told his disciples. He had just told them that times weren't going to be easy. Stuff was going to happen. He(Jesus) was going away. The disciples would then receive the Spirit once he was gone. Jesus was just preparing them. In essence He is saying, "It isn't always going to be easy, but remember that I told you that. And remember where your peace is found. It is not found in man. Your peace is found in me."
Jesus is saying that the only place our peace should reside is in Him. When we put it somewhere else, we will start to have issues. The troubles of this world will get to us and we won't be able to cope and hang and do the work that needs to get done.
Next, Jesus just reiterates what He had been telling His disciples for quite some time.
["In this world you will have trouble."]
I am not quite sure the disciples fully grasped this concept until they say Jesus hanging on a cross.
If we follow Jesus and everything that a statement like that means, we will run into opposition.
People do not understand the message. There a few reasons for this. Those reasons are not terribly pertinent at the moment so maybe we will look into those at another day. The point is that following Christ will lead to times that you have trouble. It might be a long period of time, it might be short, but if you follow Christ, you will face opposition at some point.
And when this trouble happens, it points you to the beginning and ending of the verse.
["But take heart! I have overcome the world."]
This is such a great way to end a verse and a chapter.
Jesus provides the peace so that when you have trouble it does not matter because he is your peace provider and your peace provider has overcome the world.
One of the great things about this is that Jesus was still on the earth with His disciples. He had not died yet. He had not been arrested and put through a phony trial yet. No. He was still walking with and teaching the disciples everyday. He was telling the disciples nothing can stop them. He was empowering them to take on the world and change it through the love of Christ.
The simplicity of this verse is beautiful. There are no hidden meanings. It is out in the open.
1. Christ provides peace.
2. You will have trouble.
3. I have overcome it so it doesn't matter.
Our peace is found in the man that the grave could not hold down. So when trouble comes your way, it does not matter. Put your faith in Him and it will not even seem like trouble. You will be able to handle anything that comes your way because Christ lives within you.
I think if we all started to live our lives this way, we would start to see a better world and a world that was changed in the name of Christ. It is a challenge that we need to live out and accomplish.
No comments:
Post a Comment