Overcomers

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Scripture: John 16:33 (ESV)

I [Jesus] have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth, you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart because I have overcome the world.”

Devotion:

            In today’s scripture Jesus is talking with his disciples in the upper room just prior to his arrest and execution. He has just warned them that they will all desert him. So, here he seeks to comfort them. He tells them to have peace in him. To know the peace which passes understanding. He does not want them to be sad or anxious because of their desertion of him. He rather wants them to be calm and at peace knowing that, as he has just finished explaining to them, their actions are foreseen and do not result in a withdrawal of his love and grace from them.

            Jesus declares to them that trials and sorrows must come their way as long as they live in the world. Jesus wants them to have courage and face their trials bravely because just as Jesus has overcome the world. (Although the world may see his crucifixion as the ultimate defeat.) Jesus knows that his resurrected life is assured and that even death will not bring his defeat but rather his ultimate victory. As John would later write in his letter to encourage the disciples:

4 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 1 John 5:4-5 (ESV)

            We, by faith in Jesus Christ, have overcome the world. Just as Jesus overcame all the suffering and eventually his own death on the cross. So, we as his disciples are empowered by our new birth into the family of God will overcome our own trials, sorrows, and temptations. We have in the words of the old hymn won the Victory in Jesus:

            “I heard an old, old story how a Savior came from glory,

            How He gave His life on Calvary to save a wretch like me;

            I heard about His groaning, of His precious blood’s atoning,

            Then I repented of my sins and won the victory” (E.M. Bartlett)

           
            We will certainly have trials and sorrows in this life. But just as Jesus defeated death, so we will defeat death and live forever in paradise with him. Our trials may seem unbearable and even unfair. We may cry out “why me Lord?” We may never find a satisfactory answer this side of heaven. However, we must continue to have faith in the one who defeated death and will one day in heaven wipe every tear from our eyes then we will know then beyond faith with absolute certainty that he loves us and cares for us deeply. Let us pray for that day:

 

Prayer:

            Lord we long for the day when our faith will no longer needed because we are present with you in heaven. Yet teach us to attend to strengthening our faith while we are here on earth. May we be your faithful followers. Help us in both word and deed to proclaim Jesus our hope of heaven. May we be as lights brightly burning in this cold dark world, heralding a new kingdom that is coming on earth as it is already in heaven. May we praise your name together as one people united in the new life we have found in Jesus. Amen.

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