BE OF GOOD CHEER – I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD

John 16:32,33 – “Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

Pay close attention to what Jesus is saying in these closing statements about the Holy Spirit. These last three chapters, John 14-16, Jesus where taught extensively about the Holy Spirit is climaxed with His emphasis on the peace of God. He knew better than anyone else about the tribulation that was headed their way, as a matter of fact it would begin that night with the Lord’s arrest and His crucifixion the next day. He was telling His disciples they would all face tribulation but they should take courage, there would be a supernatural peace enveloping them through every trial they would face. The Baptism in the Holy Spirit was essential for them to walk in the peace and victory Jesus was describing here. Here is what Augustine said about this passage:

“When he says, “These things have I spoken to you, that in me you might have peace,” He refers not only to what He has just said but also to what He had said all along, either from the time that He first had disciples, or since the supper, when He began this long and wonderful discourse.… He declares this to be the object of his whole discourse, that is, that in Him they might have peace. And this peace will have no end but is itself the end of every godly action and intention.”

This whole night, from the foot washing to the last supper and then the discourse on the Holy Spirit was all preparation for the things to come. They would live in the power of God after the Holy Spirit came upon them and they would endure and conquer in every test and trial because of the very presence of God upon them. Jesus was experiencing this peace even when He was in the shadow of the cross. The disciples would follow in their Lord’s steps and face every obstacle with courage by the power of the Holy Spirit.