Timing, Trouble, and Triumph
As Jesus gave His disciples their final instructions before He was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane, He assured them of a future they did not know was threatened. Trouble was coming that night; and it would loom all the rest of the days of their lives. The next 24 hours would leave them dazed and confused. Their preconceived notions would be shattered by the events of Jesus’ arrest, trials, torture, crucifixion, death, and burial in the tomb.
God’s ways are higher than our ways. His timing is rarely the same as our timing. He is growing faith, in His work to build us up in Christ. He works in patience, too. While we wait upon the Lord, we make innumerable mistakes. We love imperfectly. We say things that expose our ignorance and self-reliance.
In response to Jesus’ comments regarding His teaching devices and language, the eleven misinterpreted the timing of His “plain language” to come. Jesus was to speak plainly of the Father when He would speak to them by His Spirit sent to them (Jn 14:26; 15:26). In John 16:29, they declared Jesus was now speaking to them plainly.
In addition, Jesus assured His disciples that a time was coming when they would no longer question Him, as they had done for the past three years during His earthly ministry. What He was saying was that the Spirit would teach them. The revelation of God, in what we call the New Testament was coming. They would be privy to answers regarding His Person and work.
Again, the disciples’ timing was off as they declared that at that moment there was no longer a need for them to ask of Him. They knew so little of what was about to occur; and yet they responded to Jesus with confidence, presuming they now understood.
The Spirit had not yet interpreted the events that had not yet occurred. Knowledge is a wonderful asset; but wrong interpretation of incomplete knowledge is a disaster. This is why the Bible encourages not many of us become teachers. It is a much longer, much more difficult path of learning than most Christians realize. Hence, the truism, “He knows just enough to be dangerous.”
A third confident declaration by the disciples was also in error. They claimed faith in Jesus Christ without having yet received the Holy Spirit (Jn 14:26; 15:26; Acts 2). Jesus’ response to their response is priceless. “Do you now believe?” gathers in all their declarations about knowledge and faith and ruins them. Jesus knew all things because He is the omniscient Son of God. They knew a few things that left them lacking. They were still disciples, not yet apostles.
In verse 32 of John 16, Jesus shattered the presumptions presented by His closest followers. He prophesied of their trouble and His trouble now only moments away. The enemy was closing fast. Jesus immediate prophecy declared their abandonment of Him and His being left alone.
The fear of man is always in conflict with the fear of God. In fact, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge (Prv 1:7). Should we fear what men can do to us? When we are afraid, we should pray to the Father. In so doing, we demonstrate the fear of the Lord and our faith in Him, alone, who is able to save. Like Jesus, we are never really alone. God is with us in our times of trouble. Men without the Spirit are not trustworthy. He who promised to keep us, to never leave nor forsake us, is alone to be trusted. He is faithful.
All that Jesus has said to His disciples is for their peace (Jn 16:33). Trouble and suffering will follow them, as they follow Christ. The same is true for us, too. Spirit-filled believers in Jesus have great confidence in the One who gave them life; and who is their life (Jn 6:63). Today, we have the rest of the story of the events of that night and the days to follow. We have been given the Holy Spirit who has taught us through the Holy Scripture. We continue to learn.
“I have overcome the world” are words of blessed assurance to every believer in Jesus. The world, as we recall, is at enmity with God, with Jesus, and with Christ’s church (Jn 15). The world is under the influence of Satan, whose domain is darkness whose dominion is corrupt (Col 1:13). We have a sure word that this world is to be judged with perfect justice by Jesus Himself.
What happened at the cross was a judgment. What happens on the day of judgment is the execution, the deserving punishment. God judged the world at the cross. God will punish the world at the second coming of Jesus Christ. The ingathering of God’s people to be saved is the current program. In every generation and in every place, God’s Spirit is adding to Christ’s church. To the effect that not one of God’s elect, redeemed people will be lost. Each one of us follow in His triumph at the cross. Our victory is the very faith given to us by the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit (Rom 8:9, 11; 1 Jn 5:4–5). We have victory in Jesus, our Savior. We proclaim His victory and ours until He comes again and we are caught up together with Him, body and soul, at the resurrection from the dead (Jn 5:28–29; 1 Thess 4:13–5:11).
David Norczyk
Spokane Valley, Washington
September 22, 2024
John 16:29–33
