But Take Heart

But Take Heart

John 16:20-23,33

“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.”

These words were spoken, not from a place of comfort... but from the shadow of the cross. They’re among Jesus’ final words to His disciples before His arrest. He does not offer his disciples escape, “pie-in-the-sky” optimism, or vague reassurance. Instead, He offered His disciples the Truth—a truth strong enough to sustain their faith when everything else falls apart.

Jesus said, “In Me… you may have peace.”

We talk about peace a lot, don’t we? The problem is we all have different ideas of what peace is! We all seem to want peace, but struggle finding it.

For some peace is a long weekend off work; for others peace is their work. For some it’s an evening when the kids aren’t loud and bouncing off the walls; others find comfort and joy in the noise. Peace for many is the lack of strife; while some seem to thrive on turmoil. We all say peace is the absence of war; but we’ve hardly know anything but war.

The problem with all these things is they’re in and of the world. We’re looking to the world for our peace.

Jesus never said this world will give you peace. He never said you’ll find peace by looking into your heart, or by having more money, more time, more opportunity. Peace is not found in circumstances, plans, or in micro-managing life... peace is found in Christ… in union with Christ, alone.

This is covenant peace. The Hebrew concept of Shalom—wholeness, reconciliation, rest! Such peace is fulfilled in the person and work of Jesus Christ.

From a Biblical perspective, this peace flows from justification in faith by grace alone. Because Christ has taken the wrath of God upon Himself, God’s righteous judgment has been removed.

And (and I know this is gonna sound strange, but) God’s righteous judgement is the ultimate peace breaker! We can’t find peace because we’re always looking in the wrong place.

James 4:4, “don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.”

God’s righteous judgement... is man’s greatest adversary! God’s justice! We don’t want God’s justice… we want his mercy! Justice means we get exactly what we deserve… and we surely don’t deserve peace!

But the Good News is, “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 5:1)

This peace is not fragile. It’s not temporary. It’s not subject to the hostility or the fickleness of this life. Nor is it sustained by our performance. It is secured by Christ’s obedience, alone.

Jesus is almost uncomfortably honest. He does not say we might have trouble, but that we will face tribulation. Faith in Christ doesn’t exempt believers from troubles… in fact, it does just the opposite. Faith in Christ guarantees opposition in a fallen world.

Of course, the word tribulation (or trouble) implies pressure, affliction, being squeezed. It may stem from persecution, loss, disappointment, illness, doubt, and grief. God’s Word is crystal clear: until glory, we live redeemed, yet still in a broken world.

But notice something: Jesus does not say tribulation (or trouble) means defeat. The world can wound us, no doubt. We all carry some type of scar from our brushes with a hostile world. But that world cannot and will not win.

I know what you’re thinking: “How can you say that?” I’m glad you asked!

It’s because our troubles are NOT sovereign—Christ is. And Christ has overcome the world.

That’s the heart and soul of our lesson today!

Remarkably, Jesus speaks in the past tense—“I have overcome”—even though the cross and resurrection are still ahead. Have you ever noticed that? Why do you suppose that is? Because the victory of Christ is certain, grounded in the eternal decree of God.

It was God’s plan from the start... that in Christ:

Sin is atoned for

Satan and death are defeated.

And the power of this world is broken.

The world still rages, but God’s children stand secure.

This is our confidence and assurance: Christ’s victory is not prospective, provisional, or dependent on human response. It is finished, effective, and applied to His people by grace, and by grace alone.

As Keith Getty & Stewart Townend puts it: “No power of hell, no scheme of man, can ever pluck me from His hand.”

And this is a promise you and I can take to heart. We can trust it with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength.

“Take heart” is not a summons to stoicism—it is a call to all believers to have faith that what Christ has done is enough! That Christ’s victory is our victory.

We take heart not because our trouble is small, or insignificant, or fleeting. Our troubles may be none of those things! We take heart because Christ is greater than our troubles.

And the fact that Christ is the victor... enables us to live between victory and glory. Between Christ’s resurrection and our resurrection.

The Apostle Paul said, “to live is Christ, to die is gain!” We’re with Jesus either way. It’s a win, win for those in Christ.

In this world we will all know trouble to some extent... but take heart... peace is ours... for Christ has redeemed us, and made us His own; he has overcome the world. Amen.