Lately we've been hearing sermons and communion themes on revival, restoration, and joy of salvation. Why? I think that the Holy Spirit is stirring up our hearts and minds to draw us back to Jesus! In John 16:32-33, Jesus warns his disciples "But a time is coming, and has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me. I have told you these things, so that in me you will have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
In John 16, Jesus is speaking about the near future when his disciples will abandon him in the Garden of Gethsemane. He knows that they will leave him alone to pray. He knows that three times he will find them sleeping, unable to put aside their fatigue to join him in his praying. He knows that in just a little while they will desert him, running away when an armed crowd arrives to seize him. What was Jesus trying to tell them? The answer is tied up in the statement, "I have told you these things, so that in me you will have peace."
He tells them in John 13:15, "I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you." What did he do for them? He washed their feet. He humbled himself, serving them and meeting their needs. He gave of himself freely and without compulsion. In verse 17 he states, "Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them." Not only did he tell them to follow his example in serving, he also commanded them in John 13:34 to "Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
While the disciples are sitting around the table, listening, confused, trying to understand what Jesus is saying, he adds, "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God. Trust also in me." In John 14:13 he promises, "I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask anything in my name, and I will do it." Not only does Jesus comfort them, he promises them he will take care of them. All they have to do is pray. Nothing is limited. No restrictions. Once that is said, he tells them, "If you love me, you will obey what I command." Meaning, that if they have a relationship with each other they will obey him. This is confirmed in John 15:14-16 where he restates, "You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last." He also promised that he would not leave them alone. In John 14:16 he told them, "I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever the Spirit of truth." Finally, he adds in John 16:1 "All this I have told you so that you will not go astray."
What were the things Jesus said his disciples needed in order to have peace?
These "things" constitute the life to which you were called to when you first decided to become disciples of Jesus. Have you forgotten these things? Are you "each scattered to your own home"? Could you be leaving Jesus alone? Jesus reminded his disciples of what he told them because he knew that we will all scatter and leave him alone at some point. Jesus knew that we would give in to fatigue, fear, and discouragement. But if this has happened don't forget! The disciples came back! After doubts, fears, and sorrow they saw the risen Christ!
Jesus states, "In this world you will have trouble". That is a given. We left our past lives behind because without Christ there was no peace, only trouble. Jesus is reminding us today, that only in him can we find peace and overcome the world!