564: Take heart | John 16:33

This world is troubled, but take heart! Jesus has overcome the world. There is no doubt that our world is troubled. I can hardly watch the news, and actually avoid it most nights. Scene after scene of violence from around the country and around our world. Jesus warned us that we would experience trouble in this world. I always thought He meant that we would experience hard times in our lives. That is true, of course. But I think He meant even more than that. Our entire world would be troubled. But Jesus reminds us of two very important things in our One Verse today. In John 16, Jesus is at the Last Supper talking to His disciples. As Jesus was going to the cross in just a few short days, do you think those words were important? Yeah! He tells the disciples that He came to bring us peace. The teachings of Jesus and going to the cross were meant for us to find true God-peace in Him. In Jesus. And then Jesus reminds us of something very important. He tells us that we will experience trouble in this world. "But take heart! I have overcome the world." For me, that is so comforting. Yes, there is still tragedy and chaos. For now. But evil will not win. It has already been defeated. Jesus has overcome our trouble, our sin, death, and hell. And because of that, I want to encourage you with the same words of Jesus… Take heart!