Sermon – Easter 6 – "I Have Overcome The World" – John 16:25-33 – 5/13/07
May 13th, 2007Click play to listen to the audio version of this sermon.
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If you didn’t know better, you’d swear that evil has overcome this world. It appears that evil forces are gaining the upper hand and getting the best of what is good. We see it in the Middle East. We also see it in our own country where evil seems to be overcoming this world through the increase of drugs and gambling, the erosion of marriage and the family, the acceptance that self and self survival is all that matters in this world overcome by evil.
To all of this, Jesus has a whole different word. “Take heart,” He says, “I have overcome the world.” Here is the understanding of the world from faith’s perspective. And because our faith is based on the Word of Jesus, we know that it is the way, the truth and the life.
On Thursday evening on the night when He was betrayed, Jesus gathered His disciples together in an upper room. He had a lot to tell them. All of John 13 through 16 is the record of His telling of this vital information to His disciples. They must understand that He was going to leave them. They must understand that this was not a sign of His failure or the victory of those who oppose Him. He would return to them, alive and well and victorious over His enemies.
Last Sunday, we heard the first half of chapter 16 where Jesus said to them, “A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see me.” The disciples didn’t understand the information they were receiving. “So some of his disciples said to one another, ‘What is this that he says to us, ‘A little while, and you will not see me’; and again a little while, and you will see me’; and because I am going to my father.’” They don’t understand, and typical of the disciples, rather than just coming out and asking Jesus what He means, they ask each other, ‘what do you think He means?”
So Jesus tries to clarify the information for them. He tells them that they will be sorrowful for a time, but that their sorrow will be turned to joy. If they understand Him correctly, then they’ll handle the whole experience like a woman in labor. She knows that her pain will be great but she also knows that the joy of giving birth to a new life will be so much greater, that she’ll forget the labor she just went through. “So also,” Jesus says to them, “you have sorrow now, but I will see you again and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.”
But still there is the same head scratching, shoulder shrugging, eyes glazed over response from His disciples. So, Jesus puts it as simply and straightforwardly as He can. “I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.”
And to that, His disciples said, “Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech! Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that you came from God.”
A Rabbi’s authority depended on his ability to answer the questions that were posed to him. The deeper and more complex the question, the more challenging it was to give a satisfactory answer. But, if he could answer, the greater his authority as a teacher.
Jesus was pounded with these kinds of tough questions throughout His ministry. “Rabbi, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now in the law, Moses commanded to stone such women. So what do you say?” (John 8:4-5). “Rabbi, is it lawful to divorce one’s wife for any cause?” (Matt.19:3). “Rabbi… is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” (Matt.22:16). These were questions that were meant to challenge His authority but which Jesus answered so well, that all who heard Him were astonished, and recognized that Jesus was “one who had authority, not as their scribes.” (Matthew 7:27).
Now His disciples understand that Jesus’ authority does not depend upon His ability to answer our questions. His authority comes from the fact that He has come down from the Father and came into this world and is returning to the Father.
The information that Jesus wanted His disciples to understand so that they would be able to keep the trouble and the sorrow, which they must inevitably face in the right perspective, is the same today as it was yesterday as it will be tomorrow too. Just like the disciples, we too need to know that Jesus came down from the Father, came into this world and has returned to the Father. That makes for a very nice, three part confession of what we believe to be so special about Jesus – just in case anyone should ask.
Let’s rehearse those three facts about Jesus together. Please repeat after me. Jesus came down from the Father. Jesus came down from the Father. Jesus came into this world. Jesus came into this world. Jesus returned to His Father. Jesus returned to His Father.
Jesus came down from the Father. He came down from the Father because the Father so loved the world that He sent His only Son in to the world so that whoever would believe in Him would not perish but have eternal life. That Jesus came down from the Father means that He who is fully human is also fully divine. He who was born of Mary is also “true God of true God, of one substance with the Father…” Even though He took on our humanity, He forfeited none of His divinity. Therefore, His Word is the very word of God, in the flesh, dwelling among us. You can entrust your very life to His Word. He knows all things.
Jesus came into this world. He came into this world for us men and for our salvation. Jesus came into this world because there was a breakdown in the happy relationship between God and mankind. Mankind thought it knew better than God, and it still does. We decided our ways were better than God’s ways. Jesus showed us God’s way. Love God with all your heart, soul and mind and love your neighbor as yourself. But we don’t. We’re not too sure that God’s ways are really right. Which is just a polite way of saying that we think God’s ways are really wrong. Which is one way of saying that we reject God.
Jesus came into this world. He came into this world to make it known that God accepts you. Its not about you accepting God. God accepts you. He was rejected by man so that you would be accepted by God. “And you who were once alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before [the Father in heaven]. (Col.1:21-22).
Jesus returned to His Father. This coming Thursday marks the 40th day since Easter Sunday. After 40 days, the crucified and risen Jesus ascended into heaven. He came from the Father with a mission. He came into this world to do His Father’s will. Now, His mission is accomplished by His death and resurrection. It is finished! All of your sins are forgiven. All of your guilt is atoned for by His blood. God accepts you. By your baptism, your name is written in the Lamb’s book of life and no one can separate you from the love of God that is in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Jesus returned to His Father, where He sits at the right hand of God the Father almighty, working all things for good to those who love Him.
The disciples said, “we get it now.” And I hope that we get it now too. But rather than congratulating them for finally passing their final exam with flying colors, Jesus says, “Do you now believe? Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home and will leave me alone.”
Within the hour, they would all be in the garden of Gethsemane and there, soldiers would come to arrest Jesus. The disciples knew that Jesus had come down from the Father and come into the world and was returning to the Father. But they were not ready to apply what they knew to be true to their daily life and live accordingly. And so, in fear, they ran.
Its’ the same for us as it was for them. We know the information. “I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth… I believe in Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God… I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life…” There is nothing more true and certain than this for it says just what the Scriptures say. And I am quite sure that we believe this information to be true.
But its hard to believe that this information applies to me. It’s one thing to know that Jesus’ death on the cross as atoned for the sin of the whole world. It’s another thing altogether to believe that this also includes me. So because we doubt, we too run in fear when the world or our own conscience accuses us.
We know that Jesus has ascended to the Father in heaven and rules over this world to make all things work for the good of those who love Him. But that we should believe that He will work all this for good for me, so I need not worry about my life, what I will eat or drink or that I’ll have clothes to wear, is too risky. And so, for fear, I run away from the promise being held out to me.
The disciples confess that they believe that Jesus knows all things. What they don’t understand is that He also knows that they will not hold up very well under the pressures, which this world would put upon their living by faith. Just as the world had no place for Jesus and had to get rid of Him, it makes it very difficult and painful to live by faith in Jesus.
Yet, Jesus wants His disciples to live by faith in Him, because only in Him is there peace. In Him, there is peace in the very midst of trouble because He has overcome the world. His very last words to them before leaving the upper room to go to the garden of Gethsemane were words that summarized everything He had tried to tell them that night. Words that meant to reassure them that it was perfectly safe to live by faith. He says, “I have said these things to you that in me, you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
Jesus has overcome this world. He came from the Father and came into the world and overcame all its power to threaten us by His cross and resurrection from the dead. Now He has ascended to His Father again. In Him, you may have peace.
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» Sermon – Easter 7 – "One With Jesus" – John 17:20-26 – 5/20/07
» Sermon – Easter 2 – "His Presence Is Our Peace" – John 20:12-29 – 4/15/07
» Sermon – Easter – "According To Plan" – Luke 24:1-12 – 4/4/10
» The Season Of Lent
