Take Heart

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

TAKE HEART

John 16:25-33

25 "Though I have been speaking figuratively, a time is coming when I will no longer use this kind of language but will tell you plainly about my Father. 26 In that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. 27 No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. 28 I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father."  29 Then Jesus' disciples said, "Now you are speaking clearly and without figures of speech. 30 Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God." 31 "You believe at last!"  Jesus answered. 32 "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. 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." 

NIV

We cannot be sure why the disciples did not understand before or believe before for we have known all along what Jesus was saying. Of course, we have all the scripture and have read it numerous times and know the end of the story. They are living it out moment by moment in real-time as the events are unfolding. Jesus was speaking to them about them being scattered when he gets arrested and crucified. But they are not to stay scattered as we know they gathered in the room and waited until the Spirit descended upon them and then they were filled with power and spoke the word of God boldly. There is another truth that Jesus reveals to us in his conversation with his disciples. When he tells them they will leave him alone, he is speaking about his time of being tortured by the Roman soldiers and his crucifixion. Of course, John was there with Mary the mother of Jesus. But where were the others, afraid of getting the same treatment? We cannot be sure, but we do know Jesus told them although they would leave him, he would not be alone for his Father is with him. The Father never leaves him, he is with him always. God has always been with his people and he will always be with his people.

Deut 31:6

6 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."

NIV

Matt 28:18-20

18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

NIV

We know the Father is always with Jesus and Jesus will always be with us as well, even to the end of the age. God will not forsake us nor will he forsake Jesus. When Jesus said his disciples would leave him, but the Father will always be with him, which included the time on the cross. God did not forsake Jesus in the hour of his death. Just because Jesus said,

Matt 27:46

"Eloi, Eloi,  lama sabachthani?"-which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"   

NIV

It does not mean the Father had forsaken him or turned his back on him as some would think, God could not look upon sin. If that were the case, then God could never look upon us, for we still have sin within us. But the Father has not left us, nor has Jesus left us, in fact, we have the Spirit dwelling within us, even in our moments of sin. On that cross, Jesus was simply teaching, as he always did and does. He was quoting from the 22^nd Psalm, which the people would have recognized.

Ps 22:1

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

NIV

This psalm is filled with prophecies about Jesus, about his birth, life, and this death, this scorn that was thrust upon him. Jesus was showing the people, teaching them that he is the Anointed One from God. What we can be assured of is that God will not forsake us. He will always be with us, even if we do not feel his presence, he is there. We will always remember the words of Daryl Scott when he said there is a difference between the conscious presence of God and the constant presence of God. God was always with Jesus, he never forsook him, and he will never forsake us, even in our difficult moments.  In this, we can take heart.