Courage and Cheer

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

COURAGE AND CHEER

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

From our prescriptive, Jesus has always been speaking plaining, but then we are reading all his words with hindsight, knowing the truth as we have the Spirit who leads us into all truth. His disciples, on the other hand, are currently living what we know as history. Their history is known to them through the scrolls of the Law and the Prophets. They may also have their history passed down by word of mouth. But there is no more of this to be recorded, the scriptures are complete and we have access to all of the history and all of the truth we need to come to the saving knowledge of Jesus. Yet, here are the disciples coming to grips with the plain words of Jesus that he came from the Father and he is going to return to the Father. It made sense to them and Jesus is pleased that at last, they believe. They get it, they understand. However, that does not mean they are going to hang tough and stay the course when things get tense. Jesus tells them although they actually believe he came from the Father and is going back to the Father and that the Father loves them and us so much that He will give us what we ask. But Jesus also told them they will be scattered to their own homes, they will not stay the course with him through his crucifixion. This is a bother to us, as this could also mean it is possible that we might not stay the course in troubled times. If his disciples were afraid of what the world might do to them, because they believed, then it might be possible we could be afraid of the world as well. Right now, in the place we live, life is not much trouble. We live in a rather peaceful time within our country. There are those in other parts of the world who are in great peril, some being murdered in hideous ways. This should bother us a great deal as when one member of the body suffers, we all suffer. But then when one member of the body rejoices, we all should also rejoice. We wonder if this is what is actually being lived out in the life of the universal church. Nevertheless, as we reflect on the current life we live, trouble seems to be in the distance. Although as of late this viral situation has caused many some degree of trouble. However, Jesus said that we may have peace. That even if we do experience some trouble in this world, we should take heart, because Jesus has overcome the world. What does taking heart look like? What does that mean? The Greek word translated as take heart actually means, be of good courage, of good cheer. This would then mean that we should not be down, felling any despair, or depression. We should not get discouraged over anything in this life. Nothing should bother us to the point of worry or anxiety for those feelings, or emotions are not being of good courage or good cheer. Sure, things happen that maybe we would rather not, but so what, it is how we face them which is at the heart of the matter. Having the peace that Jesus gives us has to make all the difference in the world. So then let us face life with good courage and good cheer.