Tribulation and Victory I. Base Text: John 16:16-33 II. Context A. Jesus’ final discourse with the eleven disciples takes up a major portion of the final “half” of John’s Gospel, detailing the final day of Jesus’ life and His resurrection (John 13:31-17:26 within John 13:1-21:25) 1. One long discourse: chapter divisions are irrelevant; unparalleled in Synoptics 2. Jesus’ final words to be ringing in the disciples’ ears, assuring and exhorting them based on what will take place soon 3. Jesus is preparing His disciples for His death and resurrection and their commission 4. He speaks to the eleven disciples: they are the specific audience, and we must work out what may also apply to those after them B. The Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 13:31-14:14) 1. Jesus began the discourse explaining His glorification, giving them and emphasizing the new command to love one another as Jesus loved them; they would be known as His disciples by their love for one another (John 13:31-35) 2. Jesus had said He would be leaving them and explains why: He went to prepare a place for the disciples to be with Him, and they knew the way; the disciples did not think they knew the way; Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, the only way to the Father, and the embodiment of His character (John 13:36-14:14) C. Jesus then promised His disciples “another Comforter” would come, the Spirit of truth (John 14:15-31) 1. The Comforter would come because of their obedience in following Jesus and would abide in them; Jesus would not leave them desolate, for He would remain with the disciples through the presence of the Spirit (John 14:15-23) 2. The disciples would do greater things than He because the Comforter would be with them; He was going away to fulfill the commands of the Father, leaving His peace with them, and the Comforter would come and remind them of all He had taught them (John 14:24-31) D. Jesus illustrated His instruction through the extended metaphor of the vine and branches (John 15:1-17) 1. Jesus is the Vine, the Father is the Vinedresser, the disciples are the branches: they are nourished, sustained, and empowered through relational unity with God to bear fruit in holiness and righteousness (John 15:1-8) 2. Jesus considered the disciples to be His friends, no longer mere servants; all He has commanded them is to the view of loving one another (John 15:9-17) E. Jesus then set forth the hatred the disciples would experience from the world: as they had persecuted Jesus, so they would persecute them His disciples (John 15:18-16:3) F. Jesus again promised the Comforter, who would convict the world regarding sin, righteousness, and judgment, and lead the disciples in all truth (John 16:4-15) G. Before ending in prayer, Jesus ended the dialogue with His disciples with a final explanation of what was about to take place: the tribulation which was coming, but the victory which Jesus would gain (John 16:16-33) III. Interpretation A. Sorrow to Joy (John 16:16-24) 1. The rest of the discourse centers on Jesus’ statement in John 16:16: a little while and they would see Him no longer; again a little while, and they would see Him a. Jesus has spoken the first half of the statement a few times before in John 7:33 and John 12:35 b. He began the discourse with something similar in John 13:33, and again in John 14:19 2. The disciples are confused about the statement, and ask one another what it might mean: not only this, but also what it means that He goes to the Father, and what exactly is involved in “a little while” (John 16:17-18) 3. Jesus perceived their confusion and questioning amongst themselves, but only amplifies the contrast: the disciples would weep and lament, but the world would rejoice; they would be sorrowful, but their sorrow would turn to joy (John 16:19-20) 4. Jesus then compared the situation to a woman in labor: during labor she is in great distress, but then forgets the distress once the child is born, and so the disciples would have sorrow, but that sorrow would turn to joy, and no one would take that joy from them (John 16:21-22) 5. In this way Jesus has spoken to His disciples about His impending death and then resurrection in a compelling way a. Such gain reinforces how contextual this discourse proves to be b. Not for nothing is His final message to them directly about His death and resurrection, all of which would prove imminent c. He has also well captured the agony and the ecstasy of the experience 6. On that day they would have no more need to ask questions; they would ask of the Father, and receive it in Jesus’ name; beforehand they had not asked in Jesus’ name, but if they asked, they would receive, and their joy would be made full (John 16:23-24) a. A repetition of the theme seen in John 14:13-14, 15:7, 16 b. Asking in name of Jesus based on the authority of Jesus: they have not yet asked in His name because He has not received all authority yet, but on that day He would receive it (cf. Matthew 28:18-20) c. Theme of joy being made full seen also in John 15:11, explaining why Jesus has said these things B. Tribulation and Victory (John 16:25-33) 1. Jesus then admitted He spoke to them in paroimiais, but the day would come when He would speak of the Father to them in parrhesia (John 16:25) a. Paroimiais: according to Thayer, a saying deviating from a usual manner, a proverb, symbolic or figurative speech, allegory, extended metaphor, etc. b. Parrhesia: according to Thayer, freedom in speaking, unreserved speech, boldness, assurance, conspicuous 2. When they ask Him on that day, He will not ask the Father on their behalf, since the Father loves them since they have loved Jesus and believed He came from the Father (John 16:26-27) a. We again underscore the repetition of, and thus emphasis on, this idea of asking Jesus b. The Greek here is efficient and economical but challenging for understanding, but Jesus’ point seems to emphasize the Father’s love for the disciples on account of their love of and belief in the Son: Jesus does not need to speak to the Father on behalf of them, because He has seen their love 3. Jesus then spoke a bit more clearly for the disciples: He had come from the Father into the world, and He was leaving the world to return to the Father; the disciples at this point perceive Him speaking in parrhesia and not in paroimiais, and confess their confidence in Him as knowing all things, not needing to be questioned by anyone, and that He came from God (John 16:28-30) 4. Jesus perceived the hastiness of their confession, and asked if they truly believed: He prophesied that the hour had come when they would all scatter, every man for himself, and would leave Him alone; yet He is not alone, for the Father is with Him (John 16:31-32) 5. Jesus spoke these things so the disciples would have peace in Him: in the world they would have tribulation, but they should take heart (courage), for He has overcome the world (John 16:33) a. He had spoken of giving them His peace in John 14:27 b. In terms of overcoming the world, cf. 1 John 4:1-4, 5:1-5 c. Jesus would overcome the world by living faithfully to God and His purposes without sin, suffering and dying for sin, and being raised in power by God; a stunning reversal of expectations and ways of worldly understanding, and one which would undergird the Revelation which Jesus would later show John C. At this point Jesus would turn to prayer to the Father; thus He has completed His final message for His disciples before He would leave them IV. Application A. Tribulation 1. In many respects Jesus’ final discourse is all about preparing the disciples for tribulation 2. He Himself was about to go through the tribulation of His betrayal, trial, and execution 3. The disciples would experience the tribulation of the agony of seeing their hopes and dreams seemingly dashed in a moment when He would be killed 4. After His death and resurrection the disciples would experience the tribulations of the world: hostility and persecution for proclaiming Jesus as the Risen Lord and Christ 5. None of these tribulations would be pleasant experiences, yet they would prove essential and instrumental in accomplishing God’s purposes and their sanctification 6. In Christ we will experience something of the same 7. As the disciples had their misunderstandings and misapprehensions regarding Jesus as the Christ, and had to see those things purged through the tribulations they endured, so it is with us: we have our own ideas about what being a Christian is all about, and it seems that the only way we can be disabused of them is in tribulation and trial (Hebrews 12:4-11, 1 Peter 1:6-9) 8. In the world we will have just as much tribulation as the original eleven disciples: we are beset by the deceitfulness of sin, we encounter hostility toward the proclamation of Jesus as the Risen Lord and Christ, and suffer constant distress and despair from the assaults of the Evil One, the ambivalence of those around us, the pressure to conform to the world, etc. (Romans 12:1, Ephesians 6:10-13, Hebrews 12:1-2, 1 Peter 4:1-5) 9. Jesus’ words should continue to ring in our ears, and for good reason: if He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, then the way to the Father is His way; His way was the way of the cross, of suffering, humiliation, and shame in trust in God for exaltation, and so it must be for us; we will have suffering, trial, and tribulation, and there is no other way to enter the Kingdom of God but that way (John 14:4-6, Acts 14:21, 2 Timothy 2:12)! B. Victory 1. Jesus’ final word to the disciples was not of trial, however, but of victory 2. Christians ought to take courage, because Jesus has overcome the world (John 16:33) 3. How could the disciples withstand and endure all the tribulation they would encounter? Their confidence in Jesus who obtained the victory 4. And so it must be with us: the only way we are going to make it through the trials of this world is our confidence that Jesus has overcome sin and death in His death and resurrection, and in Him we will share the same (1 Peter 1:3-9) 5. In this way above all has Jesus turned the world upside down: what looks like defeat to the world is really the ultimate victory, for Jesus suffered the loss, absorbed the shame, endured the humiliation, and in doing so gained victory over the forces of sin and evil 6. Such is how, throughout Revelation, overcoming the enemy involves trusting in Jesus and not loving one’s life unto death (cf. Revelation 12:11; cf. 1 John 5:4-5): the powers under the control of the Evil One think they have defeated God’s purposes in killing Jesus and then His people, yet in reality they have indicated their ultimate powerlessness in doing so 7. Jesus has the key to defeating evil: absorbing it without responding in kind, even to the point of death; when the fear of death no longer compels, the tyrant has lost his main coercive power (Matthew 10:28, 1 Peter 2:18-25) 8. All the world could do to Jesus is to kill Him; God raised Him up, never to die again; and so He has overcome the world, and we can only overcome it in Him! C. Asking the Father and the Son 1. Throughout the entire final discourse Jesus has repeatedly returned to this theme of having the disciples ask for things in His name to receive them 2. Such repetition surely indicates emphasis: in most of Jesus’ sayings in the Gospels, He does not repeat Himself, but throughout the final discourse He returns over and over again to the command to love one another, to the promise of the Comforter, and how the disciples could ask in Jesus’ name and receive 3. We are made uncomfortable by this emphasis and repetition and a little embarrassed by it on account of the many in the religious world who use it as the cornerstone of the “health and wealth gospel” 4. They appeal to these passages as authority for asking God for great material prosperity and health, and declare that Jesus will give it to you; if you do not receive, it must be on account of your lack of faith 5. Such peddlers of covetousness bear all the hallmarks of the false teacher in 1 Timothy 6:1-11; their condemnation will be evident, and woe to those ensnared by them; many have had their faith shipwrecked on account of this ungodliness which is thoroughly inconsistent with the life of Christ and His Apostles; it manifests more of the gospel of America than the Gospel of Christ; we feel for the many who have taken a beating in faith because of such people, who not only swindle untold millions out of the naďve and simple but then have the gall and temerity to condemn them for not receiving because of a lack of faith! 6. James 4:1-4 explains why we should not expect to receive if we ask to spend it on worldly passions 7. And yet the abuse of a passage does not negate the value of the passage: woe to us if we refuse to heed what Jesus has to say just because of how others abuse it! 8. In truth, Jesus’ message is extremely important for us, just as it was for the eleven disciples: if we want God to work, we have to ask for it! 9. God does not coerce or compel; God stands ready and wanting to do great things to powerfully advance His purposes, but we need to want to happen, and ask Him to have it happen, if it is going to happen (Ephesians 3:14-21)! 10. Are we asking for God to work powerfully within us through His Spirit to transform us in holiness and righteousness to better conform to the image of the Son (Romans 8:29, Ephesians 3:14-21, 1 Thessalonians 4:1-9, 2 Thessalonians 2:13)? 11. Are we asking God to work powerfully through us to bear witness to the world regarding His Son, that many would come to a knowledge of the truth and be saved (1 Timothy 2:4)? 12. We often wonder why we do not see the kind of love, energy, and growth which was manifest in the first century; it is partially because we have not asked for it? 13. What would happen if the people of God asked the Father for great and powerful things to take place in the name of Jesus to advance His purposes? They need not be “miraculous” in order to be transformative and powerful! 14. Yes, these verses in Jesus’ final discourse about asking for anything are abused by many; and yet they are not only a promise to the disciples, but a constant emphasis of Jesus’: He really wants His disciples to be asking for things, because if they do not ask, they will not receive, and the world will be all the more impoverished because of it! D. Thus, in the Son we can overcome the world and endure tribulation; we must ask for all things from the Father through the Son! V. Conclusion A. We have seen how Jesus concluded His dialogue with His disciples before His betrayal B. They would not see Him for a time and have anguish and distress; they would see Him again, and they would have great joy C. They would have tribulation in the world, but Jesus overcame the world in His death and resurrection D. The disciples would then ask Jesus for things, and they would receive them: not in covetousness, but in humility to most effectively serve God in Christ and advance His purposes E. May we find victory over sin and death in Jesus, take courage, and ask for God to work powerfully in and through us to accomplish His purposes in Christ, and obtain the resurrection of life! F. Invitation Scripture, Meditation, and Application 1: “A little while, and ye behold me no more; and again a little while, and ye shall see me” (John 16:16). The end of Jesus’ dialogue with His disciples centered on His explanation of what was about to happen. The disciples had difficulty understanding it: how would they not see Jesus for a little while, but then again see Him? The answer would become manifest soon enough: Jesus would die. They would lament and mourn. But then Jesus would rise from the dead. They would see Him again, and rejoice. May we trust in Jesus and be saved! 2: “And in that day ye shall ask me no question. Verily, verily, I say unto you, if ye shall ask anything of the Father, he will give it you in my name” (John 16:23). Jesus repeatedly encourages the disciples to ask of the Father so they would receive it in the name of Jesus. Christians are often a bit embarrassed or made uncomfortable about these promises because they know how they are abused. Many falsely claim that Jesus is promising great material wealth and health to His followers. Such is a damnable lie, a manifestation of covetousness, totally contradicted by the life and values of Jesus and His Apostles. Yet Jesus did want His disciples to boldly ask the Father to accomplish great things in and through them for His glory, to advance His purposes. If the disciples do not ask, they cannot receive, and the world is impoverished by it. Are we willing to ask the Father to do great things in and through us to accomplish His purposes, and prove the Lord’s promise correct? 3: “These things have I spoken unto you, that in me ye may have peace. In the world ye have tribulation” (John 16:33). Jesus knew how distressing the imminent events would be to the disciples. He spoke to them in His final discourse so they would have assurance and confidence in Him. They would find peace in Jesus, not in the world. Followers of Jesus have tribulation in the world. This tribulation disabuses them of misunderstandings and misapprehensions of what it means to be a Christian. Tribulation reminds them that the world is not a comfortable or safe place for them. If Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, and Jesus suffered tribulation, then the only way to have truth and life in the way is to endure tribulation. May we endure trial and obtain the resurrection in Jesus! 4: “Be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Jesus’ final word to His disciples was not of trial, but of victory. Jesus has overcome the world. The Evil One uses the fear of death as a tool of compulsion. Jesus demonstrated that the way to overcome evil was to endure and suffer it without responding in kind. Jesus did not submit to evil; evil was thus broken by Him. If we would overcome the world we must trust in Jesus and not love our lives even to death; we must prove willing to suffer evil without responding in kind. The world will never know what to make of this, but it is the way of salvation in Jesus. May we trust in Jesus and gain the eternal victory of the resurrection of life!