Mar 27, 2022
Scritpture Reading: John 16:25-33 This section of chapter 16 is the final recorded words of encouragement of Jesus to His apostles, prior to His arrest and death. It is a fitting summary of this glorious section of John known as the 'upper room discourse' (Jn 13:31-16:33). Jesus repeats some of the themes He has mentioned, namely prayer, His relationship with the Father, the Father's love for these men, the peace Jesus wants for them. And Jesus ends with the triumphant declaration, "Take heart, I have overcome the world" (Jn 16:33).
We see in John 16:25 that Jesus has come, among other things, to teach them (and us) about the Father. This is very significant. Knowledge of God is the foundation of everything in life, indeed, of life itself. "And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent" (Jn 17:3). We should make it our life's work to plumb the depths of who God is and live in light of His majestic reality.
John 16:26 does not mean that Jesus does not intercede for us, but that we can come to the Father with the confidence that the Father loves us and does not need to be persuaded by the Son to show us His favor.
Jesus again mentions His desire that we live in peace, even though the world is a place of tribulation. It is a great encouragement to know that Jesus has overcome (past tense verb) the evil forces in the world. The implication is that He will share His victory with those who are His.