βThese things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the worldβ (John 16:33).
Have you ever watched a sports game whose score was very close? What about when your favorite team had done so well in previous games, but was now losing so horribly? Surely, the other team would win the game! However, in the final moments, your team surges aheadβbeating their opponents by few or many points! See, things can change very quickly in life.
Surveying the realm of Christendom, the truth seems to be losing. The masses flock to the false teachers; very few are interested in sound Bible doctrine. Christians are mercilessly tortured, robbed, silenced, imprisoned, and killed all around the world. Godβs Word is ridiculed in many a school classroom andβyes, sadlyβin many a βChristianβ church! None of this is new, actually. You can study Genesis through Revelation to see that human history is riddled with such depressing news.
From chapter 13 until todayβs Scripture, the Lord Jesus has been eating and fellowshipping with His disciples on the night of His death. For much of that time, He has talked to them, telling them various bits of sad news. He informs them that one of them will betray Him (13:21). He will be leaving them (13:33-35). Peter will deny Him thrice (13:38). The world will hate them for following Him (15:18-27). They will be killed for His sake (16:2). They, fearing for their lives, will abandon Him shortly (16:32). What βbadβ news! But, will truth lose?
In closing, He says in todayβs Scripture, βThese things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace.β βIn the world ye shall have tribulationβ¦.β Having awareness of all their upcoming troubles, how could they have peace? The Lord gave them the final score in the battle between good and evilββbut be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.β He spoke with absolute certainty: no matter what happened to them, no matter how Satan afflicted them, He told them that He (and thus they in Him) had won! Yes, brethren, we win, too! source
