John 16 – Once again, Yeshua’s disciples are bombarded with his talk of going and coming, the Helper, the Father, telling them they will fall away and be put out of the synagogue – all these things that seemed so cryptic to them at the time. Yeshua even says to them, “I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father.” (John 16:25) By this point, they were so confused.
In this passage, we see an example of how G-d sometimes only reveals a part of the plan to us – for our own good. Yeshua knew he was overwhelming them with information. He knew the time was close and he wanted to prepare them as best he could, but he knew they couldn’t handle hearing everything that was about to happen. “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.” (John 16:12)
All of the confusion and cryptic talk of this chapter and the previous chapters ends on a high note (sort of). Yeshua tells them they will all scatter (desert him) in the upcoming “hour.” That’s a heavy accusation! But he says to them, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
These men were about to face some of the most life-shaking events. Yeshua knew that with his death, their lives would be turned upside down. Fear, doubt, and despair would be followed by joy, hope, and the ultimate calling on their lives to testify to the world of the Mashiach who had lived, died, and been resurrected. This would lead to persecution, rejection, and eventually their deaths.
“In the world you will have tribulation” – no doubts there. Yeshua himself states that we can expect to have problems here on this earth – lots of them. However, he doesn’t leave them with this discouraging proclamation but finishes with words of hope – “take heart; I have overcome the world.” As we read yesterday, Yeshua is our source of strength. Apart from him we can do nothing, but in him we find joy and the ability to withstand persecution. “So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.” (John 16:22) Yeshua’s pronouncement was a word for the disciples then but it is also applicable to us now. We may have sorrow now, but one day we will see Yeshua’s return and if we are part of the true vine, then no one can take away the joy that we can have in Yeshua.
“In me you may have peace” – there is no refuge from the tribulation of this world, except in Yeshua. What signifies the difference between someone of the world and a follower of Yeshua is their ability to have uncommon peace in the midst of the unspeakable trials of life. If you haven’t accessed that peace to get you through the difficult times, I encourage you to search it out. Find it in the words of the bible, in the godly advice of a friend, in quiet reflection and prayer time, and, like the disciples must have done, find it in the remembrance of all that G-d has done in your life and promises to continue to do.
#peace #encouragement #yeshua #messiah #mashiach #dailybiblereading
Neshama Women 