Jesus Has Overcome the World

Rev. Tim Storck, pastor at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Chesterfield, MI, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study John 16:16-33.

Jesus tells His disciples that in a very short time, they will not see Him, but then after another very short time, they will see Him again. When His disciples do not understand, Jesus clarifies by comparing the situation to a woman giving birth. As a woman knows sorrow while she is in labor, so Jesus’ disciples will have sorrow when they no longer see Him after He dies. As a woman rejoices upon the birth of her child, so Jesus’ disciples will have joy when they see Him again after His resurrection. In these things, Jesus makes His disciples’ joy full. Though they will face persecution and flee from Jesus in a short time, Jesus will not abandon His disciples. He is telling them these things ahead of time to give His disciples peace because He has overcome the world.

“The Word Made Flesh” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the Gospel according to St. John. The disciple whom Jesus loved wrote his Gospel account as an eyewitness to Jesus’ life and ministry. As we read the Word of God recorded by St. John, the Holy Spirit works in us so that we might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and so have life by faith in His name.