“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 ESV
Sometimes our hopes and expectations are dashed; things we would not have chosen happen to us or our loved ones. Sometimes these things are consequences of our own doings. Other times, these uninvited, difficult things, such as changes to or in our jobs, issues with colleagues or patrons, problems in work or family relationships, unanticipated changes in our institutions, or unexpected health issues, seem to just happen.
Jesus’ disciples experience something similar in John 16 when Jesus tells them he is leaving and going to the Father–and all this after telling them that they will encounter a lot of trouble (15:18-16:4). The Apostle John mentions the disciples murmuring, “What is this that he says to us, ‘A little while, and you will not see me, and again a little while, and you will see me’; and ‘because I am going to the Father.’?” (v17). What? “We do not know what he is talking about” (v18). Jesus is revisiting a topic the disciples still don’t understand (13:33,36; 14:1-3). He is going to his Father. It is taking a while for the message to sink in. I wonder what ran through the disciples’ minds at the time. Surely, they felt his imminent departure would not be to their advantage.
How tender the acknowledgement of confusion and grief from our LORD, as Jesus acknowledges their emotional state, “…because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart.” The disciples believe and trust in him – the long-awaited Messiah is here and holds the key to all things! Yet, he is going away. Jesus communicates his intent and the advantages to them in 14:3: He is going to his Father and sending a Helper in his place: “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to myself that where I am you also may be” and in 16:7 “…it is to your advantage that I go away … if I go I will send him to you.” There are no assurances that their troubles will be removed, but a hope that their LORD and ours will be with his heavenly Father, will send a Helper, will be actively at work, and will take [us] to himself. There is no mention of pearly gates, but multiple promises of abundant help in the present and a future with our LORD.
Jesus invites them – and us – to believe and learn from him. While we have not experienced the physical presence of Jesus in the way the disciples did, we may think from time to time, “God, surely you see my troubles. But sometimes it seems like you have gone.” I would encourage you to take your troubles to the LORD: “I am facing trouble. LORD, what is still true today? Where should I place my trust?” and answer using Jesus’s words, “…in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33 ESV).
Anita Walz
Anita is the Assistant Director of Open Education & Scholarly Communications Librarian / Associate Professor at Virginia Tech. First a member in 2008, Anita is now a current ACL member after a break in her membership.