Introduction

Jesus once again knows the thoughts of His disciples and yet has spoken to them with complete security of His purpose. Unlike His disciples, Jesus does not struggle with insecurity in the face of tribulation. He is completely secure in His identity. He does not allow voices or circumstances to manipulate Him physically, emotionally, or spiritually. Jesus operated by the power of the Holy Spirit and demonstrated what Spirit-filled peace can produce in the face of adversity and trouble. We are offered His peace that can produce the same courage (Jn. 14:27). Hebrews 12:2, says, “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Jesus is setting an example for all of us. He did not give up on people. His purpose was to draw all men to Himself. Like Him, we will face trials and tribulations, yet we can have peace and courage to follow His example of love.

He Knows Our Thoughts (John 16:29-30)

Earlier in this chapter, the disciples were confused and could not understand what Jesus was saying when He said, “A little while and you will no longer behold Me; and again, a little while and you will see Me” (v16, literal), but before they could ask what that statement meant, He had answered their question using the very words they had spoken among themselves privately. By now, His ability to read their minds had greatly impressed them.

He had done it numerous times before (Mk 9:33-37; Jn 6:60-61, 64), but it made a much stronger impression this time.

So, as He finished answering their unspoken question by stating that He had come to earth from heaven and would return to heaven (v28), the disciples told Him that they were finally convinced that He was God’s Son (29-30).

Jesus read their heart’s question. Not only could He answer their unspoken questions, but He could also evaluate the strength of their belief in Him. It was sincere and genuine, bound up with their love for Him, but even with the knowledge of their love, it would expose areas of weakness when tribulation came.

No Doubts (John 16:31-32)

After years of watching Jesus minister and listening to Him teach, the disciples admitted that they had finally concluded that He was who He had been telling them He was, and what finally convinced them was His ability to read their minds.

Their faith was very fragile, and Jesus knew it would collapse under pressure. So, He bluntly told them they would abandon Him as soon as He was attacked. But the way He told them about their failure was said in a way to give them hope.

He used the word “scattered” to describe how they would respond to His arrest, and in doing so, He was reminding them of a prophecy in Zechariah, which He had quoted to them earlier in the evening (Mt 26:31).

It reads, “Strike the Shepherd that the sheep may be scattered” (Zec 13:7). That statement predicts the violent death of the Messiah and the scattering of His disciples like frightened sheep.

So, the comfort those words would later give His disciples was the knowledge that God knew that their faith would fail long before they were tested, and yet, as Zechariah would go on to say, He would still be merciful to them and restore them afterward (Zec 13:7; Mt 26:31-32).

They would find it much easier to believe in Him in the upper room (Acts 1) than in the Garden of Gethsemane (Mt. 26:36-56), where they would all flee each to his own and would leave Jesus alone.

What a sad situation. Probably within an hour and a half of His arrest, Jesus’ disciples finally told Him that they finally accepted His claim that He was God’s Son.

The crisis would come soon, and when it did, the disciples would think, every man for himself and abandon Jesus alone.

When Jesus didn’t need the disciple’s friendship, they were His friends. When they traveled with Him, they were His faithful followers. However, when He needed them most, they would scatter.

Jesus did not give up on them, even when they were bad friends. What can we learn from this in our own life?

Peace that Leads to Courage (John 16:33)

Jesus summarized the purpose of His long talk with His disciples. It was to bring them peace and the assurance that they could overcome tribulations.

Peace is significant in the context of conflict. Tribulation and overcoming both speak of battles to fight.

To be “in” Jesus (Jn 14:20; 15:4-5) meant that the disciples would seek to follow Him and depend on the power of the Holy Spirit, just as He had followed the lead of the Father and depended on the Holy Spirit’s power.

Jesus said, “In the world you have suffering, but be bold in the confidence that I have conquered the world” (33, literal).

He didn’t scold them because their faith would soon fail. He didn’t allow their weakness to cause Him to despair that He had spent the past two and a half years discipling the wrong men.

Instead, He encouraged them to believe that what He was about to do, by His cross and resurrection, would bring a great spiritual victory. It would give Him supremacy over the world. In this case, He used the word “world” to refer to all the forces that come against a believer, beginning with the devil (Jn 16:11) and including the humans who have fallen under his control (Jn 8:44).

This means we have been given this same victory if we choose to walk by faith trusting His every word just as He trusted the Father’s word.

In Him we place our faith (our confession of faith and repentance).

In Him He offers peace (belief in the work of the cross).

In His peace we find courage (receive the power of the Holy Spirit).

Jesus’ cross would defeat the power of sin to condemn us, and His resurrection would defeat the power of death to hold us in the grave (Ro 8:31-39).

Conclusion

Have you ever felt scattered? Have you felt like your world is collapsing around you, and you can’t even seem to find the breakthrough you need? Today, we have seen the promise and the model of Jesus. Is it just a matter of working up more faith? No, it starts with identity. Jesus was aware of who He was, and because of that, He could dust off the noise of this world. Jesus knows our thoughts and struggles, and when we follow His model of identity, the doubts of this world will fade, and we will have a peace that produces courage to overcome our tribulations.

Discussion Questions

When you think about the fact that Jesus knows your thoughts how does that impact you? Does it bring you comfort?
The disciples were scattered when things got hard. Can you relate to this? Why or why not?
Read John 16:33. What does this mean to you and how does it impact your life?
Bonus: Read the referenced passages in the sermon notes and discuss with a friend.