John 16:33 NIV
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Not sure how many followers of Jesus Christ realize that John 16:33 normalizes trouble for us in the world, trouble as the opposite of peace. Tell me, when was the last time you were told to except trouble in the world for yourself on account of believing in Jesus Christ?
Please note that John 16:33 also mentions the possibility of having peace in the middle of trouble in the world. Jesus said, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.” We are not promised peace in the world as Christians, but rather trouble and peace in Jesus Christ at the same time.
See, isn’t true that only someone who knows that Jesus spoke about the trouble his disciples will face in the world, before it actually happened, will have peace in him (Jesus) whilst in the middle of the same trouble (when trouble visits) on account of his/her faith? Undoubtedly, such a Christian would take heart knowing that Jesus overcame the world.
Accordingly, apostle John writes, 1 John 5:4-5 (NIV), “for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. [5] Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.”
Talking about “our faith”, Matthew 24:9-13 (NIV) come to mind, “[9] Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. [10] At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, [11] and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. [12] Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, [13] but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.”
I pray that we all stand firm counting it a blessing to suffer for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ!
Please take note of the statement “at that time many will turn away from the faith…” (Verse 10) which is followed by verse 11: “and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.” Here we understand that many false prophets will appear and deceive many people the same time many turn away from the faith….Simply put, the many who will turn away from the faith on account of trouble will do so as a result of the many false prophets who will appear and deceive many people.
It is important to recall that the tradition of false prophets in the Old Testament portrays them as speaking but not from God, hence often contradicting words of true prophets who were often deemed “prophet of doom”, as it were. When Isaiah, and Jeremiah prophesied about the Exile, for example, and calling the nation to repentance, the false prophets spoke of victory and prosperity instead….
In the context of Matthew 24, the many prophets who appear and deceive many people most likely will not in their messages normalise trouble/suffering in the world for Christians on account of their faith. Instead, they will prophesy triumphalism/breakthroughs and (material) prosperity, anything but the cross of Jesus (see Philippians 3:18). No wonder that as a result many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other (a clear picture of division)….
But, Jesus says to his disciples, “…in this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world”. He says, “I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace”, when they happen, that is. Yes, you can have peace in Jesus in the middle of trouble in the world for believing in him so that you can take heart and not give up or in. Let no one tell you otherwise!
May God help us all!
