Take Heart! Jesus is an Overcomer!

Take Heart! Jesus is an Overcomer!

“I have told you these things so that in Me you may have perfect peace and confidence. In this world you will have trouble – tribulation, trials, distress and frustration; but be of good cheer – “Tharseo,” be encouraged, be confident, be undaunted – for I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33).

Jesus spoke these words to His worried disciples on the night of His betrayal, the eve of His Passion. Just a few minutes earlier, He had tried to encourage and comfort them with the words, “Let not your hearts be troubled. You trust in God, so you should also trust in Me.” (John 14:1). In verse 33, Jesus is once again speaking of the future as if it already happened. Jesus has overcome the world? Really? We can’t blame the disciples for having their heads spin during this time. Jesus claimed here that He has been victorious over the world’s powers, overcoming the world. He said that despite appearances, this battle is won, my victory is secure, it’s a done deal, and you can bank on it. Remember now, this is before His passion, crucifixion, and the empty tomb. Jesus is speaking here of being the ultimate overcomer before He has died and rose from the dead!

In this verse, Jesus told His disciples the facts of life, the birds and bees of life for a believer on planet earth. Two facts of life for all believers – We will have troubles, and Christ has prevailed.

The Greek word for “overcome” in “I have overcome the world,” is “nike,” to subdue, defeat, conquer, prevail. Victory is mine, says the Lord. I have subdued the powers that harm, I have conquered the world for you. Be at peace in the midst of distress. I have defeated the enemy, not just for this time on earth, but for all time. You may be harassed by the world, says the Lord, but that same world has been subdued. Be encouraged, be of good cheer, for I have won, and your soul will not be harmed.

While on the earth, Jesus had good practice overcoming the world. He had personal experience in the overcoming business before His life and death situation. He overcame:

1. He Overcame His Flesh – “Although He was a Son, He learned obedience through what He suffered.” (Hebrews 5:8). “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are, and yet was without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15). 
2. He Overcame the Natural Order – Multiplying loaves (Matthew 14:20); Walking on water (Matthew 14:25); Withering the fig tree (Matthew 21:19); Calming the storm (Mark 4:34); Turning water into wine (John 2:7); Transfiguring His own body (Matthew 17:2); Finding the money in the fish’s mouth (Matthew 17:27).
3. He Overcame Human Sickness – “And he went about all Galilee, healing every disease and every infirmity among the people. They brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, and paralytics, and he healed them.” (Matt. 4:23-24).
4. He Overcame the Heavenly Powers – “Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers subject to him.” (1 Peter 3:22). “This is the same power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else – not only in this world but also in the world to come. God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church.”  (Ephesians 1:19-22).
5. He Overcame Satan – “Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil… Then Jesus said to him, ‘Begone Satan! Then the devil left him.” (Matthew 4:1-11).  That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. The whole town gathered at the door, and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons…” (Mark 1:32-34). “If I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come to you. When a strong man, full armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe. But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him…” (Luke 11:20-22). Jesus has bound the strong man, the devil.
6. Sin and Death – “It is finished!” (John 19:30). “Death is swallowed up in victory. ‘O death, where is thy victory? O death, where is thy sting?’ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:54-58).

Through Jesus, believers are overcomers as well: “For this is the love of God, that we obey his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. Everyone born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world: our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” (1 John 5:3-5). “To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on His throne.” (Rev. 3:21). We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” (Romans 8:37). 

An Early Church Testimonial: This seems a cheerful world, Donatus, when I view it from this fair garden under the shadow of these vines. But if I climbed some great mountain and looked out over the wide lands, you know very well what I would see. Brigands on the high roads, pirates on the seas, in the amphitheaters men murdered to please applauding crowds, under all roofs misery and selfishness. It is really a bad world, Donatus, an incredibly bad world. Yet in the midst of it, I have found a quiet and holy people. They have discovered a joy which is a thousand times better than any pleasure of this sinful life. They are despised and persecuted, but they care not. They have overcome the world. These people, Donatus, are the Christians, and I am one of them. (Cyprian of Carthage, North Africa, martyr under Decius, 258 AD).

Two Prayers for Overcomers: O King of glory and Lord of valors, who hast said, ‘Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world’: be thou victorious in us thy servants, for without thee we can do nothing. Grant thy compassion to go before us, thy compassion to come behind us: before us in our undertakings, behind us in our ending. And what more shall we say but that thy will be done, for thy will is our salvation, our glory, and our joy. Amen. (Alcuin, the head teacher for Charlemagne’s palace school, 782-796 AD).

O Lord Jesus Christ, who didst say that in thee we may have peace, and hast bidden us to be of good cheer, since thou hast overcome the world: give us ears to hear and faith to receive thy Word; that in all the tensions and confusion of this present time, with mind serene and steadfast purpose, we may continue to abide in thee, who livest and wast dead and art alive for evermore. Amen. (Frederick Macnutt, 1873-1949).