Wednesday in the Word...John 16:25-33...rose colored glasses

One of the great things about Jesus is that He doesn't first hand out "rose colored glasses" for us to put on and then speak to us.  He speaks plainly of the good, the bad, and the ugly.  He does this in such a way that strengthens our faith even when we hear of "this world" struggles.  Amongst the bad and ugly news in this passage is some great news about the love of the Father toward those who call Jesus "Lord."  

Today's Wednesday in the Word covers John chapter 16 and verses 25 through 33, which read,

v.25 - "These things I have spoken to you in figurative language; an hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language, but will tell you plainly of the Father."

Jesus has been using word pictures to help His disciples understand His going away in a short while.  The last was the picture of the pregnant woman and her transformation in focus from labor pains to the baby now in her arms.  There would be a time of pain when Jesus would be taken away but joy was coming when He would gloriously return.  

It is an interesting fact that the disciples would actually know more about Jesus after He left and sent them the Holy Spirit than when He was actually with them.  A great example of this is John chapter 12 and verse 16.  The disciples have witnessed the triumphal entry of Jesus on the foal of a donkey into Jerusalem.  The verse says,

These things His disciples did not understand at the first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written of Him, and they had done these things to Him.

I am so thankful for the continuing unveiling of Jesus to me.  I am thankful for what I know and also thankful for what the Holy Spirit helps me to see that I need to know.

v.26-28 - "In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I will request of the Father on your behalf; for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed that I came forth from the Father.  I came forth from the Father and have come into the world; I am leaving the world again and going to the Father."

Jesus makes a clarification here for His disciples to understand something about the Father.  They and we are instructed to ask in Jesus' name but it doesn't mean that the Father only loves Jesus and therefore will grant the request.  The Father loves those who are asking in His Son's name.  The Father loves you.  

Just as Jesus loves them and they will see the full extent of His love in a few hours, so the Father loves them.  The Father loves them so much that He sent Jesus to them to convey this message.  So when we pray in Jesus' name, we are praying not as a formula to get in good with the Father who might grant it because He loves His Son but rather, we pray as Pastor John MacArthur says,

"asking on the basis of His merit, His righteousness, and for whatever would honor and glorify Him so as to build His kingdom."

As God the Father receives our request as a follower of Jesus, the King of His kingdom, He receives it as from one of His children whom He also loves.

v.29-30 - His disciples said, "Lo, now You are speaking plainly and are not using a figure of speech.  Now we know that You know all things, and have no need for anyone to question You; by this we believe that You came from God."

It seems that what the disciples are saying here is a statement of confusion by what Jesus says in response to them.  It sounds like the disciples are saying, "We got it!"  Many times we are anxious to say that we know it when someone wiser than ourselves says, "Wait a minute buck-a-roo."

v.31-32 - Jesus answered them, "Do you now believe?  Behold, an hour is coming, and has already come, for you to be scattered, each to his own home, and to leave Me alone; and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me."

Just as Jesus prophesied of Peter's denials and Judas' betrayal, He speaks of the disciples scattering from Him.  He would stand alone but He would not be alone because the Father is with Him.  This is a very near prophecy given to His disciples that they would be able to call upon for a strengthening of their faith.  Jesus said it and it happened just as He said.

Another nugget here is the comfort that the Father would be with the Son.  If the Father loves the Son and we have been told by the Son that the Father loves His children who are those who pray in the name of Jesus, then we can have the comfort that the Father is also with us when we are all alone.  This makes us not alone.  I prayed this over a dear saint on Monday.  I let her know that as a child of God, the Father loves her and will not leave her side as she makes the last part of this earthly journey.  Just as the Father was with Jesus so the Father is with those who call Jesus their Savior and Lord.

v.33 - "These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace.  In the world you will have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world."

Not only is Jesus going away but tribulation will be experienced by His disciples.  How do we find comfort in this?  The answer given by Jesus is that He has spoken of all of these things.  He has not veiled what His disciples will go through.  He has not painted a pretty picture here on earth or given us a pair of rose colored glasses to wear.  

But while He is speaking of what is going to happen temporarily, He is also speaking of what is going to happen eternally.  While the tribulation of the world will not be pleasant, there is something and Someone who is beyond this world.  This world is not the end.  This world has already been overcome by His coming.  How do you go through tribulation without bending to the prince of this world?  You keep your eyes on the One who is beyond this world and providing a place for those who call Him, "King!"  This world is temporal but God is eternal and our attachment eternally is to Him and not this temporal world of tribulation.  Tribulation will be gone someday because this world will be gone.  What is left?  God and those who are with Him and who He is with who He loves.

Pastor Adam