John 16:25-33
“I have spoken of these matters in figures of speech, but soon I will stop speaking figuratively and will tell you plainly all about the Father. Then you will ask in my name. I’m not saying I will ask the Father on your behalf, for the Father himself loves you dearly because you love me and believe that I came from God. Yes, I came from the Father into the world, and now I will leave the world and return to the Father.”
Then his disciples said, “At last you are speaking plainly and not figuratively. Now we understand that you know everything, and there’s no need to question you. From this we believe that you came from God.”
Jesus asked, “Do you finally believe? But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when you will be scattered, each one going his own way, leaving me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me. I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
One day, it will all become clear. One day, we will see God face-to-face, and we will understand his glory, power and majesty in ways we can’t even imagine today. On this side of heaven, we are left with partial answers and an incomplete picture of God’s wonderful attributes, but when we arrive at our eternal home, all our questions will be answered and all our misconceptions cleared away.
Jesus spoke figuratively a lot, didn’t He? He told parables. He used metaphors and analogies to describe our relationship with God. The disciples must have felt frustrated at times with their inability to fully understand all that Jesus told them. That wasn’t Jesus’ fault; He wasn’t a bad teacher or a poor communicator. The disciples struggled to understand and to believe because of their own limitations of mind and heart. We humans can’t fully comprehend the divine, especially while our vision is clouded by the dark shadows of this world. But notice, Jesus wants us to understand. He wants us to see clearly who God is and what He is doing in our lives. God wants to be known and loved by the people He loves.
So, don’t be discouraged by what you can’t understand. Take hold of the truths of scripture that are clear and unmistakable. God loves you. Jesus died to save you. He rose again to defeat death. Through him, you have the assurance of eternal life. God’s word declares these truths plainly. They are the sure foundation of our faith. Jesus also made two unambiguous promises in this passage. The first is the sad but undeniable reality of “trials and sorrow” in this world, and the second is the absolute assurance that Jesus has “overcome the world.” Even as we endure life’s trials with our limitations and weaknesses, we hold fast to Jesus’ promise that through him, we too will overcome and will one day stand before our Lord in glory.
Thank You, Father, for revealing Yourself to the world You created and even to me. I feel Your love and believe that You are always good. Help me to know You better and to trust You through the trials and sorrows of this life. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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Pastor Mike Mirakian
