5 October | EVERYONE
"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” John 16: 33
The final hour of Christ's sacrifice was approaching. Soon Jesus would retire to intercede in prayer for His disciples. They may not have fully understood what was going to happen, but they foreshadowed clouds of sadness. They were restless, worried, and distressed. When Jesus saw them in this state, He said to them, "These things I have spoken to you." This is the end of His speech. There will be no more sermons or exhortations. Theoretical love would become a reality in blood at the stake erected on a lonely mountain.
The end of the speech is not a simple promise but an offer. Jesus does not promise peace to His disciples, He it offers to them. It is not just hope; it can be a reality. Peace is present in His person. Anyone who wants it can get it. You do not need to explore unfamiliar paths or walk dangerous trails. All you need to do is reach out and take it for yourself. "That in Me you may have peace," He tells them.
Jesus is the only source of peace; however, the peace He offers does not mean the absence of conflict or difficulty. "In the world you will have tribulation," he adds. We still wander in the wilderness of this world of sorrows. Since the entrance of sin, the land has become hostile and savage. It is no longer our home. It is not our final destination. We are just strangers and foreigners in a world of pain, sadness, and tears. But that is no reason to panic and believe that all is lost. "I have overcome the world," declares the Master.
Victory is certain. But it is only safe in Him. Without Christ there is no peace, no victory. Victory is the ripe fruit of a heart that overflows with peace. And both are found only in Jesus.
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Few texts will bring more comfort than today's verse. In it, Jesus does not paint our lives in a rosy tone, but He fills us with encouragement by reaffirming to us what the source of peace is. Look for it every day!