Jesus spoke these words mere hours before the tragic betrayal at the garden of Gethsemane. When He spoke these words, His followers could not understand what was being said. However, when Judas the Betrayer brought the troops and officers of the Pharisees, the disciples left faster than a snitch at a gangster party.
Can you imagine looking at your friends – the men that had followed you for the last 3 years – and knowing that they were going to all run away, scared more than a free range chicken at a SEC football tailgate, and leave you in the hands of those who wanted you dead?
But what I find really fascinating is the very next thing Jesus said. After saying to His Disciples that they were going to leave Him alone like a bowl of Kale at a Sweet Tooth convention in His time of need, the next statement is:
“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)
“…be of good cheer…”? You are all going to scatter like Pentecostal Grandmas at Ozfest, but hey, be of good cheer! How do you reconcile these two statements?
Context… it’s all about context! Earlier in Chapter 16, Jesus explains to His Disciples that He has overcome the world…. Now that’s something to cheer about! And then comes this even greater statement:
“For the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God.” (John 16:27)
If you can’t find cheer in any circumstances by realizing that “the Father Himself loves you”, then I don’t know what could ever cheer you up!