“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33b
The man-made religions of the world differ so radically from the relationship we can find in Jesus Christ. Man-made religion focuses on the advantages to be gained by embracing their teaching and by religiously following their instructions. They make a great deal about the promise of physical and other rewards. But how different were the offers of Jesus. He told the disciples that if they followed Him, they would need to deny themselves, that they could expect hardships, persecution, and even death. He did indeed promise blessings, but they were mainly of a spiritual nature and the majority of them would come only after death.
The Troubles of the Saints (John 16:1-4)
Our Lord told the disciples, “don’t be surprised when trouble comes. Forewarned is forearmed.” (John 16:1) Jesus so wants to prepare and strengthen us for whatever troubles might lie ahead.
Jesus told His disciples the reason why men would do these wicked things, why they would be persecuted. It was because they didn’t know God or Christ. It was the pathway of our Lord and it is our pathway too. If those people in Christ’s time had really known the Father, they would have received His Son and would never have mistreated and crucified Him and persecuted His followers. (John 16:3)
Times have not changed and people have not changed. The world at large is still antagonistic towards true Christianity and it certainly seems to be the growing trend in the world today.
The Technique of the Spirit (John 16:5-16)
At the time of Christ’s arrest and crucifixion, the disciples were understandably filled with fear and dread because He was going away (John 16:6). They forgot that He had said that he would rise again on the third day. So he said to them, “It is necessary for Me to go away, so that the Comforter may come.

Therefore I will leave this world and send the Holy Spirit down to be with you.” (John 16:7)
How would it be better for them if the Spirit came upon them rather than Jesus staying in the flesh? If Christ remained with the disciples in body, He could be in only one place at one time. But the Holy Spirit would fill believers, comforting, strengthening and enabling them to live for Christ despite difficult times and this would be everywhere in the world. It would also be best for Christ to go back to Heaven’s glory and to occupy His place there as our Great High Priest, to offer His precious blood for our redemption and down through the ages, He would intercede for us at the Father’s throne.
The Triumph of the Saved (John 16:17-24)
Jesus says that when He comes back, the hearts of the believers in Him will rejoice with a joy that no man can take away. Oh, that’s the hope of the Christian! Jesus illustrates this truth from life. He says that when a child is being born, the mother sorrows over the labour of birth. But when the newborn baby is placed in her arms, she forgets her pain and rejoices in her baby.
So though we can expect sorrow and suffering while we are separated from Jesus, one day when he puts His loving arms around us, when he welcomes us to glory, we will forget the toils of the road and rejoice that we will be forever at home with Him.
When David Livingstone returned from Africa to England for a visit, he recounted some of the many hardships that he had endured. Then he added, “The thing that kept me alive, the thing that kept me going, were the words of Jesus, ‘Lo, I am with you always’.”
Yes, in the midst of the fiery trials of life, we are not alone.
A PRAYER: Father God, help us by your Holy Spirit to confess boldly amidst the troubles in our lives; Chris has died, Christ has risen and Christ will come again. Amen
Acknowledgement: The Gospel of John – thoughts by W.H. Ford.

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