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Passage: John 16:25-33 (ESV)

“Though I have been speaking figuratively, a time is coming when I will no longer use this kind of language but will tell you plainly about my Father. In that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.”Then Jesus’ disciples said, “Now you are speaking clearly and without figures of speech. Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God.”“Do you now believe?” Jesus replied. “A time is coming and in fact has come when you will be scattered, each to your own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me. “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

“In this world you will have trouble.” I wonder if, in today’s circumstances, this phrase is one of the easiest to grasp from Scripture. Last week, we focused on prayer, but as we continue to figure out how to function in a world with more uncertainty than many of us have experienced up to this point, it seems to me this is an opportune time to think through what God has shown us and what it means for us today.

One thing is certain. We are more likely to be able to grasp it well today than Jesus’ disciples were in their day. Think about a few examples of what they heard.

• “A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see me.” – John 16:16
• “For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.” – John 6:55-56
• “And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” – Luke 9:23
• “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” – John 3:3 (To Nicodemus, not the disciples)

Taken at face value, and thought about in the context of when they were said, these would be hard teachings to follow. Grab and instrument of torture and follow me? Consume my flesh? Is it a surprise that in the moments after that one was said we find John 6:66: “After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him.”?

Many of Jesus’ teachings were hard to grasp for human ears. He regularly taught in parables, using stories to teach eternal truths, and His followers regularly struggled to ascertain the meanings of these stories, which is what makes today’s passage so important. Where Jesus has been speaking and teaching using figurative language (even in the passage immediately preceding this one), He now tells His disciples that understanding is coming and that the time for figurative language is over. Take a closer look at their response.

Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech! Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that you came from God.”

John 16:30 (ESV)

Now they know. Now they can see it as fact, and as a result, they believe – their faith has got legs to stand on. They needed that understanding, that plainness, that straightforward explanation, and this is why I said we are more likely to be able to grasp Jesus’ teachings today.

We have the luxury of Easter Sunday. They didn’t.

Think about it. When Jesus taught them to take up their cross daily, He hadn’t hung on His yet. When Jesus taught them about His own flesh and blood being what they needed to survive, He hadn’t had His body broken and blood shed for their (or our) sins yet. And that just gets us through Friday evening.

Take a moment to contemplate the uncertainty His closest followers must have experienced that evening and that Saturday. They had been following a man who was doing and saying things they had never seen or heard before; a man who spoke with authority (even if they didn’t understand half of it) and who was performing signs the likes of which would be hard to explain without Jesus being the Christ. He finally looked at them and basically said, “Ok guys, no more stories. It’s time for plain speech,” to which they responded, “Ah, finally! Now we get it! Here’s the proof we’ve been looking for!”

And within 24 hours, he’s dead. Beaten. Broken. Dead. Buried in a borrowed tomb. And they were all alone.

Their doubts must have been astronomical, and Jesus warned them it would happen.

Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe?” Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone.

John 16:31-32 (ESV)

Prior to Sunday morning, the disciples context was darkness and defeat, right up until a couple women ran up to them and told them of a stone rolled away and an empty tomb.

Now, their context is forever changed, and so is ours. When we read these verses, we read them through post-resurrection lenses. We hear take up your cross from a risen Savior, not just the son of a carpenter.

This is why we can believe. It can all be plain speech for us.

So, when we get to the end of this passage, we can also take in the plain speech that applies to our current situation. As Jesus taught them that their faith was going to struggle, He knew a major crisis was coming. He knew that circumstances were on the horizon that would rock them to their core, isolated to their homes, in fear of what was going on in their world, and He gave them this final teaching.

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.

John 16:33 (ESV)