Rēad to Read …Again
Daily Reading: John 16-18
John 16:31
Jesus answered them, Do ye now believe?
The entire chapter of John 16 tells a story. A story of One come from God the Father, and His return to Him. That One was, is, Christ. He was sent from the Father as a miracle child who grew into the greatest man the world has ever known. He returned to the Father through the miracle of the ascension (Acts 1:9-11).
He was born in obscurity
He was raised in poverty
He ministered in hostility
He was arrested inappropriately
He was judged unfairly
He crucified in a travesty
He was buried in finality
Yet…
He was raised in victory
He ascended miraculously
He reigns mysteriously
He will return suddenly
He will rule lovingly
He will love us eternally
Because of all that He spoke to His disciples they said, Now are we sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou camest forth from God. John 16:30. They were sure, or thought they were.
Their self-confidence Jesus questioned. Do ye now believe? He knew. They lacked something. For soon they would be scattered, each would go their own way to their own things leaving Him alone. This happened in the garden, And they all forsook him, and fled. (Mark 14:50) The fact of the matter is that no one really knows how strong their belief in Christ is until it is greatly challenged. Many think they will never leave Him, but they leave Him. “I will never get out of church,” but they are out of church. Peter learned this lesson, he never thought of denying Christ, until he denied Christ.
But Jesus gave them a promise. A promise that echoes through the tunnel of time even unto today. He said to them, and to all who will fail in their self-confidence, These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. John 16:33
Yes, in this world there will be tribulation, some of which will shake a believer to their very core. In that tribulation be of good cheer, for our Hero, our Lord and Savior, has overcome the world. Proven by His resurrection and ascension.
Dr. William T. Howe
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