IN THE UPPER ROOM WITH JESUS (24)

The Closing Remarks

John 16:29-33

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.   Jesus has been in a lengthy conversation with His disciples in the upper room.

1.    His message here has been much deeper than in the past.

2.    Some of the things Jesus revealed the disciples did not understand.

3.    He had much more to say, but they could not bear His words at that time.

 

B.   Some of the things Jesus had communicated were in the form of proverbs (John16:25).

 

These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs…

 

1.    Proverbs are short, pithy statements that contain much moral and spiritual meanings.

2.    Sometimes proverbs are easily understood.  At other times they are not.

3.    Jesus knew that some of the things His disciples heard were not comprehended.

a.    It is interesting that they did not ask Him the meaning of His words.

b.    However, Jesus knew their hearts (John 16:19), and asked them:  “Do ye inquire among yourselves of that I said…?”

c.    At that point, He would seek to clarify the proverbs that He set forth unto them.

 

C.   In this lesson, we come to what I have entitled:  “The Closing Remarks” (John 16:29-33).  What will follow in Chapter 17 is what has been called:  “Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer.”

 

D.   Let’s examine the closing words of Jesus and the apostles before Jesus prays, and they depart into the Garden of Gethsemane.

 

I.             THE APOSTLES’ COMPREHENSION (John 16:29-30)

 

A.   At the conclusion of our previous lesson, we noted that Jesus cleared up a proverb regarding His crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension.

 

B.   Now the apostles confirm that they understand His words.

1.    The Reason for Their Understanding (John 16:29)

 

His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb.

 

a.    Jesus had elaborated on the words of a proverb He had spoken to them.

b.    Now that He had spoken more plainly on the matter, they affirmed that they understood His words.

1)    Now speakest thou plainly.

2)    And speakest no proverb.

c.    LESSON:  There are times when a teacher uses figures of speech in an attempt to get his listeners to understand his message.  When these figures are misunderstood, he will have to take the time to make the message plainer to them.

2.    The Results of Their Understanding (John 16:30)

a.    They understood His perception (John 16:30a)

 

Now we are sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee…

 

1)    For some reason, the disciples were hesitant ask Jesus to explain His words to them.

2)    Even so, “Jesus knew they were desirous to ask him” (John 16:19). 

3)    It was this knowledge that caused Him to confront their lack of understanding and explain things further to them.

4)    This was not the first time Jesus had known the hearts of these men. 

5)    Now they affirm their understanding of his divine perception.  “Thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee.”

b.    They understood His position (John 16:30b).

 

…by this we believe that thou camest forth from God.

 

1)    This ability was one of the proofs that assured them that Jesus was the Son of God.

2)    It was a bold statement to say that one had come forth from God.

3)    Such an individual is high and possesses great authority.

4)    The disciples confirm that they truly believe He is the Messiah.

 

II.           THE CHALLENGE OF JESUS (John 16:31)

 

Jesus answered them, Do ye now believe?

 

A.   Belief takes two forms.  One is simply a mental assent.

1.    There is an understanding of the facts in a person’s mind.

2.    If the individual is asked about the facts, he would quickly affirm them to be true.

 

B.   A second form of belief involves acting upon the belief that one affirms that he has.

1.    LESSON:  Affirming something is much easier than actually acting on the affirmation.

2.    Examples:

a.    All will affirm that Christians are supposed to be willing to give up all for Jesus Christ.  QUESTION:  Do we always manifest that belief in our choices and behaviors?

b.    The apostles had affirmed that they believed Jesus came from God.  QUESTION:  Were they now willing to put that practice into action? 

 

III.         JESUS’ CERTAINTY (John 16:32)

 

A.   The Rejection by the Apostles (John 16:32a)

 

Behold, the hour cometh, yea, and now is, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and ye shall leave me alone…

 

1.    Jesus now reveals why He asked the question found in verse 31.

2.    Jesus knew exactly what was about to happen in the Garden of Gethsemane.

3.    He told these men that all of them would be scattered from Him.

4.    Mark 14:50

 

And they all forsook him and fled.

 

5.    Think about Jesus question:  “Do ye now believe?”

6.    LESSON:  It is easy to say we believe.  It is much more difficult to believe when it is put to the test. 

 

B.   The Reassurance of Jesus (John 16:32b)

 

…and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.

 

1.    Even though, there was no human presence with Jesus once the disciples departed from Him, He knew that He was not alone.

2.    He confidently affirmed:  “Yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.”

3.    Jesus knew this by faith. 

4.    Once He was on the cross, the Father confirmed His presence through an earthquake that rocked the land (Matt. 27:50-51) and thick darkness that settled upon Calvary and the surrounding region (Matt. 27:45).

5.    LESSON:  We can be just as certain as Jesus that God is with us even when all others forsake us.

a.    Hebrews 13:5b-6

 

…for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.  So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

 

b.    Paul’s example (2 Tim. 4:16-17a)

 

At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me, I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.  Notwithstanding the LORD stood with me, and strengthened me…

 

IV.         THE LORD’S COMFORT (John 16:33)

 

A.   The Resolve of Jesus (John 16:33a)

 

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace…

 

1.    Everything Jesus had spoken to them that night was designed to bring peace to these men.

2.    They would not be surprised by anything that would happen in the near future (Judas’ betrayal, their being scattered, the Lord’s death, the Lord’s ascension).

3.    They would be embolden when other things transpired (the Lord’s resurrection, the coming of the Holy Spirit, the world’s hatred of them).

4.    Words of truth bring peace to the heart of the believer.

 

B.   The Reality of Tribulation (John 16:33b)

 

In the world ye shall have tribulation…

 

1.    This was not the first time Jesus had told them about the persecution and rejection they would receive from the world.

2.    This message and the desires of the world were at odds.

a.    Jesus is the Christ

b.    Man must repent

c.    The kingdom has come

d.    One must forsake all to follow Jesus

e.    There is a certain way a person must live to have eternal life.

 

 

 

C.   The Rejoicing in Christ’s Victory (John16:33c)

 

…but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

 

1.    Jesus exhorts them to “be of good cheer.”

2.    This literally means to “be of a good courage.”

3.    Even though persecutions will come, there is no need for the Lord’s disciples to fear.

4.    By means of His death and resurrection, He has prevailed over the world (Heb. 2:14-15).

 

Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and deliver them, who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

 

5.    The world can hate the child of God, but world will never have him. 

The world can harm the child of God, but the world can never destroy him.

The world can put the child of God to death, but the grave cannot keep him.

6.    As long as the Christian faithfully follows the Savior, his sufferings are light and but for a moment, and worketh a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory because Jesus has overcome the world (See 2 Cor. 4:17).

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.   Except for a prayer that will close the session, the Lord has sought to prepare His ambassadors for the events that will soon follow.

 

B.   It has been a long evening.  Soon, they will venture into the Garden of Gethsemane.  Jesus, in agony, will withdraw and pray.  The disciples, on the other hand, will go to sleep.

 

C.   When they rise after Jesus’ third prayer, the presence of Judas and the Jewish mob will start the confirmation of the Lord’s message spoken in the upper room.