cheer up. you suck!

John 16:32-33

³² Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me.³³ 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.”

If somebody told you that an extremely difficult ordeal was about to overtake you and that you would fail and fall short under the hardship, what would your response be?

Probably something like like: “Why are you telling me this? I'd rather not know this!"

Jesus tells His disciples that a trial beyond their capacity to endure is about to take place.
They would forsake Him and flee.

Why tell them this?
How could this news be good?

Listen to Jesus' words:

I have said these things to you, that in Me you may have peace.

There is no peace in our ability to endure.
There is peace only in the Person and work of Christ.

In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world

Jesus has overcome the external tribulations of hatred, persecution, dismissal, unappreciation, etc…

Jesus has also overcome the internal tribulations of faithlessness, cowardice, fear and the flesh.

Jesus has not only overcome those outside who may cause you harm.
He has overcome you and the harm you would do yourself.

Jesus forecasts our inability to stay loyal to Him not to discourage us from following Him now, but to encourage us to continue following Him even after we have fallen.

Jesus was never left alone because He had His Father. He depended upon Him only, solely, entirely and fully. He perfectly obeyed and sacrificed before His Father whom He trusted perfectly.

In the same way, Jesus says that in Him we are never alone. We are never on an island. We have Him and He overcame everything, even us.