what does this mean?

"Here on earth you will have many trials & sorrows.

But take heart,

because I have overcome the world."

Jesus speaking in John 16:33 (NLT, 1st ed.)

So, what does this mean for us, in practical terms?

I would be curious what you think.

Leave a comment.

Don't give me the correct answer - give me the real answer.

Don't tell me Christianese talking points.

I want to know what the meaning of this is from what you have experienced.

remarkable

There are many remarkable chapters in the gospels.

Maybe the most outstanding chapters are the chapters in Matthew & Luke that recall the words of Jesus in what we call The Sermon on the Mount.

I believe this chapter is up there near the top of the list incredible chapters.

Remember this is Jesus talking to His disciples as they walked along, heading for the Garden of Gethsemane.

Jesus knew He was going to be dead in a few hours.

That's why I believe these words are pretty crucial - some of the last bits of truth Jesus shared with His disciples.

John 15 

1 “I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. 3 You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.

5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. 6 Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. 7 But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! 8 When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.

9 “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. 10 When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. 11 I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! 12 This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. 13 There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. 16 You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. 17 This is my command: Love each other.

18 “If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. 19 The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you. 20 Do you remember what I told you? ‘A slave is not greater than the master.’ Since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you. And if they had listened to me, they would listen to you. 21 They will do all this to you because of me, for they have rejected the one who sent me. 22 They would not be guilty if I had not come and spoken to them. But now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 Anyone who hates me also hates my Father. 24 If I hadn’t done such miraculous signs among them that no one else could do, they would not be guilty. But as it is, they have seen everything I did, yet they still hate me and my Father. 25 This fulfills what is written in their Scriptures: ‘They hated me without cause.’

26 “But I will send you the Advocate—the Spirit of truth. He will come to you from the Father and will testify all about me. 27 And you must also testify about me because you have been with me from the beginning of my ministry.

last minute sharing

These are words Jesus spoke to His disciples the night before He was killed.

Just read them.

There's SO MUCH here in these few verses...

John 14 

1 “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. 2 There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? 3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.”

5 “No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. 7 If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!”

8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.”

9 Jesus replied, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking me to show him to you? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I speak are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his work through me. 11 Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or at least believe because of the work you have seen me do.

12 “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. 13 You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. 14 Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!

15 “If you love me, obey my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. 17 He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. 18 No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you. 19 Soon the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Since I live, you also will live. 20 When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.”

22 Judas (not Judas Iscariot, but the other disciple with that name) said to him, “Lord, why are you going to reveal yourself only to us and not to the world at large?”

23 Jesus replied, “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them. 24 Anyone who doesn’t love me will not obey me. And remember, my words are not my own. What I am telling you is from the Father who sent me. 25 I am telling you these things now while I am still with you. 26 But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.

27 “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. 28 Remember what I told you: I am going away, but I will come back to you again. If you really loved me, you would be happy that I am going to the Father, who is greater than I am. 29 I have told you these things before they happen so that when they do happen, you will believe.

30 “I don’t have much more time to talk to you, because the ruler of this world approaches. He has no power over me, 31 but I will do what the Father requires of me, so that the world will know that I love the Father. Come, let’s be going.

loving

This is Jesus speaking here...


John 13

34 So now I am giving you a new commandment: 

Love each other. 

Just as I have loved you, 

you should love each other. 

35 Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”


Oh my...

We've missed that mark by a country mile...

These days the world has a number of different labels for Christians...

"Loving" is not one I believe they would ready or knowingly use to describe us.

We have lost our way.

We have gone whoring for position, political power, & moral superiority

and simply refused to be the one thing Jesus considered to be our most important attribute...

loving...

oh my...

2020 verses

Here's a reminder of the verses I'm holding on to for 2020 - this is a reminder for me more than anything...




Hebrews 13:5 I will never leave you nor forsake you.


Deuteronomy 31:8 Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.


Matthew 7:7-8, 9-11 “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for.
Keep on seeking, and you will find.
Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks, receives.
Everyone who seeks, finds.
And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.

“You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead?
Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not!
So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.


I have 2 translations for this one...
2 Corinthians 12:9 My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.
My gracious favor is all you need. My power works best in your weakness.


Luke 15:27 what is impossible from a human perspective is possible with God.


Hebrews 10:35-36 So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.


1 Peter 5:6-7 So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God,
& in His good time He will honor you.
Give all your worries & cares to God,
For He cares about what happens to you.


1 Corinthians 1:8c (Jesus) will keep you strong right up to the end.


Matthew 10:39 if you cling to your life,
you will lose it;
but if you give it up for me,
you will find it.


Matthew 11:28 Then Jesus said,
Come to me,
all if you who are weary
& carry heavy burdens,
& I will give you rest.


2 Corinthians 4:8-10 We are pressed on every side by troubles,
but we are not crushed or broken.
We are perplexed
but we don't give up & quit.
We are hunted down,
but God never abandons us.
We get knocked down
but we get up again & keep going.
Through suffering, these bodies of ours constantly share in the death of Jesus,
so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.


Proverbs 3:5-8 Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
do not depend on your own understanding.
Seek His will in all you do,
& He will direct your paths.
Don't be impressed w/ your own wisdom.
Instead, fear the Lord & turn your back on evil.
Then you will gain renewed health & vitality.


Ephesians 3:20 By His mighty power at work within us,
He is able to accomplish more than we would ever dare to ask or hope.


Psalm 73:24-26 You will keep on guiding me with Your counsel,
leading me to a glorious destiny.
Whom have I in heaven but you?
I desire You more than anything on earth.
My health may fail,
& my spirit may grow weak,
but God remains the strength of my heart;
He is mine forever.


And for the first time, I've been given a song for the year, sung by the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir - here's the link...


My life is in Your hands
https://youtu.be/AS6tQYJVO80

word

Hebrews 4

12 For the word of God is alive and powerful. 

It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, 

cutting between soul and spirit, 

between joint and marrow. 

It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. 

13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. 

Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, 

and he is the one to whom we are accountable.

14 So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, 

Jesus the Son of God, 

let us hold firmly to what we believe. 

15 This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, 

for he faced all of the same testings we do, 

yet he did not sin. 

16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. 

There we will receive his mercy, 

and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

Read the Bible every day without fail.

RTBEDWF

just a thought...

If we are faithful to the end,

trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed,

we will share in all that belongs to Christ.

Hebrews 3:14 (NLT, 1st ed.)