32Behold, the hour cometh, and is already come, that ye shall be scattered every man into his own, and shall leave me alone: but I am not alone: for the Father is with me.
33These things have I spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace: in the world ye shall have affliction, but be of good comfort: I have overcome the world.
-John 16:32-33 (Geneva)
-John 16:32-33 (Geneva)
Do you identify with Jesus in the above passage? I do, and it is a privilege! If you follow Him, you will experience what He experienced. You will feel the same losses He felt, and experience abandonments, betrayals, and persecutions.... all because you stand for Christ.
The blessing is that you always have the Father and the Son with you, and Jesus promises you that He has overcome all those things you are going through. He will help you overcome them too. This is discipleship. Salvation is free. Discipleship is costly.
If you are like me, then you know the pain of being abandoned by a loved one. God offers His healing and comfort to you in this.
But something even greater happens. If you stand firm for Jesus and are abandoned or mistreated for it, it proves your faith is immovable! It shows and proves that you are indeed planted on the Rock, Christ Jesus!! This is great news. If your faith were not genuine, you would have given up Christ to appease your loved ones who mistreated you or abandoned you for your faith. Because at the end of our days, what will matter? That Jesus will see you were a good and faithful servant!
So let us confirm the following facts about John 16:32.
1) Abandonment had a purpose. Jesus was abandoned and He knew it would occur. It was His purpose to die for the sins of the world alone.
2) Abandonment was by those whom He loved. Yes this is painful, but Jesus knew He had to be abandoned, to show that Jesus was absolutely faithful to the Father first, even over His own disciples. He had very close friendships and a special love for each of them, and knowing that they would run away from Him in His hour of need did not make it any easier for Him when it finally happened.
3) Abandonment is only a season, an "hour." The word "hour" actually means "a season, an instant", in the original Greek text. Jesus was not abandoned forever. He was left alone for a season. So it is with us, His disciples. We are sometimes alone. And it is for a season, not forever. If you were abandoned for your faith, remember that God is not done with you yet. He will rally around you and build you up by His Spirit and by His Word and by His local church. I am still in that personal season of aloneness myself. But it is just that... a season. It allows our Christ-like nature to truly shine and develop. Do not waste this hour! Don't miss what God is doing in you through it!
4) Jesus was not a victim, but a victor. He did not see Himself as a victim, and neither
should you and I see ourselves as one. We are overcomers. Jesus overcame death, sin and the devil. We too can be overcomers with Jesus if we embrace our time of aloneness with Him. Identify with Jesus in your "hour" or "season" of aloness.
5) Jesus spoke these verses for our PEACE! We are to walk in peace, knowing that even when abandoned, or alone, or mistreated for the faith, Jesus has it all under control. There is no surprise and God will keep you and guard you. He wants you to be comforted. And not just any comfort will do... Jesus wants you to be of GOOD comfort!
6) You are not truly alone. Like Jesus, you always have the Heavenly Father with you! Even in this period of aloneness, we are with Him. It is a good time to really get close to God through Jesus! Not only this, but God gives us a place in His Body, the church! Be sure to connect with other branches in the Vine: participate in church regularly!
should you and I see ourselves as one. We are overcomers. Jesus overcame death, sin and the devil. We too can be overcomers with Jesus if we embrace our time of aloneness with Him. Identify with Jesus in your "hour" or "season" of aloness.
5) Jesus spoke these verses for our PEACE! We are to walk in peace, knowing that even when abandoned, or alone, or mistreated for the faith, Jesus has it all under control. There is no surprise and God will keep you and guard you. He wants you to be comforted. And not just any comfort will do... Jesus wants you to be of GOOD comfort!
6) You are not truly alone. Like Jesus, you always have the Heavenly Father with you! Even in this period of aloneness, we are with Him. It is a good time to really get close to God through Jesus! Not only this, but God gives us a place in His Body, the church! Be sure to connect with other branches in the Vine: participate in church regularly!
7) Jesus is Our Pattern for Discipleship and Our reward for following! Jesus is alive forever more, forever in fellowship and forever in our midst. He promised we will have tribulation in the world, but that He has already overcome the world! He is with you!
God bless you as you stand firm.
- Pastor Curtis
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