I Have Overcome The World

About the Series

Aaron continued the group's walk through the Gospel of John, moving toward the story of the cross. This week's passage sits just before the prayer in John 17 the group studied recently. Jesus is still with His disciples, preparing them for what's about to happen.

The message opened by comparing how Jesus taught to Yoda from Star Wars: introduced as strange and hard to follow at first, but unmistakably clear the moment things got serious. Jesus had spoken to His disciples in figures of speech up to this point. Now He tells them plainly what's coming.

Passages: John 16:25-33

What Was Taught

Jesus promises a restored relationship with the Father

Jesus tells His disciples that the time is coming when He'll stop speaking in figures of speech, expressive language not meant to be taken literally, and speak to them plainly about the Father. He says that in that day, they'll be able to approach the Father directly in His name.

The point drawn from this: something was about to change in how people relate to God. Once Jesus died and rose again, the war between a holy God and sinful people would be over, and access to the Father would be restored. That's the reality behind praying "in Jesus's name." Romans 8:34 was brought in here too, where Paul says Christ is seated at the Father's right hand, interceding for us even now. The challenge to students: do you actually live like you can bring your troubles to God, or do you just say you believe that?

Understanding isn't the same as trusting

When Jesus speaks plainly, His disciples respond that now they finally understand and believe. It's a familiar posture: people often want God to reveal Himself clearly and completely before they'll commit to Him. But Jesus doesn't accept their claim at face value. He predicts that within hours, they'll scatter and abandon Him, proving they didn't understand as fully as they thought.

Two things were highlighted about Jesus's coming death: it wasn't a sign that God had abandoned Him, and it wasn't a setback. It was the plan all along. The disciples had no real reason to run.

Take heart, because Jesus has overcome the world

Jesus tells His disciples plainly why He's told them all this: so that they can have peace. He promises they'll have trouble in this world, but tells them to take heart, because He has already overcome the world. The original word behind "take heart" carries the sense of staying courageous and not giving up, even when things are hard.

Two movie comparisons were used to illustrate that kind of courage: Marlin in Finding Nemo, who can't control the danger around him but keeps moving forward anyway, and Miles in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, who doesn't wait until he feels ready before taking the leap. The closing challenge to students: live like Christ has already won, because the trouble we face now doesn't come close to outweighing the joy of following Him.

Talk About It at Home

These are the questions the group discussed:

1. Why do you think people sometimes want God to explain everything immediately instead of trusting Him through the process?
2. When something stressful happens in your life, who is the first person you usually go to? Why do you think we often go to everyone else before we go to God?
3. Why do you think Jesus knew the disciples would fail Him and run away, yet He still loved them and continued teaching them?
4. Is there a situation in your life right now where you need to hear Jesus say, "Take heart"? What makes that situation difficult?

A few easier openers if you want to start smaller:

• What's something you needed courage for recently, even in a small way?
• Who do you usually call first when something goes wrong? What would it look like to pray first instead?
• Is there a promise or truth you know in your head but don't always live like you believe?
• What's one thing that's stressing you out this week?

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