Be of Good Cheer

John 16:28  I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.
John 16:29  His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb.
John 16:30  Now are we sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou camest forth from God.
John 16:31  Jesus answered them, Do ye now believe?
John 16:32  Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.
John 16:33  These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

 

Jesus speaks to his disciples in simple words that he " came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father." Here it is for believer and unbeliever to hear in easy words that Jesus was from God and would return to God. Sometimes even easy words have a broader meaning.

 

John 3:12  If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?

John_3:13  And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.

 

How could Jesus be in his human body and at the same time be in heaven? Jesus, the Son of God is God in heaven. These things we receive by faith and our faith will be tested. We are to believe God's word, not our thoughts or the ways of the world. We will be tested; will we leave Jesus when persecution comes? When hard things come will we doubt God? Jesus says that we are to remain in his peace, always hopeful.

 

When I was a young man I faced cancer. I did not know Jesus at first but I came to faith in the hospital. When working again I would think the cancer was gone, but it would return, yet because of Jesus being in me, there was peace and a feeling of his presence with me. This is how we are to face the opposition of the world, we are to live in the peace of God with joy in our hearts. "Be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." "...Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee." ( Mat 9:2)  When the storms of life come, remember Jesus who walked on the waters of a stormy sea.

 

Mat 14:26  And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.
Mat 14:27  But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.

Jesus overcomes the storms of life; be at peace and be of good cheer. If we believe in him, he will never forsake us, we are with him always. Stay calm in him who has overcome the world, death and hell. We shall go to be with him.