Jesus said to his disciples, “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.”
– John 16:33
Ah, write John 16:33 on the tablet of your heart. Take heart.
Jesus says, “I have overcome the world, in a world of tribulation, in a world of trial, in a world of temptation, and sin, and sorrow, and suffering, and evil, and injustice.” We could go on and on and on. The effects of that all around us, the effects of that in our lives, the way we experience tribulation all around us.
John 16:33 Reminds Us Jesus Has Conquered Death
Do not think for a second that you are defeated. Lift up your head, for you belong to the King who has conquered death. He has overcome the world and promises to bring you into His perfect presence forever and ever.
And Jesus says, “You will have tribulation in this world. Don’t be surprised by it, but I speak peace into the middle of that, because I take heart. I have come because I, oh, take heart in this, I have overcome the world.” Jesus says.
Jesus has come to conquer. Jesus has come to overcome. That’s what he did. Just after saying these words, Jesus went to the cross where he disarmed, the Bible says, the rulers and authorities of this world, he disarmed them. They are not armed anymore. Jesus has taken the sting out of sin and death.
1st Corinthians 15, he has overcome. He has risen from the grave. He has been exalted at the right hand of the father where he has sent his spirit down into us, which he’s promising all throughout John 14, 15 and 16, my spirit is going to come to you. I’m going to dwell inside of you.
John 16:33 Reminds Us His Spirit Resides In Us
Don’t miss this. The resurrected, overcoming, King of Kings and Lord of Lords dwells in you. His spirit resides in you. So, no matter what is going on in your life today, no matter what you are facing, no matter what trial or tribulation that surrounds you right now, do not walk with your head down.
Do not think for a second that you are defeated. You have the overcoming, conquering King of all living inside of you. He is with you. You belong to him. Lift up your head. He is your help and strength. He is your joy and peace. Lift up your eyes and look to him, for he is your hope. He is your victory and He is the one who has overcome and who will help you to overcome that sin that you are tempted by, that struggle that you’re walking through, that trial, tribulation you are facing, Jesus is with you.
This Verse Leads Us to Praise Jesus
Take heart because He has overcome the world and you belong to him. So, take heart. Jesus has overcome and you belong to him. Oh Jesus, we praise you. We praise you for your peace and for your victory. And we praise you for the disarming work you did on the cross, the conquering of sin you did in your resurrection, your victory over death and the grave, your ascension to the right hand of the father.
You’re pouring out your spirit on us even right now and your spirit that lives in us right now. So, we pray for your help. And that no matter what’s going on around us for us to take heart, to not feel discouraged, to feel defeated. God, I pray this over every single person who’s listening to this right now. May they see you, Jesus, may they see you with them in them.
You who came to bring peace and victory. You who have overcome may they know that. They’re more than conquerors through you who have loved us, that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation can separate them from your love, oh God. In Jesus, the overcomer.
From your love, oh God. In Jesus the overcomer. I just pray these truths over people who are listening right now and even in my own life and these things that I’m walking through, God we praise you. So, Jesus, we exalt you as the one who has overcome the world, and we take heart in you today. In the name of Jesus, the overcomer, the conquering King and victor we pray. Amen.
David Platt serves as a pastor in metro Washington, D.C. He is the founder of Radical.
David received his Ph.D. from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and is the author of Don’t Hold Back, Radical, Follow Me, Counter Culture, Something Needs to Change, Before You Vote, as well as the multiple volumes of the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary series.
Along with his wife and children, he lives in the Washington, D.C. metro area.
