Do you feel overwhelmed by the world right now? Is it one of those days? Weeks? Months? Sometimes the brokenness of the world feels unbearable. Sometimes the hurt from others stings far too deeply. In these moments we can feel that God and His sovereign goodness have exited the building.

I imagine that is what the disciples were feeling acutely on the night of the Last Supper. Around the table, Jesus has revealed to his friends that they will face the same future he faces, that of shame and death. Jesus has said to them in John chapter 15, “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.”

By the end of chapter 16, they now understand that they will face this future without Jesus physically with them. I’m sure at that moment they were having trouble understanding that God was in control; His goodness, it seems, has exited the building.

Well, in fact God’s goodness was sitting at the table with them. Jesus, knowing all the grief being experienced in the room, comforts his friends by saying:

“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Jesus’ point is that by his death and resurrection, he has made the world’s opposition pointless and pathetic. On the cross, the decisive battle has been waged and won. The world will continue its wretched attacks, but those who are with Jesus share the victory he has won. They cannot be harmed by the world’s evil, and they know who triumphs in the end.

From this they take heart, and begin to share his peace, won for you at such a great cost. There is no need to lose hope or just pretend that things aren’t hard. For those who have found their home in Jesus, we can live with confidence and courage, because in this world we will never face anything stronger than Him.