126 John 16:28-33 STRENGTHENING OF THE FAITH OF THE DISCIPLES Introduction: Jesus and His disciples had left Jerusalem, where they had eaten the Passover and Jesus had instituted the Lord's Supper. They walked toward the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus would be arrested. As they walked Jesus taught them many things to strengthen their faith in Him. He knew that before the night was over their faith would be severely tested. This text records the very last of those lessons which were designed to strengthen their faith. It was actually the very last lesson which Jesus would teach prior to His arrest. I. The faith that the disciples already had From their early youth the disciples had believed that the Christ would come some day. This does not mean that they were saved in their youth although it is possible that they could have been. Mentally they had accepted the truth that the Christ would come. Then John the Baptist had come preaching that the Christ would soon come on the scene and these men believed John. At least by that time they had believed to the salvation of their souls. They not only believed, but they demonstrated their faith in the Christ by being baptized at the hands of John the Baptist. Then one day John identified Jesus as the Christ and again the disciples believed John. Now they not only believed in the Christ, but they believed that Jesus is the Christ. Soon thereafter Jesus called upon them to leave their jobs, by which they received their livelihood, and follow Him. They again demonstrated their faith in Him by immediately leaving their jobs and following Him. They had continued to demonstrate their faith in Jesus as the Christ by continuing to follow Him for three and a half years. They even made brief preaching tours throughout the cities and villages of Israel proclaiming Jesus to be the Christ. One day Jesus had asked them just who they thought Him to be and Simon Peter answered, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God," and they had all agreed with Simon. Before they left Jerusalem where they had eaten the two suppers, Jesus had informed them that before the night was over they would all forsake Him. But Simon Peter once again declared His loyalty to Jesus and declared that he would never forsake Jesus. And once again, all of the disciples agreed with Simon Peter. They all said that they would never forsake Him. II. The weakening of their faith But as they traveled toward Gethsemene they showed signs that their faith was weakening. Back in verse 16 Jesus said to them, "a little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father." It does not seem that this statement would be enough to rattle the disciples and cause their faith in Jesus to weaken, but it did. In verses 17-18 we read, "Then said some of his disciples among themselves, What is this that he saith unto us, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me: and Because I go to the Father? They said therefore, What is this that he saith, A little while? we cannot tell what he saith." The disciples were very much rattled by this statement. Their faith in Jesus was beginning to be somewhat shaken. It was not that they had stopped believing that He is the Christ, but their confidence in Him as a spiritual leader who could be believed in all things was weakened. Their confidence in Him as their leader was shaken. In verse 19 we read, "Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him, and said unto them, Do ye inquire among yourselves of that I said, A little while, and shall not see me: and again, a little while ye shall see me?" He went on in verse 20 to tell them that they would weep and mourn, but that soon their sorrow would turn into joy. It would be like the travail of a woman in childbirth which turns into joy once the child is born. He was talking about the very little while they had before His arrest, His trial, His crucifixion and His burial. They would be like a woman in travail during this time and for the next three days and three night prior to His resurrection. They l would suffer greatly emotionally. But after His resurrection, their travail would turn to joy. They would rejoice greatly. Yet even His resurrection would not totally end their sorrow, because He would soon leave them and return back to heaven to God the Father and they would be sadden by His departure. III. A much clearer explanation from Jesus and the strengthening of their faith But in our text today Jesus gives a much clearer statement about His intention to leave and return to the Father. It was not spoken to them in a manner that was difficult to understand. V. 28, "I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father." In this statement Jesus cut right through all the many details that might muddle their thinking, and gave them the bare essentials. There were two bare essentials. Number one was: "I came forth from the Father..." He had repeatedly told them this on previous occasions. At least He had told it to the Jewish leaders in the presence of the disciples. But He now repeats it. It was God the Father who had sent Him into the world on a mission. The second bare essential was: "...I leave the world, and go to the Father." Just as He had left the Father and come to the world on a mission, now that His mission would soon be over, He would return to the Father. This was it in a nutshell. This was the story of His whole life on earth in a nutshell. His disciples were aghast. They were astounded. This was just plain simple talk. There was no proverb or parable to have to figure out. There were no riddle-like expression about "a little while" that had to be solved. There was no question about what He meant. He meant that He had come down from heaven and He was about to return to heaven. That was plain talk which they understood and they were so glad. They still did not get the message that they wanted to hear, but they were relieved to understand what the message was. V. 29, "His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb." Now that they understood, their faith was strengthened. V. 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." Not only were they strengthened because they understood what He was saying, but they were also strengthened by something else. None of them had told Him that they were confused about what He had said. To them it was a riddle which had to be figured out, but they had been unable to solve the riddle. They had talked about it among themselves, but they were certain that He was not within earshot when they discussed it. There was only one way that He could have known that they were discussing it. He had to know their thoughts. He did not have to hear what they said or be told that they said. Nobody had to ask Him to explain the riddle. He knew their thoughts. This confirmed to them that He indeed is the Son of God and that God the father had sent Him to earth. This confirmed to them what they had earlier believed, but which had become rather shaky in their minds because of all the confusion. So now their faith in Him as the Christ of God, the very Son of God was confirmed anew to them. This was good. This was what Jesus wanted. He wanted their faith to be strong because He knew what was ahead for them starting just as soon as the men from Jerusalem would come to arrest Him. He also knew that their faith was not yet strong enough to fully prepare them for what lay ahead. IV. A test of their faith still ahead V. 31, "Jesus answered them, Do ye now believe?" He was not in doubt about the truthfulness of what they had said. But He wanted them to search their minds to make certain of their faith in Him. Paul did the same thing on one occasion with some other believers. He said, "Make your calling and election sure." Paul wanted the people to be absolutely certain that their faith was in Jesus. So it was now with the disciples. Jesus wanted His disciples to make absolutely certain that they really believed that Jesus is the Son of God. It was one thing for them to say now before the crucifixion that they believe Jesus to be the Son of God, but it would be another thing for them to still believe after He has been crucified and His body lay in a grave. V. 32, "Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone..." Jesus knew that they would never totally lose their faith in Him as the Christ, but He also knew that their faith would be shaken to the point that they would all break and run when He was arrested. They would all forsake Him in spite of the fact that they had all declared in no uncertain terms that they would never forsake him. They would all forsake Him in spite of the fact that their faith right at that very moment was strengthened and was at a very high point. They would all forsake Him right at a time when He would really need their support. They understood what they believed that He is the Christ of God, but they did not understand the great emotional pressure that fear would bring upon them when they would see Jesus arrested. V. Jesus to be forsaken by the disciples but not by the Father (V. 32), "...and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me." Jesus was not alarmed or disturbed about Himself. He knew that even though all His disciples would desert Him yet God the Father, who had sent Him to the world would not desert Him. That is why, even though He was a man -- a human being, yet He could face the arresting mob without fear. That is why He could face the viscous high priest and the other members of the Sanhedrin Council without fearing them. That is why, even though He was a human being, He could face the Roman governor without fear. He knew that God the Father would be with Him at His arrest and at His trials. The Father would go all the way with Him to the cross. He knew also that God the Father would provide Him no aid whatsoever while He was on the cross itself, but He knew that even after His death that God the Father would not forsake Him. God the Father would make certain that He arose from the grave. VI. The chief concern of Jesus at this time V. 33, "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace..." Jesus here reveals that His purpose in all the things that He had said to them this night had been to strengthen them and to give them peace. It was not our Lord's desire that His disciples be unduly disturbed and grieved. It was His desire that during the whole terrible ordeal that they would have peace. To me this is astounding. He was headed to the cross, but He was not so much concerned about His own suffering. What Jesus was deeply concerned about was His disciples. He loved these men and He was disturbed that they would go through so much turmoil. He knew that they would have turmoil in the world, but His desire was that deep down in their hearts they would have peace. (V. 33), "...In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." In these last words Jesus sought to assure them that all would work out well. He had already overcome the world. He was victorious over the world. He had been victorious when Satan tempted Him at the opening part of His ministry. He would again be victorious in spite of the fact that He would be arrested. He would be victorious in spite of the fact that He would be crucified. He would be victorious even though His body would be placed in a tomb and would remain there for three days and three nights. He would be victorious even though He was rejected be the Jewish leaders and by the Roman government. He would be victorious even though He would be rejected by the great masses of people of Israel. He would be victorious over it all including the Devil himself. He would be victorious over death, hell and the grave. The victory was already His. He was just as certain of victory as though He had already risen from the grave. What was so very important concerning those disciples is that His victory would also mean victory for them. It would mean that their salvation was sure. It would mean that their resurrection was certain. It would mean that their home in heaven was absolutely certain. So it with every man, woman, boy and girl who has ever trusted in Jesus Christ for salvation. Conclusion: This text is about the faith of those disciples. But what about your faith in Him? You have heard about Jesus all your life, but have you ever called on Him and trusted in Him to save your soul and take you to heaven? If not, then do it now!