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Sixth Sunday After Easter – May 22, 2022

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Sixth Sunday After Easter – May 22, 2022

If there were words we would wish Jesus had never uttered, these might be those words, “In the world you will have tribulation” (vs. 33). Jesus is a true prophet. The prophecies Jesus issues are true, not false. Jesus is the Lord who spoke the entire creation into existence. Here, he speaks a future into existence, a future wherein the world brings us tribulations, troubles, and sufferings. Why? Why, Jesus? Why did you have to utter these words because in their being uttered by you, the tribulations become true, real, and experienced. There is no escape from them. Jesus has spoken tribulation upon those disciples of his then… and anyone who would be a disciple of his now.

However, there is another sentence. It has words that do not consign us to tribulation. Instead, it speaks of victory. “But take heart; I have overcome the world” (vs 30). Jesus has the victory. Jesus has beaten the world. Jesus is triumphant over the world. Did he overcome the world with a host of heavenly angels? Was his victory the result of a mighty smiting of his enemies? Did he triumph over all who accused him, tortured him, and finally crucified him by returning from the grave and wreaking vengeance on them? No, he did none of those things. Jesus overcomes the world with his Passion—that is, by God having his way with Jesus. God had his way by seeing to it that Jesus was handed over into the hands of sinful men who carried out horrendous torture and an obscenely painful execution upon him. Jesus simply suffered the will of God to be done to him in both his death and in his resurrection. He vanquished all his enemies by that simple suffering of the will of God to be done unto him.

And now, Jesus wants to hand his victory over to you. His victory is your peace, “I have said all these things to you, that in me you may have peace” (vs. 33). So that you can have peace, Jesus has vanquished all your enemies for they were his enemies as well. Sin, death, and the power of the devil have all been beaten. Jesus has had his victory over them. He hands that victory over to you out of the font, from the pulpit, at the altar, and in the confessional. Your enemies are defeated but they have not been ended. We look forward to and hope for that day when Jesus comes in his glory and all the enemies are brought to their end.

Table Talk: Discuss receiving and enjoying Jesus’ victory.
Pray: Jesus, give me your victory by Word, water, bread, and wine. Amen

John 16:23-33 (English Standard Bible)

23 In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. 24 Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

25 I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father. 26 In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; 27 for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. 28 I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.

29 His disciples said, Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech! 30 Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that you came from God. 31 Jesus answered them, Do you now believe? 32 Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. 33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have pe