“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you might have peace. In the world you shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (v.33)
Here, hours before His crucifixion, Jesus has been reminding His disciples of all His previous assurances; His promises of peace, of courage, and victory over all the evil power of this world. Why? that they may find peace. He also reminds them that in this world (controlled by satin) they will have trials and tribulations and will be hated for His sake - persecuted, afflicted and tormented. But, He adds, “Be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”
Jesus did not promise peace; He offered it. He said, “that you may have peace.” People may follow Jesus yet deny themselves this peace. We gain the peace Jesus offered by finding it in Him. We won’t find real peace anywhere else other than in Jesus. He made the way to peace with God - "Having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." (Romans 5:1)
Jesus also said, "In the world you shall have tribulation." Peace is offered to us, but tribulation is promised. When we become Christians we may bring fewer problems upon ourselves, but we definitely still have them. Understanding this removes a false hope. Struggling Christians often hope for the day when they will laugh at temptation and there will be one effortless victory after another. We are promised struggle as long as we are in this world; yet there is peace in Jesus.
In His statement, Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world: Jesus proclaimed the truth of His victory. This was an amazing statement from a man about to be arrested, forsaken, rejected, mocked, tortured and executed. Judas, the religious authorities, Pilate, the crowd, the soldiers or even death and the grave could not overcome Him. Instead, Jesus could truly say, “I have overcome the world.” If it was true then, it’s even truer now. Therefore, be of good cheer!
The Truth: “Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: "Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Messiah. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.” (Revelation 12:10-11)
