Impervious To

John 16:29-33  

Have you ever been in a group where someone tells a joke or a story and you seem to be the only one who does understand what the person has said?  If so your going to identify with the guys that hung out with Jesus for three years.  You might say that it is crunch time and Jesus is going to the cross to pay in full for the sins of each person who has lived or ever will live on planet earth.  He tells them that in the past He has spoken to them in figures of speech, but today Jesus is going to tell them very plainly about the Father,  “for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.” (John 16:27-28 ESV)

I’ve often been the one who did not get the joke and after a few seconds and you’re the only one not laughing, it is time to fake it, or be the one who says I do not understand the joke.  That’s close to what Jesus disciples did on this day.  “His disciples said, “Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech!  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.” (John 16:29-30)
When you are as honest as the disciples were at this point, it can be uncomfortable, you are admitting that you’re a little slow, but you also want the one your addressing to know that you now have a full understanding of the situation.  Look at the reply Jesus gave them; “Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? 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. 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 16:31-33 ESV)
Have you ever wondered how it would feel to be all knowing, then look to Jesus, He was giving this rag tag group of followers a heads-up about what was in their near future.  He knew the enemy was going to do a frontal attack on these men, that their emotions were going to be all messed up and the enemy was going to speak in a voice that sounded much like theirs, about how foolish they had been to be conned by this Jesus guy.  Can’t you hear him tell them how they had wasted three years of their lives, but then they remembered the words of Jesus, “for the Father himself loves you” and then they recall these words of Jesus, “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.”
The same enemy that Jesus has told us about in John 10:10, is also attacking you and me, and those words that Jesus spoke to the disciples should give us victory when the attacks begin, so take heart; Jesus has overcome the world, and in Him we have life to the full!
From the Back Porch,
Bob Rice