On what basis can believers be of good cheer (John 16:33)?

Though the Lord had no support from His disciples in the dark hour before Him, He could go forth in perfect dependence on the Father and in the assurance of His abiding presence. Hence He confronted the world's hatred and opposition in perfect peace and wholly overcame it. Now all these communications the Lord had made that His disciples in their turn might have peace in Him, just as He had possessed peace in the Father. His overcoming the world, moreover, was the pledge that overcoming power was also at their disposal. He had just been speaking of the world's hatred and persecution. To us perhaps its seductions and smiles are more dangerous. But, whichever it be, our safety lies in Christ. Only as begotten of God and as believing that Jesus is the Son of God do we overcome the world, as 1 John 5:4-5, tells us.

With all before Him He spoke what He did here, that in Him they might have peace; and so He walked Himself. In the world tribulation was to be their portion, not as for the Jew retributively at a specified and measured hour (Jer. 30:7; Dan. 12:1; Matt. 24:21; Mark 13:19) at the time of the end, or even preparatorily meanwhile (Luke 21:22-24), but habitually for those not of the world, and hence a prey in it. Yet are they called to courage, as knowing Him Whom they have believed, His glory and His grace Who has overcome the world. What a spring and cheer, that we have to overcome a foe already overcome! He indeed alone; we looking to Him Who gives power for all things. And this is the victory that overcometh the world, our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? (1 John 5:5)309

But let us follow the text. Here was the failure of all fleshly association even with Christ, because Christ relinquished the ground on which it was held by either suffering to take a better inheritance for them with Him, they wholly failing, so that there was none but He in it. But the Father was with Him; this was the consolation; and He gave them the same: "In me ye shall have peace; in the world tribulation; but be of good cheer; I have overcome," etc. It was said to set them on this ground: "in me." He was out of the world, and they in it. He turned out of it, so they would have tribulation in it. His comfort was in the presence of One not seen to the world, where He seemed to be alone. In Him they would have the same. He had overcome. Thus His statement made the moral passing through of the suffering of His lonely death and rejection; and on this ground He speaks in what follows.

They would also have tribulation. But this would be turned into joy. As in child birth, they would have tribulation in this world. But they knew that (i) this world is already judged, and (ii) that Christ would leave them His peace (which He had enjoyed in His walk), and (iii) that Christ had overcome: truly reason to be of 'good cheer' (v.33).

"Be of good courage, I have overcome the world." They were not to be troubled, fearful, or offended, they were to "be of good courage," and their sorrow was to give place to joy. The great thing here is that the prince of this world is judged, and the world itself overcome — such was the scene they were to pass through. What comfort and encouragement for them and us!

But how much needed was this word of encouragement — "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth." The disciples could not be ignorant of the fact that, all the powers of the world, backed by the power of Satan, were against them, as they had been against their Master, and they needed to be reminded that their Master was the Victor over every foe. He had already said to them, as another Gospel tells: "Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). And the same apostle who records the fact gives us later the key of the overcoming life: "This is the victory that overcometh the world, even your faith" (1 John 5:4). The man of faith, walking in faith, is invincible. Satan has no dart strong enough to pierce the shield of faith. The world has no allurement sweet enough to attract the heart that is filled with the love of Christ. The world is an enemy's land, but Satan, the prince of it, is a defeated foe, and ALL POWER is in the hands of our risen Victorious Lord. Oh, that every young believer would firmly grasp at the very outset of his Christian pathway this great and inspiring truth — the LOVE and POWER of Christ are both for ME, to-day, and all the days, until I see His face.

But then it is faith in His Son Jesus Christ which overcomes the world. “This is the victory which has gotten the victory over the world, our faith” (N.Tr.) I take our faith to be that which is presented to us in testimony. The Son of God is the One who is preached as glad tidings. The victory of God is presented to us in Him. In Him I am face to face with that which has obtained the victory over the world. He could say to His disciples, when going out of the world, “Be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” It had exercised no influence upon Him. He learned nothing from it. Its principles were abhorrent to Him. He passed through it dependent upon the Father who sent Him. It knew Him not, and it hated Him with all its heart; but neither its hatred nor its friendship could cause Him to turn aside out of the path traced for Him by the will of God. He was the One righteous Man in a world of sinners. He loved righteousness, and hated lawlessness, and was thus the contrast of every other man. And His death was the crowning act of His obedient life. He was obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. And because of this God has highly exalted Him. And He it is who is preached to us as glad tidings; and “who is he that overcomes the world, but he that believes that Jesus is the Son of God.”

No apostle uses the word “overcomer” so frequently as John. Jesus is the Overcomer in the gospel, and the saints are the overcomers in his first epistle. In His parting words to His disciples Jesus says, “Be of good cheer: I have overcome the world.” This is of great encouragement to us. We have to do with a world that is hostile to us because we are of God, but it has been already overcome. It cannot attack us in the energy of a foe, flushed with victory. It is a defeated world. The Captain of our salvation has defeated it, and if we keep our eye upon Him we will be more than conquerors; “Who is he that overcomes the world, but he that believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” Paul says: “The life that I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Again: “Whatsoever is born of God overcomes the world.” John sets before us that which the gates of hell cannot prevail against. No one can be an overcomer but the one born of God, and the home of such a being is the love of God. Hence Jude says; “Keep yourselves in the love of God.” This is where we grow and become strong. If we fail to keep our hearts well in the love of God we shall find ourselves as weak as water, and the enemy will triumph over us to our confusion. We need also to see that it is really in the power of God that we stand. We are not to underestimate the enemy, neither are we to be in the least dread of him. But there is always the tendency of the flesh coming in to take part in the conflict, and we are ever ready to trust to it and hold the enemy in contempt. Of the wicked one it is said: “As for all his enemies, he puffeth at them.” Most of us know a little of this spirit, but it should not characterise us. We ought to be well aware that only in the power of God can the foe be met. If we attempt to meet him in the power of flesh it will be disaster. It is not the foe we require to be afraid of, but rather our own selves. The man who keeps himself in the love of God will always be in the power of God, and over him the foe will have no advantage.

Finally, in view of the tribulation and hatred that they would encounter in the world as His witnesses, they were to have peace in Him. "These things I have spoken to you that in Me ye might have peace, " He had said. This phase of peace in tribulation was to be theirs as they remembered and treasured the words that He had spoken to them. He had told them plainly that they would suffer for His Name's sake; He had told them this so that when it did happen to them they would remember that He had told them (chap. 16:4), and not be taken by surprise. Peace with God, peace in the knowledge of the Father's love, peace in Christ, their risen and exalted Lord, who had overcome the world, all this was contained in the words of His salutation as He stood in their midst.

But the same voice which cheered all these, and thousands more, speaks to our hearts today. "In the world ye shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." With the comfort of His love in our hearts, we may well " be of good cheer." "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you, will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ" (Phil.1:6).