Imagine you knew the end of the story. Imagine before the big game, you had future knowledge that your team would win. Or that before their procedure, you somehow already knew they would survive. Or that before life went downhill, Jesus had already promised you that he had overcome the world and would ultimately redeem all things. Imagine the endurance and steadiness and hope you’d be able to have!
Jesus wanted his disciples to know that the end of the story had already been secured. The happily ever after is already written. So through all their trouble that was sure to come, they could remain courageous. But unfortunately, the disciples really didn’t have a firm grasp on what Jesus was about to do, and so as things were about to go downhill, they would scatter in fear. Their faith was weak, and their courage was still weak, because they hadn’t grappled with the gospel to really understand what kind of good news it entailed.
But that’s why Jesus so badly wanted us to rightly understand his death and resurrection. He wanted us to know what kind of resurrection life we now have with him. Jesus has reversed the curse on creation, has freed us from sin's power and God’s just wrath, has destroyed the power of death and has become the source of eternal life, has made us into a new creation that lives not by flesh but by the Spirit, and has spelled out exactly how Satan will one day be thrown down once and for all. Jesus has overcome the world, and we get to be part of his triumph!
And since our Christ has already secured our victory, what’s the worst we can face? All pain and loss, as severe as they may truly be, are nothing compared to eternity. Even death is just a temporary separation. So what can break us down? If God is for us, who can be against us? In all things, amidst all the trouble we face, know that we already have our triumph. Believe that it’s true. Set your eyes upon eternity. And take heart; Christ has overcome the world.
