My Favorite Verses - Vol V (Feb 17 to Jun 17)
An illustrated collection of brief commentaries on some of the Bible’s most beloved (and some of its least understood) passages, parables, verses & sayings
An illustrated collection of brief commentaries on some of the Bible’s most beloved (and some of its least understood) passages, parables, verses & sayings
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John 16:33 … To conquer the World<br />
(03/14/20<strong>17</strong>)<br />
“In the world you face persecution. But take courage;<br />
for I have conquered the world.” ~ Jesus (John 16:33)<br />
First of all, please note that Jesus is not claiming here that he has conquered<br />
the world itself, otherwise he would have accepted the kingship offered him by<br />
Satan (which he clearly rejected in Matthew 4:8-10), the kingship offered him by his<br />
followers (which he openly rejected in John 6:15), and the kingship indirectly<br />
claimed for him by Pontius Pilate (which he again rejected in Mark 15:2) …<br />
In addition, if Jesus had been claiming here <strong>to</strong> have conquered our material<br />
world he would not have quite clearly exclaimed that his kingdom was “not of<br />
this world” (John 18:36), and he certainly would not have organized his own<br />
crucifixion thereafter (Mark 10:32-34, Mark 14:3-8 et al), much less tell everyone<br />
over & over & over again that he was not the violent, Rome-overthrowing,<br />
Earth-ruling Davidian Messiah for whom they had so long hoped & prayed (see<br />
Matthew 16:20, Matthew 22:41-45, Matthew 24:1-2, Matthew 24:23-27, Matthew<br />
26:63-64 + Matthew 16:28, Mark 1:24-25, Mark 3:12, Mark 8:27-30, Mark 10:<strong>17</strong>-18,<br />
Mark 12:14-<strong>17</strong>, Mark 12:35-37, Luke 4:5-8, Luke 4:41, Luke 9:18-21, Luke 18:18-19,<br />
Luke 22:70, John 7:18 + John 14:20, John 8:50-54, John 12:44-45, John 12:49 & John<br />
13:13) … No indeed, if Jesus had “conquered the world” in any traditional sense<br />
of the phrase, he would not have spent his entire ministry preaching the Truth<br />
that selfless service for others is The Way <strong>to</strong> Salvation (see Mark 1:38, Matthew<br />
24:12-14, Matthew 25:35-40, John 13:15-<strong>17</strong> et al) …<br />
32<br />
In truth then, the reason Jesus said<br />
he had “conquered the world” is<br />
because “the world” <strong>to</strong> him was a<br />
reference <strong>to</strong> everything material –<br />
including the fear-based suffering that<br />
came from our attaching there<strong>to</strong>. In<br />
Truth, this is why he advocated giving<br />
up material needs (see Matthew 19:2),<br />
this is why he <strong>to</strong>ld us that those who<br />
persevered through persecution in<br />
Love would be saved (see Matthew<br />
24:13), and this is why he noted<br />
“Peace I leave with you, and my peace<br />
I give <strong>to</strong> you. I do not give <strong>to</strong> you as<br />
the world gives.”(John 14:27)<br />
Amen … Let it be so.
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