John 16. Can you imagine how the disciples felt? Jesus starts making very dark predictions. He had just come into town being celebrated as a King, but now he is saying that not only is he going to leave them, but that they themselves are going to be persecuted and killed. And he is speaking in rather vague, figurative terms. It must have been a terrifying moment.
Even when the disciples understand Jesus and respond positively, he replies with more negative news: "all of you are going to scatter and leave me." As difficult as it all is, Jesus is doing everything he can to prepare the disciples for the most difficult trial of their lives. He doesn't do so by ignoring reality or hoping it will go away, but by continually promising two things: that they will never be alone, and that ultimately victory belongs to Him.
These are the ingredients of Hope: we are never alone, and victory is ultimately His. We do not have hope that our lives will be easy and trouble-free. In fact, Jesus assures us that we will have trouble. The difference is not in our circumstances, but in our reasons and our power to endure them. "But take heart! I have overcome the world." That's the greatest news we could possibly hear in our darkest times.
Hope is a core virtue at Church @ the Springs, and will be celebrated in this Sunday's Easter Family Service.
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