“Behold the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home…” (John 16:32). My heart skipped a beat when I read this scripture passage set for last week’s Sunday sermon. During the past four years I had been working through the Gospel of John on the Sundays between Christmas and Easter. Each of those weeks I lived in the natural flow of the passage. Thus, one could argue (and I do), that my passage this past Sunday (March 29, 2020) was set four years ago. What a great God that we have, for in the very day that we ourselves are scattered each to our own home He gives to us from his Word a reminder of the peace we have in Him. This is what larger passage says. John 16:32-33 reads ““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.”
This is an important message that we need to hear and place it deep in our hearts today. Notice that Jesus points us back to the things that he had told his disciples that night as to why they (and us) may peace and courage in a time of fear. He says –
- I love you (John 13:1)
- I prepare a home for you and you will dwell with me forever (John 14:1-4).
- I will come and make my home with you (John 14:23)
- I am at work in your life through the power and presence of the Holy Spirit (John 14:12-26).
- In me I give you a privilege and power of prayer (John 14:13-14, 16:24).
- Through me, the Father is glorified and known for you (John 16:26-27, 17:3).
It is because of these things that we may have peace and courage today.
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Trent Eastman. (4/1/2020)
Concerning the Word of Life 