As we study the conversations Jesus had with His disciples in the upper room this fall, one of the things that’s been most striking to me is how others-focused Jesus is. Not for a moment does He seem to be dwelling on what’s about to happen to Him. He is fully, wholly focused on His disciples, their hearts and what seems like a million last-minute reminders.
Me on the other hand, when I know I’m about to do something anxiety-inducing (and we can all agree, whatever any of us are facing pales in comparison to Jesus), I can’t think of anything else. A doctor’s appointment I’m nervous about? My blood pressure is already high the night before. A difficult conversation with my boss? I rehearse it for days. Speaking in front of a crowd? I can’t eat until it’s over. But Jesus? He not only has the peace to put anxiety to the side, but also has the presence of mind to lay out — from the heart — vital information, encouragement and hope for His disciples.
“If the world hates you,” Jesus says, “keep in mind that it hated me first.” They will put you out of the synagogues,” Jesus tells them. “Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me. But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you” (John 15:18, 16:1-4).
Sometimes, the most loving thing to do is have the difficult conversation. I think we see that with Jesus here. He’s telling them (and us) the bad news, so that we’re ready when the moment comes. He gives us everything to walk through the world. Yes, trouble will come. You don’t even need to go looking for it — it will find you! But I am always with you, and I’m sending another helper too. That’s what we see throughout the Upper Room conversations — bad news and good news, back and forth. The best news, though? We hear it in John 16:33 as Jesus says, “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.”
As we can see in John 15 and 16, Jesus never gives us bad news and then just leaves us alone in it. There’s a verse I love in 2 Corinthains: all the promises of God find their yes in Jesus. It’s not just a Sunday school answer — Jesus really is here for us. Always.
What bad news are you sitting with today? What has your heart down? I bet there is something in Scripture that speaks to it.
Bad news: In this world we will have trouble. Good news: Jesus has already faced everything we will go through (John 16:33).
Bad news: Darkness is a reality. Good news: Even the darkness is not dark to our God. Psalm 139:12 says “the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.”
Bad news: In this life we are afflicted, perplexed, persecuted, struck down. Good news: In that affliction, we will not be crushed, though perplexed we will not be driven to despair. We may be persecuted, but will never be forsaken. We may be struck down, but never destroyed (2 Corinthians 4:8-18).
Bad news: We see and experience every day the fact that fragility is an everyday reality for our bodies, our relationships and the earth we call home. The good news: Jesus declares in Revelation 21:5 that He is making all things new. “Write this down,” He even says, “for these words are trustworthy and true.”
Bad news: The world gives us all kinds of messages that we are insignificant. The good news: God declares that we have incomparable value. We were created in His image (Genesis 1:27), knit together by Him with great intention (Psalm 139:13-16), we are invited into His family (John 1:12), He paid the absolute highest price to make a way for us to know and love Him when He sent Jesus to die for us (John 3:16-17). And because of Jesus, nothing can separate us from God’s love (Romans 8:37-39). We are loved and worthy because God says so. And that has to be the very best news we hear all day.
Caitlin Rodgers