"I KNOW YOU ARE WEAK, BUT I LOVE YOU AND TRUST YOU ANYWAY!"

  

The disciples said to Jesus, “Now we realize that you know everything and that you do not need to have anyone question you. Because of this we believe that you came from God."

John 16:29-33

Earlier in this gospel, in verses 17 and 18, the disciples were puzzled by what Jesus had said. Beginning in verse 19, Jesus began to answer their questions even before they asked them. In other words, Jesus could read them like an open book. That is why they were able to leap into full faith in today’s text.

However, Jesus was a realist. He told them that, in spite of their belief, the time would come when they would desert him. This not only says a lot about his disciples, it also says a lot about Jesus. He knew they were weak, but he also knew that he still loved them and trusted them.

There are four things about Jesus that today’s gospel makes clear.

(1) Even though he knew that he would be abandoned by his closest companions, he knew that he would never be forsaken by his Father.

(2) Even though he knew his friends would abandon him, he did not threaten them then nor hold it against them later. He saw them and loved them as they were!

(3) There is one thing that sounds strange in this passage. Jesus says, “I have told you now that you would abandon me so that you may have peace!” The point is this – if Jesus had not foretold the weakness of his disciples, afterwards when they realized how they had failed him, they might have been driven to despair. It’s as if Jesus told them, “I know what’s going to happen; you must not think that your disloyalty came as a shock to me; I knew it was coming; and it does not make any difference to my love for you!” Here we see divine pity and divine forgiveness at work!

(4) Last, we see that Jesus is preparing them for a tremendous gift. They will come to realize, after his resurrection, that the world could do its worst to Jesus and still not defeat him. He will show them that life could do its worst to them as well, but they too could emerge victorious as well!

That is the message for us as well. We might have to go through hell on earth while we are here, we might let Jesus down over and over again in this life, but if we stay faithful to Jesus and trust in his love and mercy, we too can emerge victorious and enjoy his presence in his Kingdom forever and ever!