Be Of Good Cheer, I Have Overcome The World.

He comforts them with a promise of peace in him, by virtue of his victory over the world, whatever troubles they might meet with in it (John 16:33): "These things have I spoken, that in me you might have peace and if you have it not in me you will not have it at all, for in the world you shall have tribulation you must expect no other, and yet may cheer up yourselves, for I have overcome the world." Observe,

The end Christ aimed at in preaching this farewell sermon to his disciples: That in him they might have peace. He did not hereby intend to give them a full view of that doctrine which they were shortly to be made masters of by the pouring out of the Spirit, but only to satisfy them for the present that his departure from them was really for the best. Or, we may take it more generally: Christ had said all this to them that by enjoying him they might have the best enjoyment of themselves. Note, It is the will of Christ that his disciples should have peace within, whatever their troubles may be without. Peace in Christ is the only true peace, and in him alone believers have it, for this man shall be the peace, Micah 5:5. Through him we have peace with God, and so in him we have peace in our own minds. The word of Christ aims at this, that in him we may have peace. Peace is the fruit of the lips, and of his lips, Isaiah 57:19.

The entertainment they were likely to meet with in the world: "You shall not have outward peace, never expect it." Though they were sent to proclaim peace on earth, and good-will towards men, they must expect trouble on earth, and ill-will from men. Note, It has been the lot of Christ's disciples to have more or less tribulation in this world. Men persecute them because they are so good, and God corrects them because they are no better. Men design to cut them off from the earth, and God designs by affliction to make them meet for heaven and so between both they shall have tribulation.

The encouragement Christ gives them with reference hereto: But be of good cheer, tharseite. "Not only be of good comfort, but be of good courage have a good heart on it, all shall be well." Note, In the midst of the tribulations of this world it is the duty and interest of Christ's disciples to be of good cheer, to keep up their delight in God whatever is pressing, and their hope in God whatever is threatening as sorrowful indeed, in compliance with the temper of the climate, and yet always rejoicing, always cheerful (2 Corinthians 6:10), even in tribulation, Romans 5:3.

The ground of that encouragement: I have overcome the world. Christ's victory is a Christian triumph. Christ overcame the prince of this world, disarmed him, and cast him out and still treads Satan under our feet. He overcame the children of this world, by the conversion of many to the faith and obedience of his gospel, making them the children of his kingdom. When he sends his disciples to preach the gospel to all the world, "Be of good cheer," says he, "I have overcome the world as far as I have gone, and so shall you though you have tribulation in the world, yet you shall gain your point, and captivate the world," Revelation 6:2. He overcame the wicked of the world, for many a time he put his enemies to silence, to shame "And be you of good cheer, for the Spirit will enable you to do so too." He overcame the evil things of the world by submitting to them he endured the cross, despising it and the shame of it and he overcame the good things of it by being wholly dead to them its honours had no beauty in his eye, its pleasures no charms. Never was there such a conqueror of the world as Christ was, and we ought to be encouraged by it, Because Christ has overcome the world before us so that we may look upon it as a conquered enemy, that has many a time been baffled. Nay, He has conquered it for us, as the captain of our salvation. We are interested in his victory by his cross the world is crucified to us, which bespeaks it completely conquered and put into our possession all is yours, even the world. Christ having overcome the world, believers have nothing to do but to pursue their victory, and divide the spoil and this we do by faith, 1 John 5:4. We are more than conquerors through him that loved us. - Matthew Henry