‘Take heart; I have overcome the world.’ (John 16:33b)

Following the Passover Meal, Jesus prepares his disciples telling them he is about to leave them, but he will send the Paraclete in his place.  

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation… (ibid 16:33a)

He knows they will suffer the loss, not least, initially in their faith that the broken man on the cross was not the Messiah they hoped he was.  With the exception of John, performing the family duty of supporting his aunt, Mary, the disciples would scatter and return to Galilee.

But it easy to pass over his summary statement, that he has ‘overcome the world’, noting this is a completed action, in other words, he can surrender to death knowing he is sinless, and that is a victory. 

The Greek verb νικάω nikaó means to vanquish, conquer, prevail over and it derives from the Niké, the pagan goddess of victory.  So, Jesus saying that he has already won a victory even before passing test of obedience in Gethsemane, and rendering up his life and spirit to his Father.

Of course, there is simple way to understand this.  It meant never compromising his righteous purpose by yielding to the temptation of the world.  While this was a continuous act, it began with Satan offering him the world at the outset of his ministry.

… the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” 

Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written,

“‘You shall worship the Lord your God
    and him only shall you serve.’”  (Matthew 4:8-10)

And this authority was Satan’s to give as God honoured Adam’s choice to belief Satan rather than God in Eden, thus dominion of the world, once Adam’s passed to Satan, and Jesus recognises this spiritual reality.  In relation to his coming test, Jesus remarks:

Now is the judgement of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out.  (John 12:31)

Jesus, a man will take back dominion of the world that Adam gave up to Satan.

Later, the apostle John is given an extensive revelation, part of which is being witness to Jesus’ assessment of the seven churches of Asia.  Widely understood to mean the complete Church, he offers positive and negative comment and makes promises to individuals who, Christ-like, gain a victory; for example to those overcomers of the church of Ephesus:

To the one who conquers (nikaó) I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.  (Revelation 2:7b)

All the promises relate to either salvation itself or the reward thereof.  In turn, they promise the overcomer they will: – not suffer the second death; – receive hidden manna and a white stone revealing a new name; – be granted authority over the nations; – never be blotted from the book of life; – be made a pillar of the temple of God, and finally – sit with the enthroned Jesus.

But what does the overcomer need to overcome, if Jesus is already victorious and has overcome the world?  Clearly, the congregations of his Church are not required to engage in spiritual battle, only to stand firm and Jesus provides the equipment, as the apostle Paul writes:

Therefore, take up the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.  (Ephesians 6:13)

It may surprise many, then, that Jesus’ audit outlines the challenges that present within the seven congregations, and it is these the individual must overcome by repenting their lapses (‘repent’ is the verb metanoeó means to reconsider and think in a new way – and of course, decide to act on this). 

Again, in order of the seven churches as listed, the challenges to be overcome with this renewed attitude are: – to recover first love and act as once they did; – to not fear testing and be faithful; – to not be seduced into abandoning the commandments, and eschew immorality; – refuse to listen of false teaching that suggests accommodation with worldliness; – waking up and being spiritually enlivened; endure to the end; recognize one’s pitiable state and – be subject to reprove and discipline.

In all, Jesus declares that in his Church, whatever the congregation, are significant challenges to which each individual most be alive and respond.  There is no perfect ‘church’; furthermore, all who gather in Jesus’ name will also be tested and disciplined, it is part of suffering with Jesus as he required.

Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it…” (Matthew 16:24-25)

This denial of worldliness then is the struggle that each now undertakes within the (his) body of belief.  And if Jesus overcame the world, all his followers must walk in his victory, continually repenting, not conforming to the world and being transformed by the renewal of one’s mind (see Romans 12:2).  Jesus prevailed and now his disciples must do likewise.  To be a disciple, one must submit to discipline:

Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or faint-hearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?

“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,
    nor be weary when reproved by him.
For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
    and chastises every son whom he receives.”

It is for discipline that you have to endure.  (Hebrews 12:3-7)

This means the overcomer is not attempting to prevail against the world or those in unbelief; it is overcome sin as found within, including inside the flawed and damaged congregations of his Church.  Repentance is the key and sin must not be tolerated.

What does this look like? Jesus says sin is to be identified, exposed and confronted, and if need be the unrepentant sinner expelled from the congregation, (see Matthew 18:15-20).

Paul gives an actual example of when the church in Corinth tolerates an unrepentant man in adulterous relationship with his stepmother.

When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus, you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord. (1 Corinthians 5:4-5)

He says to ‘purge the evil person from among you’ while making it clear that tackling sin outside the Church is not the concern of the disciple, only inside.

I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people -not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world… since then you would need to go out of the world.  (Ibid 5:9-10)

Adding:

For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? (ibid 5:12)

Living in the world will bring ‘tribulation’, but that is not the main challenge according to Jesus.  His audit confirms the Christian is required not only to overcome their own sinful nature, but also the enduring sinfulness inside the Church.