'These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace.
In the world ye shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer; I have
overcome the world.'--JOHN xvi. 33.
So end these wonderful discourses, and so ends our Lord's teaching
before His passion. He gathers up in one mighty word the total
intention of these sweet and deep sayings which we have so long been
pondering together. He sketches in broad outline the continual
characteristics of the disciples' life, and closes all with the
strangest shout of victory, even at the moment when He seems most
utterly defeated.
We shall, I think, best lay on our hearts and minds the spirit and
purpose of these words if we simply follow their course, and look at
the three things which Christ emphasises here: the inward peace which
is His purpose for us; the outward tribulation which is our certain
fate; and the courageous confidence which Christ's victory for us gives.