Jesus has heretofore spoken to them in parables, but now will speak plainly, that there be no misunderstanding as to:

Their prayer life is about to change because their relationship is changing. Before, they prayed as a Jew, instructed in Mosaic law and by Jesus Himself. That prayer He earlier instructed them in must now have an addendum. Yes, they are to continue to pray, "Our Father Who Art In Heaven," but now must be offered through His Name to receive the Father's ear. Why? Before, His hour had not yet come, His own work unfulfilled, but now having been obedient to the Cross before Him, and committed to it, He is worthy as Heaven's mediator, seeing that He ascended on high after accomplishing the Father's will on Earth! Now, they will pray through Jesus, who fulfilled all law, giving them direct access to the throne of Grace. To the disciple who loves the Son, the Father will grant immediate access, with no need of Earthly priest. This will be necessary in fulfilling the mission He will assign to them before departing Earth. He must be instantly and totally available to them for their day to day and moment to moment needs produced as a result of their remaining on Earth, both physically and spiritually. As God was to His Only Begotten while here, so too must He be to all His Adopted for our victories today! Why would He withhold from the Adopted, who now takes up the battle in the Begotton?s absence, that which He so freely gave to His Son in overcoming? He does not. It is as available to any now as it was to Him then. But the key to this occurring is in maintaining that same abiding relationship.

Here is a final precrucifixional confession by these eleven to the now plainly stated Doctrine of Christ. Although they believe Him to be the long-awaited One, and are willing to forsake their past to follow Him into the future, they do not quite yet know what all that future entails. On the contrary, it is not necessary that they know about their tomorrows; they will trust Him for today. Their faith has not yet fully matured, but it is faith nonetheless!

For the present, Jesus will take unto Himself the full force of Satan's attack, not allowing His chosen ones to die with Him. Scatter they will, but they must be spared Satan's wrath for now to do battle another day. This is not their fight. They are not yet equipped, nor a match for the evil one; it would be contrary to God's character to engage them prematurely. Jesus knows He will see them again soon, and then they will be transformed, no longer to run away in darkness, nor remain silent before their enemies perceived stronger than themselves. The Spirit will empower them, giving them courage and words to speak before their own accusers.

Jesus now tells them His reason for all His precious words, which may have for the moment troubled their hearts; but they must know that Peace for the soul is found only in Him. His past presence has been their peace, but soon He will be absent. His words must live in their hearts for their soul to continue in that peace. How often today do we run to His Word for the solace that is the only source of soothing for our soul from the fire of our own present trial or tribulation thrown at us by this world: a word spoken to us in unkindness, a deed done to us in friendship betrayal, a rejection of our offered love, a failure to be perceived as we desire, a lie told about us for another's personal gain, or a personal, social, or business rejection discovered because of our relationship with the Lord. All these and more He has overcome, to give us victory over those things that sometimes do so easily beset us. One must rise above the "duty" of "enduring" tribulation, to joy in that trial, for it is of Him to conform us to Him for our joy and His glory! So, in all things, even in our own trials, we are to give thanks.

"OVERCOME" = nikao, meaning, "to gain the victory."
Same Greek word found in 2 other locations used interchangeably with "CONQUEROR," one in reference to Christ (Rev.6:2), and the other in reference to the disciple in Christ (Rom.8:37). In the former, Jesus is seen to have overcome the "WORLD" = kosmos, or, the systems of Satan introduced into God's creation since the fall, those kingdoms offered to Him in His Temptation, which He has now gained control to crush under His foot at the Cross. It is not His natural world He has overcome, for He has always been in control of it, Col.1:17. John later adds that anyone born of God overcomes the world, as Christ certainly was born of Him, but in addition to Him, we who also have been "born again," not of blood, nor of the will of man, but of God as well. Therefore, in the latter, those in Christ share in His victory over the world. We are certainly within context when we read Paul's words concerning the decided outcome of our struggle of faith when he says we are more than "CONQUERORS" = hupernikao, same Greek form as "OVERCOME" previously, but meaning to have more than victory! This is Christ's meaning of "LIFE ABUNDANTLY."

And so, to those who hear these words and understand, it is no wonder Jesus says, "BE OF GOOD CHEER," for these are the words which strengthen the heart when trouble tries to triumph. Joy is the Strength of the Lord!