“Sinasabi ko ito sa inyo upang kayo’y magkaroon ng kapayapaan sa pakikipag-isa sa akin. Magdaranas kayo ng kapighatian sa mundong it, ngunit tibayan ninyo ang inyong loob! Napagtagumpayan ko na ang sanlibutan.”

Juan 16:33

Sa mundong ginagalawan natin, makakaranas tayo ng matitinding pagsubok, pero ini-encourage tayo ng Panginoong Jesus na tibayan natin ang ating loob dahil napagtagumpayan na Niya ang lahat sa krus ng kalbaryo.

But has Christ truly overcome everything when our present difficulties seem to be killing us? We are distressed, afflicted, and troubled. We don’t know what to do. If only we are steadfast in our faith and trust in God, He will give us wisdom and direction in handling our situation. It will lead us to what He has purposed in and through us for His glory.  

Hindi natakot sa harap ng kamatayan ang apostles sa pagpapalaganap ng katuruan ni Jesus. Pinanghawakan nila ang Kanyang pangako. Ang sabi nga ni Apostol Pablo, “hindi kami nasisiraan ng loob kahit na humihina ang aming katawang-lupa; patuloy namang lumalakas ang aming espiritu araw-araw. Ang bahagya at panandaliang kapighatiang dinaranas namin ngayon ay magbubunga ng kagalakang walang hanggan at walang katulad” (2 Mga Taga-Corinto 4:16-17). 

Many of the apostles were flogged and imprisoned but that did not stop them from fulfilling Jesus’ Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-22). The small church they started in Jerusalem was transformed into an empire-wide movement of people (Acts 1-7), spreading to Judea and Samaria (Acts 8), and eventually to the broader Roman world (Acts 9-28).  

Ang pangako ni Jesus sa Juan 16:33 ay hindi lamang para sa Kanyang apostles, kundi para sa ating lahat. Regardless of the challenges we face, or the adversities we may encounter in life, we must remain faithful to the One true God who will help us overcome. Let us not be discouraged by the devil who tries to convince us that there is no hope. In Christ, we can be overcomers.