Now you are talking plainly, and not in any figure of speech.
Now we realize that you know everything
and that you do not need to have anyone question you.
Because of this we believe that you came from God.
By responding to those things that troubled their hearts by directly explaining what was about to happen to him he caused the disciples' belief in him to grow. Indeed, it seems that they thought that they already saw the big picture of his plan. He responded to the fear in their hearts by giving them grounds for hope, both about what was going to happen to him, and what was going to happen to them. His prescience increased their confidence in a way that made them think he must in fact be untouchable, that he couldn't understand things so well and yet be vulnerable. Jesus did see the big picture and purpose of his Father's plan and therefore had great confidence. The disciples felt this confidence, but then incorrectly internalized it as meaning they were insulated from the troubles of the world. They received the feeling of confidence from Jesus, but not yet the cause.
Jesus answered them, "Do you believe now?
Behold, the hour is coming and has arrived
when each of you will be scattered to his own home
and you will leave me alone.
Their belief was apparently predicated on the idea that Jesus would use his superior knowledge to avoid defeat and win an earthly victory. As soon as it began to appear that circumstances were beyond his control they couldn't maintain their confidence. They just couldn't come to grips with the idea that Jesus would allow any of his hour to happen willingly. When it did happen they interpreted it as a sign that his knowledge must not have been so perfect as they once thought. But this was because there was still much that they could not bear to know. After all, he had all along been telling them that things would be this way, that it was part of his plan, and that it was not the end. But it didn't make sense to them. It probably could not make sense until Jesus was vindicated by his resurrection. Only then was the reality of his grounds for confidence in the Father made fully manifest. It was a joy such as could overwhelm any pain and make up for all the suffering that preceded it.
I have told you this so that you might have peace in me.
In the world you will have trouble,
but take courage, I have conquered the world.
The perfect knowledge of Jesus included the fact that his disciples would betray him and leave him alone. But this knowledge did not result in condemnation, but in the possibility of restoration, freedom, and life. In saying it he unsettled their immature confidence so that it couldn't damage them too much when they faced the reality of their weakness. But in predicting it, he revealed that it was a part of his perfect plan, and one which need not stand in the way of the restoration of their relationship. Had he not said it they might have been unable to turn back to him after the cross, or done so only with much greater difficulty. But even right at the moment that he predicted their betrayal he also told them it would be possible to be find peace in him. It wasn't peace that was a result of the trouble they had in the world. It wasn't merited by the heroic way they responded to that trouble. It was rather the victory of Jesus that made peace possible for them in spite of the their failures. It was his victory that would make it possible for them to continue to have peace even amidst the difficulties their futures held.
The father of orphans and the defender of widows
is God in his holy dwelling.
God gives a home to the forsaken;
he leads forth prisoners to prosperity.
Hillsong - This Is How We Overcome
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