The disciples said to Jesus,
“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.”
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.
But I am not alone, because the Father is with me.
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.”
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.”
Jesus has conquered the world, what does this mean? He conquered it by His death and resurrection. In His great sacrifice, He ended death for all those who love Him. I am not talking here about physical death. That has not ended, and will continue until the final judgement. But then, at the final judgement, we all will be given an eternal body and will be sent to our eternal justice.
But here in this reading, I am talking about the death that Adam and Eve brought into the world, the death of Sheol, also know as the Limbo of the Fathers. The Jews argued constantly about what this death might be. The pharisees argued that there was a place where a soul would go and wait for the coming of the Lord to release them. The good would go to Abraham’s Bosom, and the evil would go to Gahena. The sadducees argued, that there was no afterlife at all, and that the when you die, you die.
In the three days before His ressurction, Jesus went to Sheol, and He brought judgement to those souls waiting for Him. The evil he sent to hell, and the good He took with Him into Heaven. Thus opening the doors of heaven, to all those that would come after Him and follow Him. Jesus gave us the way and the truth and the life, and insodoing, he made it plain that His way was the new way, and the true way to God.
It is now possible to live a life in loving friendship with Jesus, that will end with Him in Heaven for eternity. The world can only offer pleasure for a short time, followed by an eternity of hell. Only Jesus offers true lasting happiness, and this is what He now gives us. A new way, a priveledged way, a way to ultimate happiness with God in heaven. All we have to do is follow where He leads us. There may be a short time of suffering, but the reward for faithful obedience, is an eternity of perfect Joy and Happiness. That is a bargain that I can accept. I hope you will too.
Oh lord, today lead me back on to the way, that you have opened the doors to and help me to be a deciple of your kingdom and not of this world.
