As Jesus prepares to leave the upper room with His disciples, He leaves them with some very challenging, yet comforting news. “I have said these things to you that in Me you shall have peace. In the world, you will have tribulation. But take heart: I have overcome the word” (John 16.33). Jesus was correct; every one of these Disciples will face a great deal of tribulation in their lives as they live for the sake of the cross. According to tradition, ten men in that room will die a cruel death for the sake of Jesus. The only one that is with them that does not die under persecution is John, however, He does endure tribulation. Jesus knows that all this world holds for them is pain, suffering and tribulation. However, if they remain in His love, it doesn’t matter what this world can do to them because in Him, they will have peace. Furthermore, Jesus reminds them that in the end…if He was able to overcome all the tribulation and persecution that the world had for Him, then we too (as long as we abide in Him) will be able to overcome as well. These words that Jesus spoke so many years ago are still just as true for us today. Jesus had given us a pattern, that if He was able to endure and overcome, we can also overcome our trials and tribulations. We should all be able to have peace in knowing that it doesn’t matter what this world does to us, as long as we give ourselves to Jesus. Just as they were able to overcome…so can we.