The Last Verse of Jesus’ Last Sermon
Category: Worship & Praise
Key Passage: John 16:33
Speaker: Paul Chisgar
Date: April 28, 2025
John chapter 16, if you would please, John 16. We are going to look at the last two verses of this chapter. By the way, this is Jesus’ last sermon, and we are looking at the last verse of His last sermon. Chapter 17 of John contains His intercessory prayers in the garden. Right after that, you know, He goes in, Judas and a little band of soldiers are coming to take Him. So, this is His last sermon and the last verse of Jesus’ last sermon before He dies and is resurrected. These are important words. Can you imagine that the last verse, the last little bit of His last sermon of Jesus Christ? We will not get it all tonight. We want to get out of here before midnight. I am joking with you; there are so many things in these two verses. We will not cover it all. But John 16, we are going to start in verse number 32. Would you please stand as we read it together?
John 16, starting in verse number 32. Jesus here speaking, He says, “Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and I am not alone, because the Father is with me.” “These things have I spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”
Father, that last verse is one He ought to memorize. It is just a good, good verse. But let us pray and ask the Lord that He speak to our hearts, your hearts, about these great truths here. Father, Lord, there are so many things. I do not even comprehend it all. Lord, I praise You for some of these truths from this passage You gave us, that You would speak, Lord, to every single person listening tonight. Father, give them what they need. Lord, I yield to You. Lord, I realize if any good thing happens, it will be You. So, Lord, I yield to You. Would You work tonight? Father, we will thank You for what You do, and we ask this in the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen. Thank you so much for standing. You may be seated.
You know, the temptation is to look within ourselves for peace. We try to get it. We try to muster it up. We really look for that. But if I am looking within myself, sooner or later, it is going to end up bad. Actually, verse 32 really covers that. He is talking about there; He said, “Look, fellas, when I am taken just a little bit down the street here, it is about to happen. Judas is going to come and take me, and all of you are going to flee.” Before that, they got a little proud and said, “Well, we are going to pass the test,” if you will. We do not want to get into that too deep because it takes more time to cover it. But Jesus in verse 32 said, “No, fellas, you are all going to scatter when the shepherd is smitten, and all the sheep scatter.” You are about to fall flat on your face. When we start looking within ourselves for the peace or for the answer, it always leads to one or two things: either pity or pride. Both of them end up bad, falling apart. You get proud, hey, you are about to fall. You get pity, you are already sucking your thumb, and you will suck it off like your pastor did. It is not good.
The temptation, though, is to look for peace within yourself. But, friend, that is not where peace comes from. Notice what He said: “That in me, in me, ye might have peace.” That is where peace comes from. Look to Jesus. Look to Jesus for your peace, always. You have things going on here; look to Jesus for your peace. That is the key. That is always the key. Stop trying to make yourself perfect, by the way, and look to the One that is truly perfect in Jesus. Peace always comes. That is where the victory is. He won the victory, and He lets us share in His victory.
I memorized this verse, I do not know, a year or so ago, and I have kind of lost it. I am rememorizing it. None of you have ever done that before, right? The first time I memorized this verse, the Lord taught me something just in my memorizing of it because I memorized it wrong. Look at verse number 33. I am going to try to quote it the way I memorized it the first time when I messed up. This is what I memorized: “These things have I spoken to you that ye might have peace in the world. And the world, you should have tribulation, but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” I missed two words. What are the two words I missed? Really, the two most important words of the verse. I missed them. You know how it is; you memorize the verse, then you get your three-by-five card out or whatever. And I had it right, but I missed the most important part: “that in me, in Jesus, ye might have peace.” That is where the peace comes from. I missed the whole thing: “In Jesus ye might have peace.” You say, “Well, define that a little bit.” There is so much there; you cannot define it all, I promise you. But it starts with salvation: peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 5:1: “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” That is the start of all. Someone gets saved. How do you get to say, “Jesus, that in me ye might have peace”? And then not just…
Peace that comes from salvation, but the peace of Jesus. Look over, if you will, in John 14. You are in John 16; look over just two chapters ahead, John 14, and look in verse number 27. Jesus here talking, He says, “Peace I leave with you.” Watch the next two words: “My peace.” My peace runs out pretty quick, but Jesus’ peace—oh, my goodness! Now, when I run out of peace and I am upset or bothered, whatever, I just need to get Jesus and get Jesus’ peace. “My peace I leave with you; My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” Hey, Jesus, why is it in Him? Because you can get His peace. It is in my background and what all I came from; I have no peace. You do not have to have peace; Jesus has it. In Him you have peace. See? In Jesus, you have the presence of the Holy Spirit. That will give you peace.
Look over in John 16, back over in John 16. Look in verse number seven. Just something that Jesus said: How do we have the Holy Spirit? Not just the indwelling, but sometimes the empowering, the presence of Jesus. Sometimes the Holy Spirit is called the Spirit of Christ, by the way, and His presence will bring peace. What is it there in John 16:7? “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come.” That is the Holy Spirit will not come. “But if I depart, I will send Him unto you.” You know how we have the Holy Spirit? Jesus sent Him to us. Peace is in Jesus: “that in me ye might have peace.” Every angle you go at it—grace. We focus on this thing this year: by grace. Look over there at 2 Corinthians 8, verse number nine, real quickly. Look over there, 2 Corinthians 8, verse number nine. We are missing a couple of words in there, and we do not like to do it, but we have the three dots showing we are not trying to change God’s word. But I want you to look over in 2 Corinthians 8…
And look in verse number nine, 2 Corinthians 8, verse number 9. A wonderful verse about grace. We have looked at it, but I want you to see how this whole verse about grace defines grace better than any verse. But it is all really just focused, centered on Jesus. Look at this verse: “For ye know the grace of our…” Who? Jesus. “…that though he…” Who was the He? Jesus was rich, “yet for your sake, he…” Who is that He? Jesus “…became poor, that ye through his poverty…” Whose poverty? Jesus’ poverty “…might be rich.” You know, you and I have the grace we need for every day, all because of Jesus. Friend, really, when you learn to draw from Jesus, you have everything you need for peace in a messed-up world. You have everything we need, and it all centers around Jesus. I have spoken of these things: “that in me, in Jesus, ye might have peace.”
One more thing on that thought. Look over in Galatians 2 and verse number 20. Really, we could go on all day long if I knew the Bible more and we had more time. It is all wrapped up in Jesus. Get your eye looking toward Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. Get your eyes off yourself and get your eyes on Jesus. He is always where peace comes from. Galatians 2, look in verse number 20. Galatians 2, verse number 20. Wonderful verse. He says there, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of who?” Of God, “who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Even your faith comes from Jesus. Hey, we live by Him. We have our existence by Jesus. Everything is wrapped up in Jesus. When I learn, “Hey, I have everything I need through Christ,” that is where peace comes from. Everything. The joy at John 15:11—we are not going to look it up—but John 15:11 says, “Hey, I can have joy.” When I am out of joy, Jesus says, “I can have it. My joy.” He can fill your joy, contained within you with Jesus’ joy. Everything comes from Jesus. You live and have your being in Jesus. That is why He says, “Hey, I have spoken these things, that in me ye might have peace.”
Now notice the next thing He says here in John 16. He says this: “That in me ye might have peace in the world.” You, maybe every once in a while, you may have tribulation. Is that what it says? No, no. He says, “In the world ye shall have tribulation.” It is going to come. Someone said this—one commentary said this, and I think it has a lot of truth—he said that is a result of living for Jesus in a world that is going to be contrary to that. Brother Adam told that story, a great, great story. In this world, if you are going to live for God, you are swimming against the tide. I worry a little bit if a Christian is too cold in the world.
The world behind me, the cross before me. A couple of years ago, my wife and I took a vacation—a dream vacation, at least for me, and Tammy liked it too. We flew into Montana, rented a motorcycle, and we rode the Rockies. My wife was on the praise of the Lord; she was willing to ride on the back. I have only wrecked three times, so she tries to be careful. She dressed right, but she was riding on the back of that thing. In Montana, sometimes on some of those mountains, like Glacier National Park, there are beautiful places. But there are some plains where the wind just whips across there. The weather report said that today, where we were, there would be gusts of up to 60 miles per hour. I mean, you are riding that motorcycle, and that gust of wind hits you at 60 miles an hour sideways, and you are like, “Whoa,” about to blow you over. That is what it is going to be sometimes when you are living for the Lord in this world. It is just going to happen. It is just part of it. “In this world ye shall have tribulation.”
You know something else about that? In this world, this body—I hate to say it—it is going to get old. You can eat healthy, and it is for taking care of God’s temple, but you can eat healthy all the day long, never eat any sugar; you are going to die. I might as well die with a smile on my face. For taking care of God’s body, and I try to do that. Brother Frank puts it this way: Even before he got cancer, he used to say, “The golden years aren’t so golden.” Knee replacement and all that. I have heard him say that many a time. I do not care who you are, how healthy you are, how much you exercise—all those things are good—but this old body is going to break down. It is just since sin came, and in this world, you are going to have tribulation. You are going to have doctor visits. You have not had them in years? Well, just hang on, friend, it is coming. You are going to have tribulation; it is just part of it in this world.
In this world, we live in a sin mess. People are sinning; we are all sinners. We are all flawed. You have tribulation; it is just part of it. Do not get too mad at them; I messed up too, man. It is just part of it. But you are going to have tribulation in a world like that. There is tribulation on the inside. And you know what? One of the things about getting saved—praise the Lord, we are saved on the way to heaven—but maybe I should word it this way: One of the things I am looking forward to the most about going to heaven is laying this robe of flesh down. You are going to have tribulation from without, and because of your flesh, you are going to have tribulation within. That is just part of it. You can be the best Christian in all the world, but you still are going to have a flesh to battle. Now, he can yield more and more to the Holy Spirit; He is going to help in that battle. It is just part of it.
I never forget going to a conference several years back, and Clarence Sexton was a guest there. He is in heaven now. Clarence Sexton—there was a different speaker, who did a good job—but Clarence Sexton got up, and it just felt like God had His hand on him that night. He said this: “Preachers, I am telling you,” He said, “all the battles you have, all of them, the most important and the biggest battle you have is with yourself.” Well, he is right. And you are going to have tribulation in this world when you have your flesh. In this world, you are going to have tribulation. Some of it from without, some of it right here. It is just part of it. It is going to happen. So do not get too shook up when it does happen. It is just part of it. “In this world ye shall have tribulation.”
Now think about this. Notice what He said already. He said, “These things I have spoken to you, that in me ye might have peace.” Then He turns around and says, “In the world ye shall have tribulation.” Think about that. In Jesus, you have peace. In the world, you have tribulation. Sometimes we are spending a little bit too much time in the world. You are going to have tribulation. Someone said—I cannot remember the exact quote—but they said, “The more time you spend with people in the world, the more time you need with Jesus.” Just the contrast. In Jesus, peace; in the world, tribulation. And, friend, it is just going to be like that. But in me, in Jesus, you can have peace.
Now notice the next thing He says here. He says this: “But be of good cheer.” I like that. Sometimes it is easier to find something by showing you the opposite of it. Have you ever seen someone get in a bad mood, and you can do whatever you can—gargle peanut butter in your mouth—and they are just not going to get cheered up? They are just not. Have you ever seen a little kid like that? It is called, have you ever heard of it? It is a disease called the “poochy lip disease.” The bottom lip just pooches out. You can do whatever you want to do; it is just not going to change them. No, Brother Josh, I am not going to sing that tonight. I was a little bit jaffled the other day with the boys and girls. They are easier to sing to than you guys. But, no, in the world, we will have tribulation by trying to sing that song. But where was that? Be of good cheer. Every once in a while, we have one of the kids in school, wherever, it does not matter, and people just get an attitude, and you can do whatever you want. You can shake their hand, you can try to give them something, you do whatever, you know. They are just going to pout. That is the opposite of being of good cheer. And Jesus said, “No, do not go there. Be of good cheer.” I have been trying—I am not practicing it real good—but I have been trying to just think about it: Be of good cheer, be of good cheer, be of good cheer.
You know the Bible uses this word “rejoice” in 183 verses. Probably the crowning verse on that subject is Philippians 4: “Rejoice in the Lord always; and again I say, Rejoice.” Notice that: it is “rejoice.” It does not mean you are just flying high all the time consistently; you would not have to rejoice if that were the case. It means you are there, and then something knocks you down, but you are always trying to get back up. Rejoice in the Lord. You are working at it always. You are trying to be of good cheer; you are not pouting. I am trying to get back on top side. Maybe there is something you might have to deal with to get back to rejoice, but you deal with it. But you are always working at this: “Rejoice in the Lord always.” Always working at that thing. “Rejoice in the Lord.” “Rejoice in the Lord, and again I say, rejoice.” You are just always working at that. Be of good cheer. Be of good cheer. That might be something good for us just to say all day long: Be of good cheer. Be of good cheer. Be of good cheer. Be of good cheer.
Now, what is the last part of that verse? The last part of that verse, Jesus talking there, He says, “But be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” Now, some will say, “Yeah, He did. He beat the devil in the wilderness.” Remember those three temptations? Jesus beat the devil in the wilderness, and you are right; He did. But actually, if you look at that, it does not say He overcame the devil, though He did overcome. But that is not what He said. He said, “I have overcome the world.” Someone said, “Well, yeah, that is right. He cast out legions, all those thousands of demons, and He overcame.” But it does not say He overcame the demons. He said, “I have overcome the world.”
Look over, if you will, in 1 John chapter 2. A little definition of the world. First John, chapter 2, and look in verse number 16, if you would please. First John, chapter 2, look at verse number 16. It was a good definition of the world. He said, “I have overcome the world.” What is the world? Well, 1 John 2:16: “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.” Remember what it said over there in Hebrews? “He was tempted in all points like as we are, yet without sin.”
Hey, Jesus is finishing His last sermon and His last words in the sermon. The last part, He says, “Hey, I have overcome the world.” He lived in this sin-cursed world, and they tried every angle they could to get Him. You think you have been tempted by the devil? We have never been tempted like Jesus was tempted by the devil Himself. By the way, every once in a while, the Bible tells us about the devil actually tempting a person—the devil Himself, not some of his imps. More often than not, they fall apart, man. David is a good example of it. But Jesus had the devil Himself. After one of the wilderness encounters, the devil departed from Him for a season. The devil was on Jesus. And Jesus, at the very end, said, “I have overcome the world.”
Now here is the good part about that. He won the victory, and now we get to be in Jesus, and Jesus imputes it to us. When Jesus was beating temptation and trials of the devil trying to get Him to stumble, He overcame the world. He won that victory, and He turns around and shares that victory. We get to live in that victory right there. See? Here is the thing: like the Father looked down on Jesus, the only begotten Son, and how pleased the Father was with His Son, that is how pleased God is with you if you are in Jesus, if you are saved. If it is up to you to please the Father, friend, your righteousness is filthy rags. He is happy with you like He was happy with Jesus.
And that is how you can be of good cheer. God the Father looks down and says, “I am so proud of you,” because Jesus put His righteousness on your account. And He is so proud of you. You have peace, and I must have all in Jesus.
And that is how you can be of good cheer. God the Father looks down and says, “I am so proud of you,” because Jesus put His righteousness on your account. And He is so proud of you. You have peace, and I must have all in Jesus. Would you bow your heads and close your eyes? Would you just focus on Jesus tonight? “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me”—just think about that, in Jesus. That is the key right there—“ye might have peace.” Preacher, I am going to work out. God spoke about it. I am going to work more at Jesus, not necessarily at me and having everything right. You will not get everything right, but Jesus, God, He has already finished it. He got it all right. And you focus on Jesus; that is for the peace. Preacher, God spoke to my heart. I am going to focus on Jesus more in getting peace from and through Jesus. God spoke to my heart about that. And you are like, “Oh, yeah, yeah, He is.” I want you to think about it: He is pleased with you, not because of what all you are, but because of all what Jesus is. Yeah, everything in and through Jesus. Jesus, Jesus, Jesus. He is it. He is everything.
Maybe here tonight you say, “Preacher, I need to just accept that in this world, I am going to have tribulation. I need to stop getting bent out of shape and upset.” And I am guilty, but just, “All right, it is going to happen; it is part of it.” And God spoke to my heart about that right there. That is you. “Hey, preacher, I am going to have tribulation. It is part of it.” Oh, I am with you. God bless you. Amen.
Maybe you say, “Preacher, I need to focus on that: be of good cheer.” I am going to work with that. I am not going to be perfect at it—nobody is—but I am going to work at that: be of good cheer. Be of good cheer. Be of good cheer. Be of good cheer. Be of good cheer. I do not want to be like that one that nobody can share with. I want to work at being of good cheer. God wants you to be of good cheer. God bless you. That is you tonight. Just lift your hand. “Preacher, I am going to work at it: be of good cheer.” God bless you.
Thank you so very much for letting the Lord work in your hearts. Would you stand? We are going to have a word of prayer. Let us just spend some time in Christ: “In me ye might have peace.” Oh, He is so pleased with you because of Jesus. Father, thank You. It is really hard for me and us—at least for me—to grasp, Lord, that I have all these riches, all this grace I need, everything I need: Your favor, Your pleasure, Your joy, Your peace—all that in Christ. Thank You, Father. You look at me as Your son, and You are so proud of me, not because of what I am, but because of Jesus. It is amazing. Father, help us to grasp that truth. Bless Your people tonight, Father, in Jesus, we pray. Amen.
Spend some time, Lord. “In me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” Tempted in all points like as we are, yet without sin. All the time He did right, that is put on your account. Put on your account. How can I be of good cheer when I just failed that test? Hey, Jesus never failed that test. That in me, that in me, that in me.
Original File: Pastor Paul Chisgar - ＂The Last Verse of Jesus’ Last Sermon＂ - Sunday PM 04⧸27⧸2025 [QvRcVCvGGVk]