John 16:29

John 16:29 says, Lo, now speakest thou plainly and speakest no proverb.  Jesus had said the time was coming when the disciples would understand what He had been telling them.  After He then said in verse twenty-eight that He came from the Father into the world and was about to leave the world to go to the Father, they said now we understand.  They were now saying that Jesus was speaking plainly enough for them to understand.  There may be times in our lives as followers of Christ that we suddenly think we realize what God has been telling us for years.  As with the disciples, it just seems clear suddenly.  Verse thirty adds, Now we are sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe Thou comest forth from God.  Jesus did not tell them anything new, but suddenly they understood what He was saying better.  When we comprehend something about God that we may have questioned for a long time, it will never be because the truth of God has changed.  Also, we need to be careful that we do truly understand and are not just thinking we do.  The disciples said they now understood.  Verse thirty-one continues, Jesus answered them, Do ye now believe.   Verse thirty-two concludes, Behold, the hour cometh, yea is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave Me alone: yet, I am not alone, for the Father is with Me.  The disciples were beginning to have faith in their own understanding instead of still relying on the revelation of Christ.  We may at times feel that we understand what the Bible teaches us clearly, but we need to make sure that we are following the leadership of the Holy Spirit as we come to a particular understanding.  Jesus told the disciples they still didn't truly understand and would even abandon Him when the hour was come.  If we are relying on our own strength and understanding, when things go badly, we may not stand firm in our faith.  We must make sure it is God's truth that we are following.  Verse thirty-three states, These things have I spoken unto you, that ye might have peace.  In the world, ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer: I have overcome the world.  Again, we are only promised peace in tribulation, not a lack of tribulation, but we are to be of good cheer, because we are saved through Christ.