Jesus knows that he will not only be crucified and buried, but also be raised and ascend to heaven. But whether he explains his plan plainly or in riddles, his disciples cannot make sense of what he's saying. Finally, he says something so directly they think they understand: He came from the Father into the world, and now he is leaving the world to return to the Father. They respond in faith: "We believe you came from God!" Notice that they're merely restating what he just said. Their belief is sincere and accurate, but it's not enough. Jesus is not searching for affirmation. After predicting his future, he predicts theirs: they will abandon each other and him. Immediately after calling his disciples "friends," he foresees loneliness. But Jesus does not panic. Even when everyone he loves has run away, he knows the Father will be with him. Once more, Jesus gives peace to the disciples. He is promising them that he is not angry with them. They may fail him, but he will not fail them. Their relationship is secure because Jesus will conquer the world. When I started Uncommon Pursuit, I had to pick a name. I'd just worked for a ministry named after a person who had imploded. Instead of advocating for the women that the founder had harmed, people scattered. We ended up naming our organization after God's uncommon pursuit of us. Suffering often leads to scattering. So, why does Jesus give his disciples peace? Because he knows we need to be secure in his love if we are going to be courageous.