John — Chapter 16
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1These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.
2They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.
3And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.
4But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you.
5But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou?
6But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart.
7Nevertheless 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 unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
8And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
9Of sin, because they believe not on me;
10Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;
11Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
12I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.
13Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
14He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
15All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
16A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father.
17Then said some of his disciples among themselves, What is this that he saith unto us, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me: and, Because I go to the Father?
18They said therefore, What is this that he saith, A little while? we cannot tell what he saith.
19Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him, and said unto them, Do ye enquire among yourselves of that I said, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me?
20Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.
21A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world.
22And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.
23And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.
24Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
25These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father.
26At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you:
27For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.
28I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.
29His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb.
30Now are we sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou camest forth from God.
31Jesus answered them, Do ye now believe?
32Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.
33These things I have 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.
1These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be caused to stumble.
2They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the hour cometh, that whosoever killeth you shall think that he offereth service unto God.
3And these things will they do, because they have not known the Father, nor me.
4But these things have I spoken unto you, that when their hour is come, ye may remember them, how that I told you. And these things I said not unto you from the beginning, because I was with you.
5But now I go unto him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou?
6But because I have spoken these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart.
7Nevertheless 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 unto you; but if I go, I will send him unto you.
8And he, when he is come, will convict the world in respect of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
9of sin, because they believe not on me;
10of righteousness, because I go to the Father, and ye behold me no more;
11of judgment, because the prince of this world hath been judged.
12I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.
13Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he shall guide you into all the truth: for he shall not speak from himself; but what things soever he shall hear, [these] shall he speak: and he shall declare unto you the things that are to come.
14He shall glorify me: for he shall take of mine, and shall declare [it] unto you.
15All things whatsoever the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he taketh of mine, and shall declare [it] unto you.
16A little while, and ye behold me no more; and again a little while, and ye shall see me.
17[Some] of his disciples therefore said one to another, What is this that he saith unto us, A little while, and ye behold me not; and again a little while, and ye shall see me: and, Because I go to the Father?
18They said therefore, What is this that he saith, A little while? We know not what he saith.
19Jesus perceived that they were desirous to ask him, and he said unto them, Do ye inquire among yourselves concerning this, that I said, A little while, and ye behold me not, and again a little while, and ye shall see me?
20Verily, verily, I say unto you, that ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.
21A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but when she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for the joy that a man is born into the world.
22And ye therefore now have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no one taketh away from you.
23And in that day ye shall ask me no question. Verily, verily, I say unto you, if ye shall ask anything of the Father, he will give it you in my name.
24Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be made full.
25These things have I spoken unto you in dark sayings: the hour cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in dark sayings, but shall tell you plainly of the Father.
26In that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you;
27for the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came forth from the Father.
28I came out from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go unto the Father.
29His disciples say, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no dark saying.
30Now know we that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou camest forth from God.
31Jesus answered them, Do ye now believe?
32Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and [yet] I am not alone, because the Father is with me.
33These things have I spoken unto you, that in me ye may have peace. In the world ye have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
1“I have told you all these things so that you will not fall away.
2They will put you out of the synagogue, yet a time is coming when the one who kills you will think he is offering service to God.
3They will do these things because they have not known the Father or me.
4But I have told you these things so that when their time comes, you will remember that I told you about them. “I did not tell you these things from the beginning because I was with you.
5But now I am going to the one who sent me, and not one of you is asking me, ‘Where are you going?’
6Instead your hearts are filled with sadness because I have said these things to you.
7But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I am going away. For if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you, but if I go, I will send him to you.
8And when he comes, he will prove the world wrong concerning sin and righteousness and judgment—
9concerning sin because they do not believe in me;
10concerning righteousness because I am going to the Father and you will see me no longer;
11and concerning judgment because the ruler of this world has been condemned.
12“I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.
13But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. For he will not speak on his own authority, but will speak whatever he hears and will tell you what is to come.
14He will glorify me because he will receive from me what is mine and will tell it to you.
15Everything that the Father has is mine; that is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what is mine and will tell it to you.
16In a little while you will see me no longer; again after a little while, you will see me.”
17Then some of his disciples said to one another, “What is the meaning of what he is saying, ‘In a little while you will not see me; again after a little while, you will see me,’ and ‘because I am going to the Father’?”
18So they kept on repeating, “What is the meaning of what he says, ‘In a little while’? We do not understand what he is talking about.”
19Jesus could see that they wanted to ask him about these things, so he said to them, “Are you asking each other about this—that I said, ‘In a little while you will not see me; again after a little while, you will see me’?
20I tell you the solemn truth, you will weep and wail, but the world will rejoice; you will be sad, but your sadness will turn into joy.
21When a woman gives birth, she has distress because her time has come, but when her child is born, she no longer remembers the suffering because of her joy that a human being has been born into the world.
22So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.
23At that time you will ask me nothing. I tell you the solemn truth, whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you.
24Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive it, so that your joy may be complete.
25“I have told you these things in obscure figures of speech; a time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in obscure figures, but will tell you plainly about the Father.
26At that time you will ask in my name, and I do not say that I will ask the Father on your behalf.
27For the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.
28I came from the Father and entered into the world, but in turn, I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.”
29His disciples said, “Look, now you are speaking plainly and not in obscure figures of speech!
30Now we know that you know everything and do not need anyone to ask you anything. Because of this we believe that you have come from God.”
31Jesus replied, “Do you now believe?
32Look, a time is coming—and has come—when you will be scattered, each one to his own home, and I will be left alone. Yet I am not alone because my Father is with me.
33I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In the world you have trouble and suffering, but take courage—I have conquered the world.”
1“I have said these things to you so that you wouldn’t be caused to stumble.
2They will put you out of the synagogues. Yes, the time comes that whoever kills you will think that he offers service to God.
3They will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me.
4But I have told you these things, so that when the time comes, you may remember that I told you about them. I didn’t tell you these things from the beginning, because I was with you.
5But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’
6But because I have told you these things, sorrow has filled your heart.
7Nevertheless I tell you the truth: It is to your advantage that I go away, for if I don’t go away, the Counselor won’t come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.
8When he has come, he will convict the world about sin, about righteousness, and about judgment;
9about sin, because they don’t believe in me;
10about righteousness, because I am going to my Father, and you won’t see me any more;
11about judgment, because the prince of this world has been judged.
12“I have yet many things to tell you, but you can’t bear them now.
13However when he, the Spirit of truth, has come, he will guide you into all truth, for he will not speak from himself; but whatever he hears, he will speak. He will declare to you things that are coming.
14He will glorify me, for he will take from what is mine, and will declare it to you.
15All things whatever the Father has are mine; therefore I said that he takes of mine, and will declare it to you.
16A little while, and you will not see me. Again a little while, and you will see me.”
17Some of his disciples therefore said to one another, “What is this that he says to us, ‘A little while, and you won’t see me, and again a little while, and you will see me;’ and, ‘Because I go to the Father’?”
18They said therefore, “What is this that he says, ‘A little while’? We don’t know what he is saying.”
19Therefore Jesus perceived that they wanted to ask him, and he said to them, “Do you inquire among yourselves concerning this, that I said, ‘A little while, and you won’t see me, and again a little while, and you will see me?’
20Most certainly I tell you, that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy.
21A woman, when she gives birth, has sorrow, because her time has come. But when she has delivered the child, she doesn’t remember the anguish any more, for the joy that a human being is born into the world.
22Therefore you now have sorrow, but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.
23“In that day you will ask me no questions. Most certainly I tell you, whatever you may ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you.
24Until now, you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be made full.
25I have spoken these things to you in figures of speech. But the time is coming when I will no more speak to you in figures of speech, but will tell you plainly about the Father.
26In that day you will ask in my name; and I don’t say to you, that I will pray to the Father for you,
27for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me, and have believed that I came from God.
28I came from the Father, and have come into the world. Again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.”
29His disciples said to him, “Behold, now you are speaking plainly, and using no figures of speech.
30Now we know that you know all things, and don’t need for anyone to question you. By this we believe that you came from God.”
31Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe?
32Behold, the time is coming, yes, and has now come, that you will be scattered, everyone to his own place, and you will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.
33I have told you these things, that in me you may have peace. In the world you have oppression; but cheer up! I have overcome the world.”
Summary
Jesus prepares His disciples for His departure, promises the Spirit of Truth who will convict the world and guide them into all truth, and assures them that their grief will turn to joy — "In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."
Authorship & Background
Map & Geography
- The Upper Room / en route to Gethsemane: Jesus continues speaking to His disciples on the night of His arrest — either still in the Upper Room or walking toward the Kidron Valley and the Mount of Olives.
- "In the world" (v.33): Jesus speaks of the world as the environment where the disciples will face tribulation — the whole created order under sin.
Commentary
- Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com Guzik examines why Jesus' departure is better than His presence, the Spirit's threefold conviction, the meaning of "a little while," and the nature of prayer in Jesus' name.
- Charles Spurgeon: Sermon: "The Comforter" on v.7 (MTP Vol. 1, No. 5) "The Holy Spirit is not an influence, not a power, not an energy — He is a Person. And He comes to dwell in you — not to visit, not to pass through — to dwell. He is the Comforter, and He is with you always." Sermon: "Good Cheer for Troubled Hearts" on v.33 (MTP Vol. 37, No. 2210) "In the world ye shall have tribulation — He does not say 'you might' or 'some of you will.' He says 'ye shall.' It is certain. But then — be of good cheer. Not because the tribulation is not real, but because I have overcome the world. His victory is your victory."
Videos
David Guzik — Enduring Word Video Series (John)
YouTube Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_QIfO0mxbX4zgQH4vuK6q1q7gu8Ok6tz John 16:5-33 - Prepared for Advantage:
Reflection
- 1. Jesus said it was better for the disciples that He go away (v.7). They couldn't see it at the time. Is there something in your life that God has taken away or changed that you're still grieving — but that He may be using to bring something better? Can you trust His "expedient" even when you can't see it?
- 2. The Spirit convicts of sin — specifically the sin of unbelief (v.9). At the root of every sin is a failure to trust God. Where in your life is unbelief driving your behavior? What are you not trusting God with?
- 3. "Ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full" (v.24). Jesus connects answered prayer directly to full joy. How is your prayer life? Are you asking boldly in Jesus' name, or are you living below the privilege He has given you?
- 4. "In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world" (v.33). The courage Jesus commands is not based on circumstances improving — it's based on His victory. What tribulation are you facing right now? How does His victory change how you face it?
- 5. Jesus told the disciples about coming persecution so they would not be "offended" (v.1) — not caught off guard. How does knowing that suffering and opposition are part of the Christian life change how you respond when they come?
- 6. The disciples were so focused on their own sorrow that none of them asked Jesus where He was going (v.5). Grief can make us self-focused. Is there a situation in your life where your own pain is preventing you from seeing what God is doing?
- 7. The Spirit guides into "all truth" (v.13). How are you cooperating with the Spirit's work of illuminating Scripture in your life? What would it look like to be more attentive to His teaching as you read the Bible?
- 8. Jesus said "your sorrow shall be turned into joy" (v.20) — not removed, but transformed. The same event that caused the sorrow (the cross) became the source of the greatest joy. Is there a painful experience in your past that God has transformed into something fruitful? What does that tell you about how He works?
- 9. "I have overcome the world" (v.33). Jesus said this before the cross — speaking of it as already accomplished. How does living from the perspective of Christ's already-accomplished victory change how you face daily battles?