John chapter 16
We will be persecuted. The Holy Spirit will minister to us. Jesus will go to the Father. We may ask the Father for anything. Jesus has overcome the world.
WE WILL BE PERSECUTED
VERSE 1. “I have said these things to you so that you wouldn’t be caused to stumble.
VERSE 2. They will put you out of the synagogues. Yes, the time comes that whoever kills you will think that he offers service to God.
They will put you out of the synagogues. Even in our day, this sort of thing can still happen. It happens in Christian churches.
A small handful of people decide that they do not like a particular individual, and drive him or her out of their “synagogue.”
VERSE 3. They will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me.
They will do these things. One manuscript adds “to you.” So it reads: “They will do these things to you”
VERSE 4. But 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.
THE MINISTRY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
VERSE 5. But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’
VERSE 6. But because I have told you these things, sorrow has filled your heart.
VERSE 7. Nevertheless 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.
VERSE 8. When he has come, he will convict the world about sin, about righteousness, and about judgment;
he will convict the world. The verses that follow describe three “conviction” ministries of the Holy Spirit:
- conviction about sin (verse 9)
- conviction about righteousness (verse 10)
- conviction about judgment (verse 11)
VERSE 9. about sin, because they don’t believe in me;
about sin. Which sin will does Holy Spirit convict people about?
they don’t believe in me. Jesus says the sin is not believing in him.
VERSE 10. about righteousness, because I am going to my Father, and you won’t see me any more;
about righteousness. How will the Holy Spirit convict people about righteousness? Jesus says two things will be involved:
I am going to my Father. Jesus’ own ascension to God the Father in heaven will convict people about righteousness.
you won’t see me any more. The fact that we cannot see Jesus any more will convict people about righteousness.
VERSE 11. about judgment, because the prince of this world has been judged.
about judgment. How will the Holy Spirit convict people about judgment?
the prince of this world. That is, Satan.
has been judged. Satan having been judged will convict people about righteousness.
VERSE 12. “I still have many things to tell you, but you can’t bear them now.
VERSE 13. However 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.
This verse is fantastic! Would you consider memorizing it? More great verses to memorize from the Gospel According to John and from the entire Bible.
the Spirit of truth. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth. Read more »
he will guide you into all truth. The guidance of the Holy Spirit will lead us to fuller understandings of the truth.
whatever he hears, he will speak. The guidance of God the Holy Spirit will be based on God the Father and God the Son. He will only speak what he hears from them.
He will declare to you things that are coming. The Holy Spirit will show us future events. That is, prophecy. There is a prophetic nature to these ministries of the Holy Spirit.
VERSE 14. He will glorify me, for he will take from what is mine, and will declare it to you.
VERSE 15. All things that the Father has are mine; therefore I said that he takes of mine and will declare it to you.
he takes of mine. One manuscript reads “he will take of mine.”
JESUS WILL GO TO GOD THE FATHER
VERSE 16. A little while, and you will not see me. Again a little while, and you will see me.”
VERSE 17. Some 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’?”
VERSE 18. They said therefore, “What is this that he says, ‘A little while’? We don’t know what he is saying.”
VERSE 19. Therefore 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?’
VERSE 20. Most 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.
VERSE 21. A 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.
VERSE 22. Therefore 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.
WE MAY ASK GOD THE FATHER FOR ANYTHING
VERSE 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.
ask of the Father in my name. The Lord Jesus Christ commanded us to pray in his name. Here are all the verses we found that instruct us to pray in the name of Jesus. Read more »
VERSE 24. Until now, you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be made full.
This verse is fantastic! Would you consider memorizing it? More great verses to memorize from the Gospel According to John and from the entire Bible.
asked nothing in my name. The Lord Jesus Christ commanded us to pray in his name. Here are all the verses we found that instruct us to pray in the name of Jesus. Read more »
JESUS HAS OVERCOME THE WORLD
VERSE 25. I 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.
VERSE 26. In that day you will ask in my name; and I don’t say to you that I will pray to the Father for you,
you will ask in my name. The Lord Jesus Christ commanded us to pray in his name. Here are all the verses we found that instruct us to pray in the name of Jesus. Read more »
VERSE 27. for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me, and have believed that I came from God.
VERSE 28. I came from the Father, and have come into the world. Again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.”
This verse maps out the trajectory of the Lord Jesus:
- From God the Father to the world
- From the world back to God the Father
VERSE 29. His disciples said to him, “Behold, now you are speaking plainly, and using no figures of speech.
VERSE 30. Now 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.”
VERSE 31. Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe?
VERSE 32. Behold, 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.
VERSE 33. I have told you these things, that in me you may have peace. In the world you have trouble; but cheer up! I have overcome the world.
This verse is fantastic! Would you consider memorizing it? More great verses to memorize from the Gospel According to John and from the entire Bible.
NIV translation. I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.
that in me you may have peace. Jesus wishes for us to have peace.
In the world you have trouble. We are to consider it pure joy when we face any kind of suffering or temptation, difficulty or trial. This is not natural for most of us. Read more »
I have overcome the world. We can take heart, because Jesus has overcome the world!
JOHN
CHAPTERS: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21
RESOURCES: Summary, Outline, Memorize, Commands, Spirituality
Unless otherwise noted, all Bible quotations on this page are from the World English Bible and the World Messianic Edition. These translations have no copyright restrictions. They are in the Public Domain.