John 16

“I have said these things to you so that you will not stumble.

16:1 He told them what to expect so that they would not be surprised and stumble in their faith when trouble came. Compare v 33; Acts 14:22; 2 Tim 3:12; 1 Pet 4:1. These warnings are for us as well.⚜

2 They will put you out of the synagogues. Yes, the time is coming when whoever kills you will think that he is doing God a service. 3 And they will do these things to you because they have not known the Father or me.

16:3 Here is the root cause of many crimes committed in the name of religion – ignorance of the one true God. See John 8:19, 41-44; 15:21. Many people think they know God though they do not, and some will defend their views of God even to the extent of killing those who tell them the truth and oppose their false views. In this way they think they are serving God! See Jer 17:9; Matt 15:19; Titus 1:16.⚜

4 But I have told you these things so that when the time comes, you can remember that I told you about them. And I did not tell you these things at the beginning, because I was with you.

16:4 While He was with them, men directed their anger and hatred against Him. After He returned to heaven that anger and hatred would come against His disciples.⚜

5 “But now I am going away to him who sent me, and none of you ask me, ‘Where are you going?’

16:5 Peter had used the words “where are you going?” (John 13:36), but he was only expressing surprise that Jesus was going anywhere at all. His question was not a serious inquiry about where Jesus was going; he (like the others) was only upset at the thought of parting from Jesus (v 6).⚜

The work of the Holy Spirit of God in the world

6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. 7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. For if I do not go away, the Comforter will not come to you. But if I go away, I will send him to you.

16:7 Could anything be better than to have the physical presence of Christ with us? His disciples would have said “No!” but He says “Yes!” The reason? If Christ had not died, risen again, and ascended into heaven, the Holy Spirit (the Comforter – John 14:26) would not have come to live in them and to anoint them with power for the work they had to do. Compare John 7:39. Christ’s Spirit in them was better than His physical presence with them. Why He could not grant them the Spirit in that way before He went away He does not say. Enough for us to know that this was God’s plan and appointment. It seems likely that He wanted it to be clear to all that the giving of the Spirit was based on His death, resurrection and exaltation.⚜

8 “And when he has come, he will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment;

16:8 Jesus gives this as a further reason why it was better for Him to go away. The Spirit would come and do a work of convincing men throughout the world, and not merely in the little corner of the world where Jesus in the body had His ministry. He would teach them the truth about sin and righteousness and judgment, and rebuke them for their false views of these matters. And He would convince the world that the views of the Jews about Jesus were totally false and that Christ and His work were very different from what they thought. A result of the Spirit’s convicting work is seen in Acts 2:37.⚜

9 of sin, because they do not believe in me;

16:9 The Holy Spirit would convince men everywhere that those who in unbelief rejected and crucified Christ had committed a huge sin. Further, He convinces individuals that for anyone anywhere to willfully refuse to believe Him has its roots in sin and is of the essence of sin. In the Bible unbelief is everywhere shown to be worthy of condemnation and punishment (John 3:18, 36; 8:24; Mark 16:14, 16; 2 Thess 1:8; 2:12; Heb 3:12, 18; 4:11; 11:31; Jude 5; Rev 21:8). But only the Holy Spirit can convince men of this.⚜

10 of righteousness, because I go to my Father and you see me no more;

16:10 The meaning seems to be this: after Christ ascended into heaven the Holy Spirit would convince men that Christ was no deceiver, no blasphemer (as the Jews charged), but an absolutely righteous person. Compare Acts 3:14-15. Further, He would convince men of their own need of righteousness, and that through the cross God had provided a way to make men righteous (see Rom 3:21-26).⚜

11 of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.

12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.

16:12 Christ leads His people step by step into the deep truth of God. He does not tell them all the truth at once because they cannot take it all in. The disciples often revealed their inability to grasp all that Christ told them when He was on earth.⚜

13 However when he, the Spirit of truth, has come, he will guide you into all truth, for he will not speak on his own, but will speak only what he hears. And he will show you things to come.

16:13 See John 14:17, 26. The Holy Spirit taught the disciples all the truth of God and His kingdom that God wanted His people to know. The New Testament is the revelation of this truth. Now the Spirit uses the Word of God and teaches individual believers the truth that has been once and for all revealed. He lives in them and enlightens their minds (1 John 2:27; Eph 1:17-18). With a promise like this every believer should seek the enlightenment which God’s Spirit gives, and depend on the Spirit to teach him. On God as teacher see notes at Ps 25:3-4.⚜

14 He will glorify me, for he will take from what is mine and show it to you.

16:14 See John 15:26. Any teaching which does not glorify the Lord Jesus is not of God. This is one way we can judge any religious teaching. The Spirit will make the things of Christ real to Christ’s disciples. Compare 1 Cor 2:9-16.⚜

15 All things that the Father has are mine. Therefore I say that he will take from what is mine and make it known to you.

16:15 The Lord Jesus did not mean that the Spirit would not reveal anything about God the Father. To speak of the things which belong to Him is the same as speaking about the things which belong to the Father – they are the same things. See John 17:10. Observe the Trinity in this verse. See Matt 3:16-17.⚜

16 In a little while you will not see me, and then, in a little while you will see me, because I am going to the Father”.

16:16 There seem to be two possible meanings here. The Lord Jesus would die and be concealed from them in the tomb. On the third day He would rise and appear to them again. This was certainly true. But perhaps He was referring to His ascension into heaven after which He would be seen no more on earth until His second coming when all would see Him again. The words in v 10 seem evidence for this second view. It is probable that in the verses which follow Jesus meant both things. He had a message here for the disciples before His death on the cross, and a message for all believers now awaiting His coming.⚜

Christ gives further comfort and promises

17 Then some of his disciples said among themselves, “What is this that he is saying to us, ‘In a little while you will not see me, and then, in a little while you will see me’, and, ‘Because I am going to the Father?’”

16:17 Verse 10.⚜

18 So they said, “What is this that he is saying, ‘In a little while?’ We don’t know what he is saying”.

16:18 What became clear after Christ’s death and resurrection was obscure and perplexing before.⚜

19 Now Jesus, knowing that they wanted to ask him, said to them, “Are you asking among yourselves about what I said, ‘In a little while you will not see me, and then, in a little while you will see me?’ 20 Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and mourn, but the world will rejoice, and you will be pained, but your pain will be turned to joy.

16:20 The death of Christ was a deep grief to His friends, but a joy to His enemies.⚜

21 A woman when she is giving birth has pain, because her time has come. But when she has brought forth the child, she no longer remembers the suffering, for joy that a man has been born into the world. 22 And so you now have pain. But I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and no man will take your joy from you.

16:21-22 The days following the death of Christ were like the birth of a new age. The disciples would see it and see Him and be glad. They would have the joy He gave them and have it permanently (John 15:11; 20:20; Luke 24:52; Rom 14:17). There is a sense in which this applies to believers now as they wait for the return of Christ from heaven. His second coming too will be like the birth of a new age. See Matt 24:8; Rom 8:19-22. Compared to the joy that believers will know then their time here on earth, while the Lord is in heaven, is like sorrow. See Matt 9:15; Rom 8:18, 23; 2 Cor 4:17; 6:10; 1 Pet 1:6; Ps 42:1-3.⚜

23 “And in that day you will ask me nothing. Truly, truly I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give it to you.

16:23 Jesus taught them many truths after His resurrection and enabled them to understand the Old Testament (Luke 24:44-45; Acts 1:3). If there is a message here for believers now it is that when Christ comes again everything that has troubled and perplexed them will be made clear. Compare 1 Cor 13:12.⚜

24 Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

16:24 See John 14:13-14. Up until then the disciples had asked Christ directly or else prayed directly to God without using Christ’s authority or without considering Him as a mediator. Now through Christ believers have the great joy that comes because God answers their prayers. It is one of the ways they experience His reality and know His grace and love.⚜

25 I have said these things to you in figurative language. But the time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language but will tell you clearly about the Father.

16:25 He meant that after His resurrection He would teach them about God the Father. This is a work that was a delight to Him then and still is, one great work He came to do (John 1:18; Matt 11:27).⚜

26 At that time you will ask in my name, and I do not tell you that I will ask the Father for you,

16:26 The meaning seems to be this: it would not be necessary for Him to repeat their requests to God the Father. Praying directly to the Father in His name would be sufficient for them. Of course He was not denying that He would make intercession for them about other matters. See Rom 8:34; Heb 7:25.⚜

27 for the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. 28 I came from the Father and entered the world. Now I am leaving the world and going to the Father”.

29 His disciples said to him, “See, now you are speaking clearly and not speaking in figurative language. 30 Now we are sure that you know all things and do not need any man to ask you anything. Because of this we believe that you came from God”.

16:28-30 The Lord Jesus had said before this that the Father had sent Him, that He was going to the Father, and that He was not of this world (John 5:36; 6:38; 8:23; 14:28). For some reason His disciples did not fully understand what He had said, though they believed Jesus had come from God (v 27). Here the truth strikes their minds with more power.⚜

31 Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? 32 Look, the time is coming, yes, has already come, that you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave me all alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.

33 “These things I have told you so that in me you might have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world”.