1“These things I have spoken to you so that you may be kept from stumbling. 2“They will make you outcasts from the synagogue, but an hour is coming for everyone who kills you to think that he is offering service to God. 3“These things they will do because they have not known the Father or Me. 4“But these things I have spoken to you, so that when their hour comes, you may remember that I told you of them. These things I did not say to you at the beginning, because I was with you.
5“But now I am going to Him who sent Me; and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’ 6“But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. 7“But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. 8“And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment; 9concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father and you no longer see Me; 11and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.
12“I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13“But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. 14“He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you. 15“All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose it to you.
16“A little while, and you will no longer see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me.” 17Some of His disciples then said to one another, “What is this thing He is telling us, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me’; and, ‘because I go to the Father’?” 18So they were saying, “What is this that He says, ‘A little while’? We do not know what He is talking about.” 19Jesus knew that they wished to question Him, and He said to them, “Are you deliberating together about this, that I said, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me, and again a little while, and you will see Me’? 20“Truly, truly, I say to you, that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; you will grieve [sorrow], but your grief [sorrow] will be turned into joy. 21“Whenever a woman is in labor she has pain [sorrow], because her hour has come; but when she gives birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy that a child has been born into the world. 22“Therefore you too have grief [sorrow] now; 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 not question Me about anything. Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask the Father for anything in My name, He will give it to you. 24“Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full.
25“These things I have spoken to you in figurative language; an hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language, but will tell you plainly of the Father. 26“In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I will request of the Father on your behalf; 27for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed that I came forth from the Father. 28“I came forth from the Father and have come into the world; I am leaving the world again and going to the Father.”
29His disciples said, “Lo, now You are speaking plainly and are not using a figure of speech. 30“Now we know that You know all things, and have no need for anyone to question You; by this we believe that You came from God.” 31Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? 32“Behold, an hour is coming, and has already come, for you to be scattered, each to his own home, and to leave Me alone; and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. 33“These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”
Interesting Words
stumbling
(σκανδαλίζω – Greek) – skandalizó ► put a snare (in the way), to cause to stumble, to give offense, cause to sin, cause to become indignant, shock, offend – Matt 5:29; Mark 14:29; Luke 17:2; 1Cor 8:13;
outcasts from the synagogue
(ἀποσυνάγωγος – Greek) – aposunagógos ► expelled from the congregation, expelled from the synagogue, excommunicated – John 9:22, 12:42,
sorrow
Helper
(παράκλητος – Greek) – paraklétos ► advocate, intercessor, consoler, comforter, helper, (from pará, “from close-beside” and kaléō, “make a call”) – properly, a legal advocate who makes the right judgment-call because close enough to the situation – John 15:26, 1John 2:1;
disclose
(ἀναγγέλλω – Greek) – anaggelló ► bring back word, report; I announce, declare, (from aná, “up, completing a process” and aggellō, “declare”) – properly, tell all the way up, i.e. clearly – declaring a thought (communication) that shows it has cleared (gone through) its necessary stages – John 4:25; 1Peter 1:12, 1John 1:5;
little while
(μικρός – Greek) – mikros ► small, little, small (in size, quantity, number or (figuratively) dignity)
Cross References
▪︎ Spirit of truth – John 14:17, 15:26;
▪︎ Jesus is truth – John 14:6, 16:7;
Discussion Questions
1. Two types of “error” are described in John 16:1-2. What are they and how can they be prevented?
▪︎ The first type of “error” is stumbling:
► This is actually sin, when we ignore counsel and precautions and fall into activies that are harmful to our Spiritial growth.
► Sin is part of the human condition. We can defer it for a time through obedience, but we may fail.
▪︎ The second type of error is that imposed on us from our enemy, Satan:
► Being enemies of God, they see it as a flaw in our character.
► They may be supporting other religions or causes (e.g. abortion, infringing on their rights or freedoms).
► This can be avoided by shirking our responsibility to represent God effectively.
► The further down the road we get, the more likely this may become the only honorable recourse we have.
2. Why do errors like those in question 1 occur?
▪︎ Sin either on our part and sin on the part of others.
▪︎ The world is blinded to what seems obvious to us.
▪︎ The world is getting increasingly desperate for solutions to what they perceived as catastrophic upcoming events.
▪︎ They are blinded to their own sin and need for a Savior.
▪︎ There will be an ever increasing gap (chasm, break) between good and evil.
▪︎ news, propaganda will taint people’s tolerance for religion.
▪︎ Bottom line, it is because they do not know God (John 16:3).
3. What are some new, additional benefits given by the Holy Spirit as shown in this chapter?
▪︎ We will be able to remember what Jesus tells us.
▪︎ He will convict the world of sin, drawing some into a relationship with Him.
▪︎ Convicting the world of righteousness, knowing that their efforts leave them woefully short of being able to see God (Matt 5:20)
▪︎ Of judgement, knowing they are on the side of an enemy of God that has already been condemned.
▪︎ Jesus is holding painful things back that we can’t yet handle but at the right time He will reveal them.
▪︎ He will guide us into ALL truth.
▪︎ He will disclose to us the future.
▪︎ He will make time fly, so that it will seem like just a little while.
▪︎ He will speak clearly so that we won’t miss a word.
4. How does the Holy Spirit accomplish all the tasks listed?
▪︎ As a friend, He simply communicates them to us in conversation and His Word.
▪︎ He uses ordinary people to communicate to us.
▪︎ He plans to use us, just plain ordinary people in the world to tell others.
▪︎ Hopefully, we will be obedient enough to be good solid examples of His righteousness.
▪︎ We need to be patient with each other and those who hear us.
▪︎ Jesus has overcome the world (true fact, completed, done deal), John 16:33; We can rest in this.
5. How do you think the disciples felt about Jesus being gone for a “little while”?
▪︎ Once again, it was not something they were expecting, Jesus leaving.
▪︎ Jesus was trying to emphasize that it would seem like just a moment (a micron).
▪︎ For any of us, it is just a few years, 70-80 at the most. Then we will be with Him in paradise. It’s not like He will be gone from our lives the whole 2,000 + years.
▪︎ They were probably devastated, being there present with Him, and knowing He will be leaving.
▪︎ We all feel this way at the thought of losing a loved one.
6. How would you describe the new era, after a little while? What will it be like?
▪︎ According to this chapter, it will continue to be a period of learning and remembering.
▪︎ The first little while will be a period of intense ministry.
▪︎ This will be followed by a period of what I expect to be premarital bliss in paradise.
▪︎ During the “little while” that follows… that will be an eternity of bliss as recorded in Revelation.
▪︎ Looking forward to that!
7. What is the conclusion that Jesus comes to in John 16:32, 33?
▪︎ There will be in each of our lives a period of pain…
► Pain of denial.
► Pain of self evaluation.
► Pain of regret.
▪︎ Jesus was left alone, and it got worse before it got better…
► He did have the Father to help Him through the pain of torture and crucifixion.
► But He was alone on the cross bearing the sin of the world.
► This finally ended in reunion with the Father and exultation to His eternal throne.
▪︎ In our case, no doubt, this current era will be followed by real pain… denial followed by the pain of tribulation (always painful).
▪︎ Hopefully, we will stand firm in His grace to bring honor and glory to His name.
▪︎
▪︎
▪︎