John 16

1. I have told you these things to keep you from giving up.

This reminds us of the story that Jesus told about the seeds that were planted in rocky places. He said that they were offended because they did not expect to suffer for Christ. Matthew 13:21

2. People will put you out of their synagogues. Yes, the time is coming when whoever kills you will think that he is offering service to God.

I [Paul] used to blaspheme the name of Christ. In my insolence, I persecuted His people. But God had mercy on me because I did it in ignorance and unbelief. 1 Timothy 1:13

3. They will do this because they have not known the Father and they have not known Me.

We do not have a religion but a relationship with Jesus. We do not just know some things about Him, but we know Him personally.

4. I have told you these things now. So when the time comes, you will remember that I warned you. I did not tell you these things at the beginning, because I was with you then.

Jesus is saying, “I was with you and no one could touch you. After I leave, the Holy Spirit will protect you.”

5. Now I am going back to the One who sent Me. But none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?'

They did ask in John 14:5 but now they do not ask.

6 – 7

Your hearts are filled with sadness because I have told you these things. But I tell you the truth. It is better for you that I go away. When I go away I will send the Helper to you. If I do not go away, then the Helper will not come.

When Jesus lived in a body on the earth He could only be in one place at a time. Now He can send us all over the world so that the Gospel is being heard everywhere. We do not need to say, “I cannot do it Lord !” because He sent His Spirit to live inside of us and help us.

8. When the Helper comes, He will prove to the people of the world the truth about sin, about being right with God, and about judgment.

The world says, “We do not have any sin!” When we are sharing the Gospel we need to start by showing them that we all have broken the Ten Commandments. Nobody will come to Christ until they see that they need Him. When they see that they have broken God's law, the Holy Spirit will convict them. They will begin to see that they are not the good person they thought they were. Do not push them to make a decision. After the Holy Spirit has spoken to a man this way, he will not be able to put his sin out of his mind.

The Law has become our teacher to lead us to Christ. Galatians 3:24

9. He will prove to them about sin, because they do not believe in Me.

The devil tells some people that they have committed a sin that can never be forgiven. The only sin that cannot be forgiven is rejecting Jesus Christ

So I tell you, every sin and blasphemy can be forgiven—except blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, which will never be forgiven. Matthew 12:31

10 - 11

He will prove to them that I am right with God, because I am going to the Father. You will not see Me anymore.

And the Helper will prove to them the truth about judgment, because the ruler of this world is already judged.

We are not able to prove the truth to people. All we can do is plant a seed and pray, “Lord, open their eyes.”

Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people's hearts, and they will learn the truth. Then they will come to their senses and escape from the devil's trap. For they have been held captive by him to do whatever he wants. 2 Timothy 2:25-26

12. I have many more things to say to you, but they are too much for you now.

Remember that we are seed planters. We plant small seeds and make people thirsty for more. Do not give people more information than they can handle at one time.

Remember that the rest of the New Testament is the Word of Christ also. He told men what to write down so that as we grow and are able to understand we can read more of His words.

13. But when the Spirit of truth comes He will lead you into all truth. He will not speak His own words. He will speak only what He hears and will tell you what is to come .

The Holy Spirit can show you the real truth about a situation. He will also show you how to understand the last days.

14. The Spirit of truth will bring glory to Me. He will take what I have to say and tell it to you.

We see that the supply of God's power comes from His Spirit and not from us.
Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the LORD of hosts. Zechariah 4:6

15 – 19

All that the Father has is mine. That is why I said that the Spirit will take what I have to say and tell it to you.

After a little while you will not see Me. And then after a little while you will see Me again.

Some of the followers said to each other, “What does Jesus mean when He says, is ‘After a little while you will not see Me, and then after a little while you will see Me again'? And what does He mean when He says, ‘Because I am going to the Father'?”

They also asked, “What does He mean by ‘a little while'? We do not understand what He is saying.”

Jesus is saying, “You will see Me a few times after the cross and the resurrection.”

19 – 22

Jesus saw that the followers wanted to ask Him about this. So Jesus said to the followers, “Are you asking each other what I meant when I said, ‘After a little while you will not see Me. And then after a little while you will see Me again'?

I tell you the truth. You will cry and be sad, but the world will be happy. You will be sad, but your sadness will become joy.

When a woman gives birth to a baby, she has pain, because her time has come. But when her baby is born, she forgets the pain. She forgets because she is so happy that a child has been born into the world.

It is the same with you. Now you are sad. But I will see you again and you will be happy and no one will take away your joy.

You will cry when I am on the cross, but later you will be happy when you see what God has done through the cross. Just like a baby is a new life, you are going to have a new life in the Spirit.

23. In that day you will not ask Me for anything. I tell you the truth. My Father will give you anything you ask for in My name.

We pray to the Father in the name of Jesus. We do not have to beg Jesus or any church-proclaimed saint to hear our prayer because the Father sees us as covered by the blood of Jesus.

24. You have never asked for anything in My name. Ask and you will receive. And your joy will be the fullest joy.

The original language says, “Please ask.”

25. “I have told you these things, using words that hide the meaning. But the time will come when I will not use words like that to tell you things. I will speak to you in plain words about the Father.

And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” Jesus answered them, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted. I speak to them in parables; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.” Matthew 13:10 – 13

26 – 27

In that day you will ask the Father for things in My name. I will not need to ask the Father for you, because you can ask Him yourself!

The Father Himself loves you. He loves you because you have loved Me. And He loves you because you have believed that I came from God.

We do not have to beg the Father into hearing our prayers. He loves us and wants to hear our prayers.

And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God's own will. Romans 8:27

28 – 29

I came from the Father into the world. Now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.” Then the followers of Jesus said, “You are speaking clearly to us now. You are not using words that are hard to understand.

They think, as we sometimes do, that now they understand everything.

30 – 31

We can see now that you know all things. You can answer a person's question even before he asks it. This makes us believe that You came from God.” Jesus answered, “So now you believe?

They are saying, “We believe that You came from God“ but they still do not understand what He means about His death and resurrection. We can say, “Thank you Lord for the things you have shown me and I trust you for the things that I still do not understand.”

32. Listen to me. A time is coming when you will be scattered. Each of you will be scattered to your own home. That time is now here. You will leave Me. I will be alone. But I am never really alone. Why? Because the Father is with Me.

At that point, all the disciples deserted Him and fled. Matthew 26:56

Strike down the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered. Zechariah 13:7

33. I told you these things so that you can have peace in Me. In this world you will have trouble. But be brave! I have defeated the world!

Some teachers say that this means the church will go through the day of God's anger at the end of the world. the Bible says that God is not angry at us because our lives are covered by the blood of Jesus. There is a difference between the troubles of this world and the day of God's anger. 1 Thessalonians 5:9