John
Chapter 16
Overview
Jesus continues preparing his disciples for his departure, and he does not hide how hard the road will be. They may be expelled from their synagogues and even killed by people convinced they are serving God. Yet Jesus promises that his leaving will make way for the Helper, the Spirit who will guide them into truth. The disciples puzzle over his talk of “a little while,” so he compares their coming grief and joy to childbirth. The chapter closes with prayer, love, scattering, and a steady kind of peace in the middle of trouble.
1Jesus continued, “I have told you these things so that you will not lose your trust in me.
2They will expel you from the synagogues, where Jewish communities gather to worship. In fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think they are offering service to God.
3They will do these things because they have not known the Father or me.
4But I have told you this so that, when the time for these things comes, you will remember that I warned you about them. I did not tell you this at the beginning because I was with you.
5Now I am going to the one who sent me, yet none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’
6Instead, because I have told you these things, sadness has filled your hearts.
7But I am telling you the truth: it is better for you that I leave. If I do not leave, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.
8When the Helper comes, he will show the world that it is wrong about wrongdoing, about what is right, and about judgment.
9The world is wrong about wrongdoing because people do not believe in me.
10It is wrong about what is right because I am going to the Father, and you will no longer see me.
11It is wrong about judgment because the ruler of this world has already been judged.
12I still have many things to tell you, but you cannot bear them now.
13But when he comes—the Spirit who reveals truth—he will guide you in all the truth. He will not speak on his own. He will say what he hears, and he will tell you what is going to happen.
14He will bring honor to me because he will receive what is mine and tell it to you.
15Everything the Father has is mine. That is why I said that the Spirit receives what is mine and tells it to you.
16In a little while you will no longer see me. Then, after another little while, you will see me.”
17Some of Jesus’ disciples asked one another, “What does he mean by saying, ‘In a little while you will not see me, and after another little while you will see me’? And what does he mean by saying, ‘Because I am going to the Father’?”
18They kept asking, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We do not understand what he is saying.”
19Jesus knew that they wanted to question him, so he said, “Are you discussing with one another what I meant when I said, ‘In a little while you will not see me, and after another little while you will see me’?
20I tell you with complete certainty: you will weep and mourn, while the world will be glad. You will be sad, but your sadness will turn into joy.
21When a woman is giving birth, she is in pain because her time has come. But after the child is born, she no longer thinks about the suffering because she is so glad that a human being has been born into the world.
22In the same way, you are sad now. But I will see you again, and your hearts will be filled with joy. No one will take that joy away from you.
23On that day you will not need to question me about anything. I tell you with complete certainty: whatever you ask the Father, he will give you in my name.
24Until now, you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask, and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.
25I have told you these things using figures of speech. A time is coming when I will no longer speak to you that way. Instead, I will tell you plainly about the Father.
26On that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will have to ask the Father on your behalf,
27because the Father himself loves you. He loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.
28I came from the Father and entered the world. Now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.”
29Jesus’ disciples said, “Now you are speaking plainly and are not using any figure of speech.
30Now we know that you know everything. You do not need anyone to question you. Because of this, we believe that you came from God.”
31Jesus answered them, “Do you believe now?
32Look, a time is coming—and has already come—when you will be scattered, each going their own way, and you will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.
33I have told you these things so that you may find peace in me. In the world you face suffering, but take courage: I have overcome the world.”