John 16 - Teaching His Disciples Future Events
Joh 16:1 These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended. Jesus was giving a warning and encouragement to the disciples of things to come, and not to abandon their faith. (Matthew 13:21, 13:57, 24:10, 26:31-33).
Joh 16:2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. You will be expelled from the synagogues, and the time is coming when those who kill you will think they are doing a service to God. (Matthew 10:28, Matthew 24:9). Many will be tortured, killed, and hated all over the world because of what true Christians believe and stand for. (Many will be delivered up before the antichrist). Many will be betrayed and delivered up by their own family and friends. (However, keep in mind that only God can destroy your soul).
Joh 16:3 And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me. They do these things to you because they have never known Me or the Father. (John 15:21, John 17:25, 1 Corinthians 2:8). The world in general does not know the the truth, and who do the rulers of this world follow? Satan! "He is the main ruler of this world."
Joh 16:4 But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you. Jesus was telling the disciples these things so that when they happened they would remember His warning and be prepared. The world in general will not be prepared. (2 Thessalonians 2:10-12). He will completely fool those who refused the truth of the Word that they might be saved. Those who follow Satan will perish. Once saved always saved? I don't think so! Want to lose your salvation? Just keep following the ways of the devil, never repenting of your sins. If you want to be ignorant of God's Word and follow lies, deception, and traditions of men; God will send you strong delusion to believe those lies. He will close your eyes to the truth. (Isaiah 29:10). Look at how people are so comfortable with false teachings and traditions of men. Comfortable with their spirit of slumber.
Joh 16:5 But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou? Christ was telling the disciples He was going to the One who sent Him, but not one of them asked where He was going. (They did not grasp the expediency of His going). So, questioning had given place to sorrow. All else was excluded by the distress caused by "the things" foretold.
Joh 16:6 But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart. Instead you grieve because of what I have told you.
Joh 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. Jesus is telling them that in fact; it is best for them that He goes away, because if He didn't, the "Holy Spirit" would not come as promised. (John 14:16-17, 14:26, 15:26).
Joh 16:8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: When the "Holy Spirit" comes, He will convict the world of it's sin, and God's righteousness, and the coming judgment. (1 Corinthians 14:24, Jude 1:15). Judgment day for the ungodly people of the world. (Matthew 12:31-37, Revelation 13:5-6, 13:11). For those who are deceived and follow the antichrist. (Those who receive the beast mark).
Joh 16:9 Of sin, because they believe not on me; What is the worlds sin? It refuses to believe the truth of the Word. The mission of the Holy Spirit was to bring the world in guilty, in regard to three things. Sin: In God's sight sin is refusal to believe the Gospel concerning His Son. (1 John 5:10). The Jews regarded only moral offences (as men do today) and infractions of the ceremonial law and tradition of the elders (Matthew 15:2) as sin. You either believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God or you don't. If you don't, you are calling God a liar. Jesus Christ is written of in the Old Testament and spoken of by the prophets. The crucifixion written by the prophets 1,000 years before it took place. The second is righteousness: Here also God's standard and man's differ. The Jews regarded the punctilious Pharisee (Luke 18:11-12) as ideal. The only righteous One, whose standard was the will of God (John 8:29, Hebrews 10:7), was rejected and crucified. In righteousness He was removed from the earth; the seal of the Father's approval being put upon Him by resurrection. In Him Who is made unto righteousness (1 Corinthians 1:30). The divine standard is revealed (Romans 1:17). The third is Judgment: For the prince of this world has been already judged (John 16:11), and sentenced soon to be executed. (Romans 16:20). Our God of peace will soon crush Satan under our feet. (Malachi 4:3, Luke 10:19).
Joh 16:10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Jesus is saying that righteousness is now available, because I go to the Father. (2 Corinthians 5:21, Galatians 5:5). Christ knew no sin, but He was the offering for our sins. (So that we could be made right with God through Christ). As Christians, with the help of the "Holy Spirit," we are counting on Christ's death to clear our sin and make us right with God. We are saved by hope. (Romans 8:24).
Joh 16:11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. Judgment will come because the ruler of this world (Satan), has already been judged. (Ezekiel 28:18-19). Satan has already been sentenced to death.
Joh 16:12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Christ is telling the disciples that their is much more that He would like to tell them, but they could not bear it now. i.e. "they could not handle the truth at this time."
Joh 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. When the "Spirit of truth comes" (the Holy Spirit), He will guide you into all truth. Our guide into the future. (1 John 2:27). When you dwell in the light which is Christ, the Holy Spirit will teach you all things when it comes to discerning truth. Don't listen to any man or woman who is contrary to God's Word. Also referring to (Acts 2:17-18). The "Holy Spirit" will speak through men and women in the last days. What did Joel say? (Joel 2:28-32). Christ would speak of this same thing Himself when we are delivered up before the antichrist. (Luke 12:10-12).
Joh 16:14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. The "Holy Spirit" will bring Me glory by telling you whatever He receives from Me. (1 John 5:20). "The one true God."
Joh 16:15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you. All that belongs to the Father is Mine; this is why I said, "The Spirit will tell you whatever He receives from Me." (Matthew 11:27, Matthew 28:18, Luke 10:22). The Heavenly Father has entrusted everything to Him. No one truly knows the Son except the Father, and no one truly knows the Father except the Son, and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him.
Joh 16:16 A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father. Jesus tells the disciples that in a little while they won't see Him anymore. But, a while after that they will see Him again. We are at the night before Jesus' death, and He is going to give the disciples some last instructions.
Joh 16:17 Then said some of his disciples among themselves, What is this that he saith unto us, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me: and, Because I go to the Father? The disciples were a little baffled with the words Jesus spoke about His leaving and then returning.
Joh 16:18 They said therefore, What is this that he saith, A little while? we cannot tell what he saith. They were hung up on "a little while," because they didn't understand what He meant.
Joh 16:19 Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him, and said unto them, Do ye enquire among yourselves of that I said, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me? Jesus realized they were still confused and wanted to ask Him about it, so He tells them the same thing again, first with a question. "Are you asking yourselves what I meant?" "Then the answer." I said in a while you won't see Me, but "a little while after," you will see Me again.
Joh 16:20 Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. Here comes another truth. Jesus tells the disciples that they will weep and mourn over His death, but the world in general will rejoice. He goes on to tell the disciples that first they will grieve, but then suddenly their grief will turn to Joy. This word "Joy" is "chara" Strong's #G5479 meaning cheerfulness, calm delight, gladness, full, or fullness. "A deep feeling down inside your soul." You may not feel happy, or your life may be miserable at times, but there is this unexplainable feeling deep down inside that you can still have joy in the Lord. I call it a bubbling in the Spirit. The "Holy Spirit," that brings joy to us because we know Jesus is with us at all times through the Spirit. (1 Thessalonians 1:6, James 1:2, 1 Peter 1:6-8). Be glad because there is a great reward and joy ahead even if you suffer trials for a little while. As a Christian you are going to have many temptations that will come your way. Use your sanctification and power of the spirit to help you through.
Joh 16:21 A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. Jesus explains that it will be like a woman suffering the pains of labor. When her child is born, her anguish gives way to joy because she has brought a new baby into the world. i.e. The death of Jesus would bring pain and sorrow to the disciples, but after the resurrection they saw that His death was necessary to pay for their sins. His death would become a source of joy to them. Also referring to the birth of the new Israel, the nation of (Isaiah 66:8 and Matthew 21:43).
Joh 16:22 And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you. You may have sorrow now Jesus is telling the disciples, but you will see Me again. Then you will rejoice, and no one can rob you of that joy. "This is a special joy." (Hebrews 10:34). You suffered with those who were put into jail, and when you lost all that you owned you accepted it with joy. "You knew that better things were coming."
Joh 16:23 And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. Jesus is telling the disciples "in that day." what day? The day when Jesus returns to the Father and will no longer be with them in the flesh. He tells them another truth; You will ask the Father directly, "in Jesus name," and He will grant your request, because you use My name. (Isaiah 65:24, John 14:13-14, 15:7, 15:16, Matthew 7:7). "Ask anything in accordance with Gods will and it will be yours."
Joh 16:24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. You have never done this before Jesus is telling the disciples. So, ask in My name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy. This word "full" is "pleroo" Strong's #G4137 meaning complete, full, perfect. You will be filled with the same joy as Christ. (John 15:11). An overflowing perfect joy.
Joh 16:25 These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father. I have told you these matters in figures of speech (proverbs and illustrations), but the time is comes when I will stop speaking figuratively and will tell you plainly all about the Father. i.e. Jesus realizes that the disciples didn't grasp all the things He had been telling them, but down the road, things will get much clearer. Remember what Christ said to the disciples in (John 16:12), that they could not bear it now. Now, the "Holy Spirit" will make things much clearer. (The Holy Spirit is like a universal translator of truth).
Joh 16:26 At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you: Jesus is not saying that He won't pray for us to the Father. (Hebrews 7:25). Jesus lives forever to intercede with God on our behalf. (Romans 8:34, 1 Timothy 2:5, 1 John 2:1-2, Revelation 8:3-4). However, Jesus does not need to relay our prayers to God, the Heavenly Father hears us Himself.
Joh 16:27 For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God. The Father loves you because you love Me, and you believe I came form God. (John 3:13, 7:29, 1 Corinthians 15:47, Galatians 4:4).
Joh 16:28 I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father. I came from the Father into the world, now I will leave the world and return to the Father. This was a like a summary of what Christ did for us. He came form Heaven to earth in human flesh; He would die on the cross for our sins by defeating death, then He would rise from the dead and return back to heaven from which He came.
Joh 16:29 His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb. Now it seems that the disciples get it.
Joh 16:30 Now are we sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou camest forth from God. Now the disciples understood that Jesus knew all things and that their was no further need to question Him. "From this, they believed that He came from God." (Divine intervention from the Holy Spirit). Their minds were no longer clouded with doubt.
Joh 16:31 Jesus answered them, Do ye now believe? Jesus asked the disciples, "Do you finally believe?"
Joh 16:32 Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. Now Jesus lays something else on the disciples that they probably didn't want to hear. "The time is coming and is here now when all of you will be scattered, going your own ways, leaving Me alone." Jesus goes on to say; yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. (Zechariah 13:7, Matthew 26:31, 26:56, Mark 14:27).
Joh 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. Jesus tells the disciples (as well as us), "I have told you all this so that you will have peace in Me." (Peace of mind). Jesus goes on to say that here on earth we will have many trials and sorrows. But not to worry, because He has overcome the world. We can have victory over the world because of Christ. (Romans 8:37, Galatians 1:4, 6:14, 1 John 4:4, 5:4). God is greater than the world, Satan, or any evil teachers in this wicked world. (Hebrews 2:14). We are to be over-comers in the world, defeating sin by trusting in Christ to help us. That is what faith is, and without it, it is impossible to please God.
Keep the faith,
Barton
