John 16 (WEB)

John 16:1–4

Warning of persecution

“I have said these things to you so that you wouldn’t be caused to stumble. They will put you out of the synagogues. Yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers service to God. They will do these things because they have not known the Father nor me. But I have told you these things so that when the time comes, you may remember that I told you about them. I didn’t tell you these things from the beginning, because I was with you.

Jesus tells the disciples why he is warning them: so they will not fall away. They will be expelled from synagogues, and some will kill them thinking they are serving God. He says he did not speak of this earlier because he was with them.

What does this mean?

"Be offended" (KJV) means to be made to stumble or lose faith. "Doeth God service" (KJV) means offers worship or service to God.

Historical context

Expulsion from the synagogue appears also at 9:22 and 12:42. Paul's letters describe how he once persecuted followers of Jesus out of zeal for God (Galatians 1:13-14), an example of the kind of opposition described here. Many scholars think these verses reflect conflicts experienced by the community behind John's Gospel.

Why does it matter?

Jesus' foreknowledge is meant to steady the disciples: when trouble comes, they will remember that he warned them. These verses complete the thought begun in 15:18.

Editorial notes, not scripture.

John 16:5–15

The work of the Counselor

But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ But because I have told you these things, sorrow has filled your heart. Nevertheless I tell you the truth: It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I don’t go away, the Counselor won’t come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. When he has come, he will convict the world about sin, about righteousness, and about judgment; about sin, because they don’t believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to my Father, and you won’t see me any more; about judgment, because the prince of this world has been judged.

“I still have many things to tell you, but you can’t bear them now. However, when he, the Spirit of truth, has come, he will guide you into all truth, for he will not speak from himself; but whatever he hears, he will speak. He will declare to you things that are coming. He will glorify me, for he will take from what is mine and will declare it to you. All things that the Father has are mine; therefore I said that he takes of mine and will declare it to you.

Jesus tells the grieving disciples it is better for them that he goes away, because otherwise the Counselor will not come. The Spirit will expose the world's errors about sin, righteousness and judgment, will guide the disciples into all truth, and will glorify Jesus by making his teaching known to them.

What does this mean?

"Reprove" (KJV) or "convict" (WEB) means to expose, prove wrong, or bring to light, as a prosecutor does. "Expedient" (KJV) means to your advantage. "The prince of this world" means Satan.

Historical context

The Spirit is again described in legal terms, like an advocate or prosecutor, continuing the courtroom language that runs through John's Gospel.

Why does it matter?

The promise that the Spirit would "guide you into all truth" and remind the disciples of Jesus' words has been important for Christian understanding of how Jesus' teaching was preserved and interpreted. It also explains why the Gospel can say that some things were understood only after the resurrection (2:22, 12:16).

Editorial notes, not scripture.

John 16:16–24

Sorrow turned to joy

“A little while, and you will not see me. Again a little while, and you will see me.”

Some of his disciples therefore said to one another, “What is this that he says to us, ‘A little while, and you won’t see me, and again a little while, and you will see me;’ and, ‘Because I go to the Father’?” They said therefore, “What is this that he says, ‘A little while’? We don’t know what he is saying.”

Therefore Jesus perceived that they wanted to ask him, and he said to them, “Do you inquire among yourselves concerning this, that I said, ‘A little while, and you won’t see me, and again a little while, and you will see me’? Most certainly I tell you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy. A woman, when she gives birth, has sorrow because her time has come. But when she has delivered the child, she doesn’t remember the anguish any more, for the joy that a human being is born into the world. Therefore you now have sorrow, but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.

“In that day you will ask me no questions. Most certainly I tell you, whatever you may ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now, you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be made full.

Jesus says that in "a little while" they will not see him, and then in a little while they will see him again. The puzzled disciples discuss what he means. Jesus compares their coming grief to a woman in labour, whose pain gives way to joy at the birth, and promises that no one will take their joy away.

What does this mean?

"A little while" is repeated seven times in these verses, emphasising both the disciples' confusion and the nearness of what is coming. To ask "in my name" means to ask as his followers, on his authority.

Historical context

The image of childbirth pains is used by the Old Testament prophets for times of distress that lead to new life, as in Isaiah 26:17-19 and 66:7-14.

Why does it matter?

The "little while" most naturally points to Jesus' death and his appearances after the resurrection, though some interpreters also see a reference to his final return. The disciples' joy at seeing him is fulfilled in 20:20.

Editorial notes, not scripture.

John 16:25–33

"I have overcome the world"

“I have spoken these things to you in figures of speech. But the time is coming when I will no more speak to you in figures of speech, but will tell you plainly about the Father. In that day you will ask in my name; and I don’t say to you that I will pray to the Father for you, for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me, and have believed that I came from God. I came from the Father and have come into the world. Again, I leave the world and go to the Father.”

His disciples said to him, “Behold, now you are speaking plainly, and using no figures of speech. Now we know that you know all things, and don’t need for anyone to question you. By this we believe that you came from God.”

Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? Behold, the time is coming, yes, and has now come, that you will be scattered, everyone to his own place, and you will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. I have told you these things, that in me you may have peace. In the world you have trouble; but cheer up! I have overcome the world.”

Jesus says that he has spoken in figures of speech but will soon speak plainly, and that having come from the Father he is now returning to him. The disciples say that now they understand and believe, but Jesus warns that they will soon scatter and leave him alone. He ends with encouragement: in the world they will have trouble, but he has overcome the world.

What does this mean?

"Proverbs" (KJV) or "figures of speech" (WEB) means veiled sayings. "Tribulation" (KJV) means trouble, distress or persecution. "Be of good cheer" means take courage.

Historical context

The prediction that the disciples will scatter matches the other Gospels' accounts of their flight at Jesus' arrest.

Why does it matter?

The disciples' confidence is premature, a pattern seen with Peter in 13:37. Jesus' closing words speak of victory before the crucifixion has even happened, which fits John's presentation of the cross as Jesus' moment of glory rather than defeat. This ends the teaching part of the Farewell Discourse.

Editorial notes, not scripture.