John Chapter 16

Further Solemn Instruction

          ¹ “I’ve told you that, so you won’t get caught off guard. ² They’ll excommunicate you from the synagogues, but—more than that—the time’s coming when anybody that kills you will think they’re serving God. ³ That’s because they don’t know the Father or me. ⁴ So when it happens, remember that I told you it would.

“I didn’t tell you those things at first because I was with you. ⁵ But now I’m going to the One that sent me, and you don’t need to ask where I’m going. ⁶ Because I’ve told you that, you feel sad. ⁷ But it’s to your benefit that I go away because the Helper wouldn’t be coming to you. If I go, I’ll send him. ⁸ When he comes, he’ll convict the world of sin and goodness and judgment— ⁹ of sin because they don’t believe in me; ¹⁰ of goodness because I’m going to the Father and you won’t see me anymore; ¹¹ and of judgment because the ruler of this world has been judged.                                                     

Jn 16:1-11

          ¹² “I still have so much to tell you, but you can’t deal with it now. ¹³ But when the truth-revealing Spirit comes, he’ll lead you in all truth. He won’t speak on his own; he’ll tell you what he’s heard and what’s going to happen. ¹⁴ He’ll honor me because he’ll take from me and tell you. ¹⁵ Everything the Father has is mine. That’s why I’ve said the Spirit will take from me and tell you.

          ¹⁶ “In a little while you won’t see me; and a little while after that you’ll see me again.”

            ¹⁷ Some disciples said to one another, “What’s this, ‘In a little while you won’t see me; in a little while you’ll see me again’; and ‘because I’m going to the Father’? ¹⁸ What’s this ‘little while’ mean? We don’t understand it.”

¹⁹ Jesus knew they wanted to ask him,

“Are you talking about what I said, ‘In a little while, you won’t see me; in a little while, you’ll see me again’? ²⁰ You’ll mourn, but the world will be happy. You’ll grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. ²¹ When a woman’s in labor, she has grief; but when she has the child, she doesn’t think about the anguish anymore because of the joy of bringing a person into the world. ²² You’ll^p grieve now, but I’ll see you again, and you’ll be happy. Nobody will take^p your happiness away. ²³ At that time you won’t be asking me for anything. Whatever you ask the Father for in my name now he’ll give you. ²⁴ Up till now you haven’t asked for anything in my name. Ask and you’ll receive so you’ll be completely happy.

Jn 16:12-24

            ²⁵ “I’ve been using illustrations. The time’s coming when I’ll speak plainly about the Father. ²⁶ Then you’ll ask in my name; and, rest assured, I’ll ask the Father for you. ²⁷ The Father himself loves you because you love me and believe I came from him. ²⁸ I did come from him to the world. Again, I’m leaving the world and going back to him.”

            ²⁹ The disciples said^p, “Now you’re speaking clearly. ³⁰ Now we know that you know everything and don’t need anybody to ask you. That’s why we believe you’ve come from God.”

³¹ Jesus responded, “Do you? ³² The time’s coming—it’s almost here—when you’ll all scatter and leave me alone. But I’m not alone, because the Father’s with me. ³³ I’ve told you these things so you’ll have peace. In the world you have trouble, but take heart, I’ve overcome the world.”                                                                                                                                           

Jn 16:25-33