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John

Chapter 16

Summary

The Spirit of Truth and the Joy of the Kingdom — In John Chapter 16, Jesus speaks plainly about the difficulties the disciples will face after His departure, including social exclusion and persecution. However, He reveals that His leaving is actually for their benefit, as it precedes the coming of the Holy Spirit. Jesus details the Spirit’s threefold work: convicting the world of sin, righteousness, and judgement, and guiding the disciples into "all truth." The chapter uses the metaphor of pregnancy and childbirth to illustrate how their current sorrow will soon be transformed into an everlasting joy that no one can take from them. It concludes with one of the most encouraging promises in Scripture: "In the world you have tribulation; but take courage, I have overcome the world."

1

"These things I have spoken to you, that you should not be made to stumble."

2

"They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the hour is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service."

3

"And these things they will do to you because they have not known the Father nor Me."

4

"But these things I have told you, that when the hour comes, you may remember that I told you of them. And these things I did not say to you at the beginning, because I was with you."

5

"But now I go away to Him who sent Me, and none of you asks Me, 'Where are You going?'"

6

"But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart."

7

"Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you."

8

"And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgement:"

9

"of sin, because they do not believe in Me;"

10

"of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more;"

11

"of judgement, because the ruler of this world is judged."

12

"I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now."

13

"However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come."

14

"He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you."

15

"All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you."

16

"A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me, because I go to the Father."

17

Then some of His disciples said among themselves, "What is this that He says to us, 'A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me'; and, 'because I go to the Father'?"

18

They said therefore, "What is this that He says, 'A little while'? We do not know what He is saying."

19

Now Jesus knew that they desired to ask Him, and He said to them, "Are you inquiring among yourselves about this, that I said, 'A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me'?"

20

"Most certainly, I tell you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy."

21

"A woman, when she is in labour, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world."

22

"Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you."

23

"And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most certainly, I tell you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you."

24

"Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full."

25

"These things I have spoken to you in figurative language; but the hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language, but I will tell you plainly about the Father."

26

"In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you;"

27

"for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God."

28

"I came forth from the Father and have come into the world. Again, I leave the world and go to the Father."

29

His disciples said to Him, "See, now You are speaking plainly, and using no figure of speech!"

30

"Now we are sure that You know all things, and have no need that anyone should question You. By this we believe that You came forth from God."

31

Jesus answered them, "Do you now believe?"

32

"Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me."

33

"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation; but take courage, I have overcome the world."