- PREPARATION FOR THE FUTURE (JOHN 16). The thoughts from Chapter s 14-15 continue into chapter 16. But here it is Jesus Himself Who will send the Helper (the Holy Spirit) to them (John 16:7), whilst the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, will Himself glorify not God but Jesus (John 16:13), for He w... [ Continue Reading ]
“These things have I spoken to you that you should not be made to stumble. They will put you out of synagogues. Yes, the hour comes that whoever kills you will think that he offers service to God. And these things will they do because they have not known the Father, nor me.” ‘These things have I spo... [ Continue Reading ]
WARNINGS OF COMING PERSECUTION (JOHN 16:1). These verses continue the theme of John 15:20. There He had spoken of coming persecution so that when it came they would not be caused to stumble, but would recognise that even this was of God. Now He spells out that persecution in more detail. “But thes... [ Continue Reading ]
“And these things I did not say to you from the beginning because I was with you, but now I am going to him who sent me. And none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?' But because I have spoken these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart.” Jesus recognises that His disciples are perplexed. In... [ Continue Reading ]
THE COMING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (JOHN 16:4).... [ Continue Reading ]
“Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is expedient for you that I go away. For if I do not go away, the Paraclete will not come to you. But if I go I will send him to you.” So now He will show them where He is going. He is going to the place from where He can send the Holy Spirit to them. And He p... [ Continue Reading ]
“And he, when he is come, will convict the world in respect of sin, and of righteousness and of judgment. Of sin because they believe not on me. Of righteousness because I am going to the Father and you see me no more. Of judgment because the prince of this world has been judged.” ‘When He is come.... [ Continue Reading ]
“I have yet many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.” Jesus is fully aware how baffled and battered, apprehensive and helpless the disciples are feeling. They cannot cope in their present condition with what He wants to tell them. But that is one reason why the Paraclete is coming.... [ Continue Reading ]
“However, when he the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all the truth. For he will not speak from himself, but whatever things he will hear that will he speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take of mine and will declare it to yo... [ Continue Reading ]
WARNING AND ASSURANCE FOR THE FUTURE (JOHN 16:16). As the time for them to go to Gethsemane approaches Jesus now begins to prepare them for what is to happen there. They are to recognise that what is to happen there will in fact be truly of God, and that through what will happen in that Garden will... [ Continue Reading ]
“A little while and you see me no more, and again a little while and you will see me.” The meaning of this verse is amplified in the following verses. He is departing from them and in human terms they will not see Him again after the following day. But shortly afterwards they will see Him for He wi... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Some of his disciples therefore said to one another, “What is this that he says to us? ‘A little while and you see me not, and again a little while and you will see me'. And ‘because I go to my Father'?” They said therefore, “What is this that he says, ‘a little while'. We do not know what he is ta... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Jesus perceived that they wished to ask him, and he said to them, “Do you ask among yourselves about this, that I said ‘a little while and you do not see me, and again a little while and you shall see me'? In very truth I tell you that you will weep and lament but the world will rejoice. You will b... [ Continue Reading ]
“And in that day you will ask me nothing. In very truth I tell you, if you will ask anything of the Father he will give it to you in my name. Hitherto you have asked nothing in my name. Ask and you will receive that your joy may be fulfilled ” ‘In that day you will ask me nothing.' This is still in... [ Continue Reading ]
“Hitherto you have asked nothing in my name, ask and you will receive that your joy may be fulfilled.” Up to this point they have not needed to ask. The Great Provider has been with them and they could look to Him. But now He was going. However, this does not mean that the heavenly supplies will dr... [ Continue Reading ]
“I have spoken these things to you in parables. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in parables, but will tell you plainly of the Father.” By ‘parables' or ‘sayings with a hidden meaning', Jesus is necessarily referring to what He has been revealing to them, for until He has been... [ Continue Reading ]
“In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will pray the Father for you, for the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came forth from the Father.” This verse for ever puts to an end the claim that we need Mary or the saints to pray fo... [ Continue Reading ]
“I came out from the Father and am come into the world. Again I leave the world and go to the Father.” Jesus reiterates what He has said again and again, but this time it will strike home with more force. Firstly that He has come from the Father into the world (sent by the Father), having left behin... [ Continue Reading ]
“His disciples say, ‘Lo, you now speak plainly and do not speak in mysterious words. Now we know that you know all things and do not need that any man should ask you. By this we believe that you came forth from God'.” The disciples now accept as wholeheartedly as they can that He has come into the... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? behold the hour is coming, yes it is here, that you will be scattered every man to his own and will leave me alone. And yet I am not alone because the Father is with me.” Jesus calms their enthusiasm by facing them up with the truth. He is not rebuking the... [ Continue Reading ]
“These things I have spoken to you so that in me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation. But be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” His purpose in all that He has said is so that in the end they will have peace. As they think back and remember all He said and all that has happ... [ Continue Reading ]