After the triumphal entry into Jerusalem, Jesus turns to a more private setting with his disciples and prepares them for what is ahead. God’s plan was not what might have been in their minds. Jesus talks to them about betrayal and denial and separation and says in John 16:2 “They will expel you from the synagogue … everyone who kills you will think they are offering service to God”. This transition that was coming, Jesus death and resurrection followed by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, was beyond anything that has ever happened and they responded in John 16:18 “We do not understand what he is speaking about!” Jesus opened the way so we could stand as sons and daughters and as he said in John 16:23–24 And on that day you will ask me nothing. Truly, truly I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give you”. And it was from that Pentecost day that the disciples began to walk in power.
The World Hates You
That You Will Not Fall Away
John 16:1–4
Jesus has just told his disciples that the world hates them, just as it hates him. This is just a few days after Jesus had gone to Bethany where “Before the triumphal entry Jesus was staying at the house of Lazarus (John 12:1–2), whom He had previously raised from the dead (John 11:38–44) … the Lazarus miracle had attracted the crowds (John 12:9, 17–18) … the decisive “sign” … to acclaim Jesus as the King of Israel while He approached and entered Jerusalem … (John 12:18)”1 and as Jesus entered the city they, in
John 12:13 “took the branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, and began crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord, even the king of Israel!”
After their supper together, Jesus has washed their feet, and spoken of betrayal. He commanded them to love one another and then spoke to Peter about his denial. He promises the Holy Spirit and tells them to remain in the vine and bear much fruit, saying again in
John 15:17 These things I command you: that you love one another.
How strange it must have seemed to them to hear him talk of the world hating them and in
John 16:2 They will expel you from the synagogue, but an hour is coming that everyone who kills you will think they are offering service to God.
and this did happen as Saul persecuted the Church, the disciples, before his conversion. Now, Jesus says in
John 16:1 “I have said these things to you so that you will not fall away”.
There are times when we are vulnerable and until now, Jesus had been with them. He was able to calm the storm and encourage their faith as in
Mark 4:39–40 And he woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Be quiet! Be silent!” And the wind abated and there was a great calm. 40 And he said to them, “Why are you fearful? Do you not yet have faith?”
but now, they would be at their most vulnerable, on their own as they go through this transition until the Holy Spirit comes.
When He The Spirit of Truth Comes
John 16:5–15
Jesus has told them they will be hated by the world, thrown out of the Synagogues and “now I am going away” in John 16:5 so it isn’t any wonder that from triumph, now he says “sorrow has filled your hearts” in John 16:6. But his going away isn’t the end, in fact, Jesus says “it is better for you” in
John 16:7 But I tell you the truth, it is better for you that I go away. For if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.
Jesus goes on in John 16:8-10 telling them about sin and righteousness and judgment and “going away to the Father” and says “the ruler of this world has been condemned”. Then, as their heads must have been spinning trying to understand, he says in
John 16:12 I still have many things to say to you, but you are not able to bear them now.
and even as Jesus rose from the dead and appeared to them, it took time and in
Luke 24:45 Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures,
It wasn’t though, until the outpouring of the Holy Spirit that we begin to see the apostles moving with power, as Jesus had told them, “he will guide you” in
John 16:13 But when he—the Spirit of truth—comes, he will guide you into all the truth. For he will not speak from himself, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will proclaim to you the things to come.
Whatever You Ask The Father in My Name
John 16:16–24
As the disciples are processing this message, and they have understood that Jesus is going away, he has mentioned this coming of the Holy Spirit and now says in
John 16:16 “A little while and you will see me no more, and again a little while and you will see me.
There is something beyond this separation but it was too hard for them and in
John 16:18 So they kept on saying, “What is this that he is saying, ‘A little while’? We do not understand what he is speaking about!”
There was a transition happening unlike anything that has ever happened and Jesus can only describe it to them as being like the pain of childbirth in John 16:21. They will have pain, but after that, everything will be different in
John 16:23–24 And on that day you will ask me nothing. Truly, truly I say to 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, so that your joy may be complete.
As long as Jesus has been with them, they have come to him as leader, teacher, healer, provider and he would pray to the Father as in
John 11:41–42 So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes above and said, “Father, I give thanks to you that you hear me. 42 And I know that you always hear me, but for the sake of the crowd standing around I said it, so that they may believe that you sent me.”
Now he says to them, “whatever you ask the father in my name … you will receive”.
I Have Conquered the World
John 16:25–33
This is Life Eternal
John 17:1–5
The Men Whom You Gave Me Out of the World
John 17:6–19
Study Verses
- John 16:1–4 That You Will Not Fall Away
- John 16:5–15 When He The Spirit of Truth Comes
- John 16:16–24 Whatever You Ask The Father in My Name
Today’s Reading
- John 15:18-27
- John 16:1-33
- John 17:1-19
References
- 1. Markley, J. R. (2016). Triumphal Entry. In J. D. Barry, D. Bomar, D. R. Brown, R. Klippenstein, D. Mangum, C. Sinclair Wolcott, … W. Widder (Eds.), The Lexham Bible Dictionary. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.