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John 16: Work of the Holy Spirit
In times of persecution, what are the best patterns of behavior?
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John 16:1–4 “I tell you these things so your faith will not be shaken. People will put you out of their synagogues. In fact, there will be a time when they will kill you and think they have pleased God. They will do those things because they do not know the Father or me. I am telling you this now so when the time comes, you will remember what I said and not be alarmed. I did not tell you earlier, because I was going to be with you for a while.”
King James
John 16:1–4 These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended. They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me. But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you.
How did the disciples feel about Jesus leaving?
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John 16:5–6 “Now that I am going to the one who sent me, none of you have said, ‘Where are you going?’ That is because you are filled with grief over what I have said.”
King James
John 16:5–6 But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou? But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart.
Might the disciples have felt differently if they had understood more about the plan? Why?
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John 16:7–8 “Even so, I tell you the truth. I must go, or the Guide will not come. But if I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will reveal to the world the truth about sin, righteousness, and judgment.”
King James
John 16:7–8 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
What did Jesus say the Holy Spirit would reveal to the world? What effect does this revelation have?
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John 16:8–11 “When he comes, he will reveal to the world the truth about sin, righteousness, and judgment. About sin because they do not believe in me. About righteousness because I go to my Father and you no longer see me. About judgment because the prince of this world is condemned.”
King James
John 16:8–11 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
After three years following Jesus, what information was beyond what the disciples could handle at that time? When might they have been in a better position to accept the truth they hadn’t heard?
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John 16:12–13 “I have much more to tell you, but you cannot handle it right now. But when the Spirit of Truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own authority but will say only what he hears. He will reveal to you things to come.”
King James
John 16:12–13 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
By what means does the Holy Spirit hear Jesus’ words and reveal them?
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John 16:14–15 “He will glorify me by hearing my words and revealing them to you. All that belongs to the Father belongs to me. That is why I can say he will receive my message and deliver it to you.”
King James
John 16:14–15 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
What did the disciples understand about Jesus’ departure? What did they not understand?
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John 16:16–18 “Soon, you will not see me anymore, but soon after that, you will see me again.”
Some of the disciples said to one another, “What does he mean, ‘Soon, you will not see me anymore, but soon after that, you will see me again’ and ‘I go to my Father’? What does he mean by ‘soon’? What is he talking about?”
King James
John 16:16–18 A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father. Then said some of his disciples among themselves, What is this that he saith unto us, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me: and, Because I go to the Father? They said therefore, What is this that he saith, A little while? We cannot tell what he saith.
How did Jesus comfort his disciples concerning what they could not understand?
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John 16:19–23 Jesus saw that they had questions they wanted to ask. “Are you asking one another what I meant when I said, ‘Soon, you will not see me anymore, but soon after that, you will see me again’? Certainly, you will cry and mourn, but the world will rejoice. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. A woman who is about to give birth is in great pain when the moment comes. But afterward, she forgets the pain because of the joy that a child has been born. Right now, you have sorrow. But when I see you again, you will rejoice, and no one will be able to take that joy away. Then you will have no questions. I assure you, whatever you ask the Father under my direction and authority, he will give you.”
King James
John 16:19–23 Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him, and said unto them, Do ye enquire among yourselves of that I said, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me? Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you. And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.
If the disciples had been sent to “heal the sick, cast our evil spirits, and raise the dead, how could they not have asked anything under Jesus’ direction and authority?
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Matthew 10:8 “Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, cast out evil spirits, and raise the dead. Give as freely as you have received.”
John 16:24 “Before now, you have not asked anything under my authority. If you ask, you will receive and experience fullness of joy.”
King James
Matthew 10:8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
John 16:24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
What reasons did Jesus have for speaking figuratively and not plainly?
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John 16:25 “I have spoken to you figuratively, but the time will come when I will speak to you plainly about the Father.”
King James
John 16:25 These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father.
If Jesus is the one mediator between God and man, why would he not need to speak on our behalf?
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John 16:26–27 “At that time, you can ask the Father under my authority, and I will not need to speak to him on your behalf, for the Father himself loves you, because you love me and believe I came from God.”
Galatians 3:20–22 A mediator helps more than one party reach an agreement, but God used no mediator in making his promise to Abraham. Does the Law then work against God’s promise? Definitely not. But the Law was not sufficient. Obeying it could not make us right with God and give us life. Scripture leaves no doubt that we are all, by nature, sinful creatures. Therefore, our only means to receive God’s promise is through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Timothy 2:5 We have only one God and one mediator who can restore our relationship with him, the man Christ Jesus,
King James
John 16:26–27 At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you: For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.
Galatians 3:20–22 Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one. Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
When Jesus said, “From the Father I entered the world, and I must go back to him,” why did the disciples say he was now speaking “plainly”?
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John 16:28–30 “I came from the Father and entered the world. Now I must leave the world and go to the Father.”
“Now you are speaking plainly,” the disciples said, “without the confusing figures of speech. We can see that you know all things, and we do not have to ask more questions to know that you came from God.”
King James
John 16:28–30 I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father. His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb. Now are we sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou camest forth from God.
How did the disciples belief at this time differ from what Jesus knew was true?
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John 16:31–32 “Do you believe now? Listen, the time is coming—in fact, it is already here—when you will scatter to your own homes and abandon me. Yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.”
King James
John 16:31–32 Jesus answered them, Do ye now believe? Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.
Since Jesus was crucified by the world, how can we say he overcame the world?
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John 16:33 “I have told you these things so you will have peace because of me. In this world, you will suffer, but cheer up. I have overcome the world.”
King James
John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.