from Crossway1“I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away.2They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. (Joh 4:21; Joh 9:22; Joh 12:42; Ac 8:1; Ac 9:1; Ac 26:9)3And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me. (Joh 8:19; Joh 8:55; Joh 15:21; Joh 17:25)
The Work of the Holy Spirit
4But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you. “I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. (Mt 9:15; Lu 22:53; Joh 13:19; Joh 14:29)5But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ (Joh 13:36; Joh 14:5; Joh 14:12)6But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. (Joh 14:1; Joh 16:22)7Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. (Joh 7:39; Joh 14:2; Joh 14:16; Joh 14:26; Joh 15:26; Ac 2:33)8And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: (Joh 8:28; Joh 8:46)9concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; (Joh 8:24; Ac 2:36; 1Co 12:3)10concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; (Joh 16:16; Joh 16:19; Ac 17:31)11concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. (Joh 12:31; Col 2:15; Heb 2:14)12“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.13When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. (Ps 25:5; Joh 1:17; Joh 14:6; Joh 14:17; Joh 14:26; Joh 15:15; Ac 8:31)14He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. (Joh 7:39)15All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you. (Joh 16:14; Joh 17:10)
Your Sorrow Will Turn into Joy
16“A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see me.” (Joh 7:33; Joh 16:22)17So some of his disciples said to one another, “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 am going to the Father’?” (Mr 9:10; Mr 9:32; Joh 16:10; Joh 16:16)18So they were saying, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We do not know what he is talking about.” (Joh 14:5)19Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, “Is this what you are asking yourselves, what I meant by saying, ‘A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me’? (Joh 2:24; Joh 16:30)20Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. (Jer 31:13; Mt 5:4; Mt 9:15; Mr 16:10; Lu 23:27; Re 11:10)21When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. (Ps 48:6; Isa 13:8; Isa 26:17; 1Th 5:3; Re 12:2)22So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. (Ps 33:21; Isa 66:14; Lu 24:52; Joh 16:6; Joh 16:16; Ac 2:46; Ac 8:8; Ac 8:39; Ac 13:52; 2Co 6:10)23In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. (Joh 14:13; Joh 14:20; Joh 15:16; Joh 16:19; Joh 16:26; Joh 16:30; Eph 1:3)24Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. (Mt 7:7; Joh 15:11)
I Have Overcome the World
25“I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father. (Joh 16:2)26In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf;27for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.[1] (Joh 14:21; Joh 14:23; Joh 16:30; Joh 17:8; Joh 17:23; Joh 21:15; 1Co 16:22)28I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.” (Joh 8:14; Joh 13:3; Joh 14:12)29His disciples said, “Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech! (Joh 16:25)30Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that you came from God.” (Joh 2:24; Joh 3:2; Joh 16:27; Joh 21:17)31Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe?32Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. (Isa 63:5; Mt 26:31; Mr 14:27; Joh 4:21; Joh 4:23; Joh 8:16; Joh 8:29)33I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (Joh 14:1; Joh 14:27; Joh 15:18; Ac 14:22; Ro 8:37; Col 3:15; 1Jo 4:4; 1Jo 5:4; Re 1:9; Re 3:21; Re 12:11)