John 16
16
1“I’ve told you all this so that you won’t turn away from the truth. 2You’re going to be thrown out of the synagogue. In fact, the time is coming when anyone who kills you will think they’re serving God. 3They’ll do things like that because they don’t know the Father and they don’t know me. 4I’ve told you this so that when their time comes, you’ll remember that I warned you about them. I didn’t tell you this from the beginning because I was with you. 5But now I’m going to the one who sent me. None of you is asking me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6Instead, you’re filled with sadness because I’ve said these things. 7But truly I tell you, it’s for your good that I’m going away. Unless I go away, the Helper won’t come to help you. But if I do go, I’ll send him to you. 8When he comes, he will show the people of this world that they’re guilty of sin, that they can be made right with God, and that if they aren’t, they’ll face judgment. 9They’re guilty of sin because they don’t believe in me. 10They can be made right with God because I’m going to the Father and you won’t see me anymore. 11They’re going to have to face judgment because the devil, the prince of this world, has already been judged.
12“I have much more to say to you, but it’s more than you can handle right now. 13But when the Spirit of truth comes, he’ll guide you into all the truth. He won’t speak on his own, he’ll speak only what he hears. He’ll tell you what’s still going to happen. 14He will bring me glory because he’ll take what I give him and show it to you. 15Everything that belongs to the Father is mine. That’s why I said the Holy Spirit would receive from me the things that he will show you.”
The Disciples’ Sadness Will Turn Into Joy
16Jesus continued, “In a little while you won’t see me anymore. Then after a little while you’ll see me again.”
17When they heard this, some of his disciples asked one another, “What does he mean when he says, ‘In a little while you won’t see me anymore. Then after a little while you’ll see me again’? And what does he mean when he says, ‘I’m going to the Father’?” 18They kept asking, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We don’t understand what he’s saying.”
19Jesus saw that they wanted to ask him about these things, so he said to them, “Are you asking each other what I meant when I said, ‘In a little while you won’t see me anymore, then after a little while you’ll see me again’? 20Truly I tell you, you’re going to weep and mourn while the world is full of joy. You’ll be sad, but your sadness will turn into joy. 21A woman who’s giving birth is in pain because she’s in labor. But when her baby is born, she forgets about the pain because she’s so happy that a baby has been born into the world. 22That’s the way it will be with you. Now is a time of sadness for you, but I will see you again. Then you’ll be full of joy, and no one will take your joy away. 23When that time comes, you won’t ask me anything anymore. Truly I tell you, my Father will give you anything you ask for in my name. 24Up till now you haven’t asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy will be complete.
25“I’ve been telling you things using images and stories. But a time is coming when I won’t use examples; I’ll tell you plainly about my Father. 26When that day comes, you will ask for things in my name. I’m not saying that I will ask the Father instead of you asking him. 27No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. 28I came from the Father and entered the world. Now I’m leaving the world and going back to the Father.”
29Then Jesus’ disciples said, “Now you’re speaking plainly and not using images and stories. 30Now we can see that you know everything and that you don’t need anyone to ask you any questions. This makes us believe that you came from God.”
31“Do you believe now?” Jesus replied. 32“A time is coming when you’ll be scattered and you’ll go to your own homes. In fact, that time is already here. You’ll leave me all alone. But I’m not really alone, because my Father is with me.
33“I’ve told you these things so that you can have peace because of me. In this world you’re going to have trouble. But be encouraged! I’ve already defeated the world.”
Currently Selected:
John 16: RAD
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
Radiate™ New Testament
Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1998, 2014, 2020 by Biblica, Inc.
Used with permission. All rights reserved worldwide.