John Chapter 16:1-14

The Gospel Of John Chapter 16:1-14

I. Outline: I. Warning Of Future Persecution: 16:1-6 II. Work Of The Holy Spirit: 16:7-15 III. Future Sorrow and Joy Of The Disciples: 16:16-33

II. Introductory Comments: ‘What Jesus had told them previously concerning the world’s hatred (15:18) and what He shall teach them subsequently about this hatred He teaches in order that they not be…..caught unawares, tripped-up, ensnared…..And when these dark and tortuous days come upon them they will know that their Master is not only sympathetic with their plight and is aware of it but that it all falls within His omniscient plan for the redemption of mankind.’ (Butler p. 297) The future work of the apostles will be done in a context of persecution. Let the reader be impressed that Christianity was designed to work effectively in hard times. So often people complain that it is so hard to convert people ‘these days’, that ‘society has changed’. The society of the first century was very hostile to the gospel and yet the gospel spread! It spread because Christians took it to others (Acts 8:4)

III. Commentary: John 16:1 “These things I have spoken to you, that you may be kept from stumbling.”

“These things”-that is, such things as the world’s hatred toward them. He has told them about this hatred, helped them to understand its nature and guilt.

“that you may be kept from stumbling”-Tasker notes that the word translated ‘stumbling’ was used for the spring on a trap which might go off when you were least expecting it. ‘The sense here is “taken by surprise” or “caught unawares”.’ (p. 181) 1

Points To Note: 1. ‘The disciples will undergo sore trials and Jesus is preparing them for them. As Temple reminds us, “it is hard to believe that a cause is truly God’s when it seems to meet with no success, and all power is on the other side.” But Jesus prepares them so that they will not be taken by surprise and overcome in the collapse of a starry-eyed optimism.’ (Morris p. 692) 2. Today we need to take serious heed to the above words. Often members become disillusioned with the truth when it seems that the truth is so poorly received. Or they might say to themselves, ‘if we really are the true church, then why aren’t we having more success?’ The Christian should be impressed that ‘true’ churches in the first century often struggled financially (2 Corinthians 8:1ff; 1 Corinthians 16:1ff), and had very little resources, or at times few members compared to the other religious groups in town (Revelation 3:8). 3. Let us take the above words of Jesus seriously, so that we don’t stumble either. Many liberal brethren have stumbled, and have watered down the gospel, because they just can’t believe the above words. In their mind and in the mind of many denominational groups, Christianity can be made into something in which the world finds very popular. Please note that Jesus didn’t believe that the gospel could be marketed in a way (without compromising it) in which the world would find it attractive.

John 16:2 “They will make you outcasts from the synagogue, but an hour is coming for everyone who kills you to think that he is offering service to God.” “They will make you outcasts from the synagogue”-Jesus now gives some specifics concerning the coming persecution. 1. Note that the initial persecution which the apostles would face, would come, not from pagan/heathen society, but from religious people, from people who believed that they were serving God. The same is true today.

Much of the opposition that we face, comes not from secular society, but from the denominations. Time and time again, people that we are trying to reach are often drawn by others into some denomination. 2. ‘For a Jew to be excommunicated from his synagogue then meant a great deal more than what we think of excommunication today.

For the Jew of old, excommunication from the synagogue carried with it ostracization from social, economic, political and fraternal ties with their society as well as religious.

They were the same as “dead” to all their contemporaries. In fact even some Jewish families today go through the form of a mock funeral for any member of their family who leaves Judaism and takes up Christianity!’ (Butler p. 298) ‘They would be viewed by their former friends as worse than pagans. They would lose their jobs, would be exiled by their families, and would even lose the privilege of honorable burial.’ (Hendriksen p. 321) Jesus had talked about the same sort of things previously, (Luke 6:22; Matthew 10:17-19).

“for everyone who kills you to think that he is offering service to God”-With Jesus removed from the earth, the apostles would now feel the full brunt of Jewish hatred.

Like Saul of Tarsus, many of the Jews will be so convinced that they are right that killing 2

Christians will be viewed as a service towards God. Be impressed that what people “think” doesn’t constitute the truth. Here we find one more verse which makes it clear that conscience and feelings are not an infallible guide. These Jewish persecutors would be letting their conscience be their guide! (See Acts 23:1; 26:9).

John 16:3 “And these things they will do, because they have not known the Father, or Me.” “because they have not known the Father, or Me”-Rejecting Jesus means that these persecutors will not understand the Church or Christians. Note: If you reject Jesus you are bound to end up doing something terribly wrong towards the truth (2 Thess. 2:1012). ‘The hostile Jews have created their own God. The true God as revealed in Jesus Christ they did not serve.’ (Hendriksen p. 321) ‘The Father is known as He really is only through the revelation made in the Son. To be ignorant of the one is therefore necessarily to be ignorant of the other…in the Gospel the ignorance of the Jews is always regarded as culpable, because they ought to have known the truth.’ (Morris p. 694)

John 16:4 “But these things I have spoken to you, that when their hour comes, you may remember that I told you of them. And these things I did not say to you at the beginning, because I was with you.” “that when their hour comes, you may remember that I told you of them”-‘Jesus offered, and still offers, not the way of ease, but the way of glory. He still wants men who are prepared with open eyes to venture for His name.’ (Barclay p. 223) It is said that when the religious authorities of the time were persecuting Tyndale for publishing the Bible into English that he said, ‘I never expected anything else.’ Barclay comments, ‘Jesus offered men glory, but He offered them a cross as well.’ (p. 221) Jesus had spoken of persecution before (Matthew 5:10-12; 10:16-39). Once again, we need to remind Christians that God never promised us earthly success or earthly ease. Some seem to think that if a congregation isn’t growing by leaps and bounds that the members aren’t doing their job. We need to be prepared to suffer for Christ (Luke 9:23-26; Acts 14:22; 2 Timothy 3:11). Some times I think that we view the passages in the New Testament which talk about Christians suffering, as only applying to that generation.

“I did not say to you at the beginning, because I was with you”-‘It had not been necessary for Him to say these things earlier because He had been with them. His presence in the flesh had meant that He could give guidance day by day, and it also meant that the venom of the enemy would be directed against Him rather than them. While the Master was with them the disciples were a negligible quantity in the eyes of their opponents. The removal of the Master would transform the situation. Now the hostility will be directed at them…When the trials come they will know that they are no more than Jesus had predicted. Thus, instead of being a difficulty to faith, the trials would actually

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strengthen faith. When the trials came they would remember that this is just what Jesus said would happen.’ (Morris p. 694)

John 16:5 “But now I am going to Him who sent Me; and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’” “none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’”-Both Peter and Thomas had asked questions about this topic (13:36; 14:5), but as Morris notes, ‘Peter was diverted immediately and he made no real attempt to find out where Jesus was going. He had been concerned with the thought of parting from Jesus, not with that of the Master’s destination. He had in mind only the consequences for himself and his fellows. Neither he nor they had as yet made serious inquiry as to what was to become of Jesus. So does selfinterest blind men.’ (Morris pp. 695-696) ‘Strange to say----and Jesus says it with a touch of gentle reproof and of pain in his own heart—not one of the eleven makes a request of him as to where he is going…They make no request…to learn more about the destination of Jesus and about what it means to him to return to his Sender…the assertion of Thomas in 14:5 was nothing but an expression of discouragement and dullness of mind at the thought of Jesus’ going away while leaving the disciples to follow later on a way that Thomas felt he did not know.’ (Lenski p. 1078) Here we see another trial that Jesus endured. His way to the cross would not be smooth.

He has been talking about His return to the Father, and yet all the disciples can think about is what that means to them (i.e. being alone). None of them asks, what it means for Jesus.

None of them is happy that Jesus can return to His Father. Instead of rejoicing that Jesus is returning home, they are complaining. Harkrider notes, ‘It might appear that Peter (13:36) and Thomas (14:5) had earlier asked, but their point of view was simply that Jesus would journey to some other earthly place. Now that He had told them that His departure was from the world (14:19,28) and that the Comforter would come in His stead (14:16,17,26), they had become more concerned about the fact of His departure and its effect on them personally.’ (p. 108)

John 16:6 “But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart.” “sorrow has filled your heart”-Because they were so focused upon the short-term, and what the departure of Jesus would mean for them, they had completely missed rejoicing in the glory that soon would be His. Woods notes, ‘Do we not see ourselves mirrored in the disposition of these disciples? So often we allow ourselves to be beset with disappointment over the failure in the short-run plans when the future holds blessings far out-weighing those on which we have set our hearts (Hebrews 12:11; 2 Corinthians 4:17-18).’ (pp. 338-339) Note that the sorrow associated with self-interest can blind us from real blessings. Oh if we could just do a better job of getting our minds off our small and temporary problems 4

and get them on the real and true blessings which are ours today and those coming in the future! And like the disciples, there are times that we treat Jesus with disrespect. We complain about finances, our health, and so on, and yet fail to thank God for eternal life!

John 16:7 “But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away: for if I do not go away, the Helper shall not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.”

“But I tell you the truth”-‘In spite of this downheartedness…Jesus persists with his efforts to make them feel something of the great blessedness that his going away secures for them.’ (Lenski p. 1079)

“it is to your advantage that I go away”-to the disciples the departure of Jesus seemed to be a disaster. But it was for their personal profit that He leave. Unless He leaves, there will be no atonement for sin, including their sins. His departure naturally includes that which precedes it, i.e. His death and resurrection. In addition, the Holy Spirit will not come and guide them into all the truth, qualify them as witnesses of the resurrected Christ (Acts 1:8), and began convicting the world of its sin (16:8), until He leaves. In a sense, the Apostles cannot get on with the most important work of their lives, until Jesus leaves. Woods also notes, ‘the kingdom could not be established until the Lord returned to heaven and took his seat on David’s throne at the right hand of the Father (Acts 2:29-36)……..the gospel, in perfection, would not be preached until after his death, burial and resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:1-3), and thus their mission would not begin until after that event (Matthew 28:18-20; Luke 24:46,47)….Sacrifice for sin had to be made before the Spirit’s work would begin.’ (p. 339)

John 16:8 “And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin, and righteousness, and judgment.” “will convict the world”-The Spirit wouldn’t do this mysteriously or against the will of the individuals being convicted. Since many in the world would still be lost after the Apostles had spread the gospel in the Roman Empire (Colossians 1:23), it is clear that this “conviction” doesn’t over-ride the freewill of the individual. Through the preaching the gospel, through the message that the Spirit revealed, this process of convicting the world took place (Acts 2:37)

“convict”-‘It is a word which is used for the cross-examination of a witness, or a man on trial, or an opponent in an argument.’ (Barclay p. 224) ‘is to convince with evidence which includes refutation, instruction and persuasion. It means to expose error, to reveal wrong-doing and to confute wrong-doers. The Greek word is stronger than our English word “reprove” in that it carries with it the force of conviction to the extent of the realization of the matters taught, yet weaker than our word “convince” which means to bring to an admission of the evil and error of one’s teaching and course.’ (Woods p. 340)

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Points To Note: 1. In these verses (8-14), Jesus gives in essence, the work of the Holy Spirit as He guided the apostles into all truth. ‘He will publicly expose the guilt of the world and call it to repentance by convicting the world of sin and of righteousness and of judgment.’

(Butler p. 300) 2. Notice carefully what topics the Spirit would deal with, hardly the sort of topics that the modern denominational world deals with. In fact, many of those in liberalism would argue that such topics as ‘sin’, ‘righteousness’ and ‘judgment’ were sermon topics for a less enlightened and civilized age. 3. It is significant that the Holy Spirit didn’t use words such as ‘recovery, addiction, lifestyle, dependency or dysfunctional’. Rather, the Holy Spirit used such words as ‘sin, repentance, godly sorrow’ and so on. 4. If we find ourselves embarrassed when someone delivers a lesson on ‘sin’, then we have just become embarrassed of the Holy Spirit.

John 16:9 “concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me;”

“because they do not believe in Me”-How long should preachers keep talking about “sin”? Just as long as unbelievers remain in the world. 1. The Holy Spirit reveals what is and what isn’t sin (Romans 7:7). 2. But more than this, the Holy Spirit would especially rebuke the world, and much of that rebuke would fall upon the Jewish nation, for refusing to believe in Jesus. Many of the Apostles sermons exposed the sins of those who had rejected Jesus (Acts 2:23; 3:14; 4:10; 5:30). 3. The Holy Spirit would also reveal that our sins cannot be forgiven, unless we come to Jesus (John 8:24), and that if we reject Him, we have just condemned ourselves (John 12:48; Acts 13:46; 2 Thess. 1:79). Unlike some modern forms of preaching, unbelievers need to hear sermons which convict, rather than sermons which excuse.

John 16:10 “and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you no longer behold Me;” “concerning righteousness”-1. The Holy Spirit would reveal God’s standard of righteousness, that is the moral standard to which God will hold us accountable (Matthew 5:20). 2. The Holy Spirit would also reveal how a sinner can become righteous in the sight of God, i.e. how a person can be saved (Romans 1:16-17; 3:21-26; Heb. 5:8-9; Mark 16:16).

“because I go to the Father”-Jesus was leaving, but the world still needed a good talking to. It needed to know about “righteousness”, especially in light of the fact that some would erroneously think that persecuting Jesus and Christians was something that

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pleased God. They needed to understand what is true righteousness and not something man-made (Titus 3:5).

John 16:11 “and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.” “concerning judgment”-1. The Holy Spirit would reveal a coming judgment (Acts 17:30-31). 2. He would reveal that all would be judged by the message He is delivering (John 12:48).

“because the ruler of this world has been judged”-Already, Satan stood condemned (12:13; 14:30). The death and resurrection of Jesus would deliver a major blow and judgment upon whatever rule the devil had usurped (Colossians 2:15; Hebrews 2:15). In addition, the Holy Spirit would reveal that the fate of the devil, as well as all those who follow him is certain condemnation (Revelation 20:10).

Points To Note: 1. In Peter’s sermon on the day of Pentecost, we find that the above topics are all addressed in one lesson. The ‘sin’ of the world is exposed (2:23). The righteousness of Jesus (2:22) and how a sinner can become righteous is revealed (2:38). And judgment or condemned is also revealed, when Peter calls that generation, a crooked generation, one which a person needs to distance themselves from (2:40).

John 16:12 “I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.” “many more things to say to you”-things which would be later revealed to them by the Holy Spirit (16:13).

“but you cannot bear them now”-‘It may mean that their experience thus far sets a limit to their ability to perceive….More probably it refers to their inability, until the Spirit should come, to live out the implications of the revelation.’ (Morris p. 699) ‘They would more easily understand these spiritual matters in the future as God’s scheme of redemption was unfolded (Ephesians 3:3-5).’ (Harkrider p. 109) Points To Note: 1. We must reject the idea of “progressive revelation”, that is, that God is still revealing truth even to this day. Many religious bodies are based on the idea that the Bible is not the final revelation of God to man. Or, that the Bible contains the Word of God, but the Bible doesn’t contain all of the Word of God. Not only is this true of 7

the Mormons, Jehovah Witnesses and other ‘latter day revelation’ groups. But also it is true of Catholicism and various mainline denominations. Barclay even argues, ‘One of the mistakes which men sometimes make it to identify God’s revelation solely with the Bible.’ (p. 227) 2. God is not giving a promise here which applies to every Christian. God is not going to guide every generation of Christians into newer and higher truths. 3. Jesus makes it clear that His apostles (not a future generations of teachers) will be guided into ALL TRUTH (John 16:13). Various lines of evidence can be added to make the same point: 2. The Gospels written in the first century contain all the information we need to believe in Jesus Christ, even though they don’t contain everything that Jesus said and did (John 20:30-31).

3. The miraculous gifts would cease when the revelation was complete. Such gifts obviously ceased at the end of the first century (1 Corinthians 13:813). Such miraculous gifts were so obvious, they couldn’t be hidden today.

In addition, true believers (not Pentecostals or Calvinistic Charismatics would have them).

4. Another “gospel” is not to be preached (Galatians 1:6-9).

5. Adding to the Word of God is condemned (2 John 9; Revelation 22:18-19).

Therefore, no new truths are to be added to the truths revealed in the New Testament.

6. The Scriptures make us complete (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

7. The Word preached in the First Century abides forever (1 Peter 1:23-25).

8. In the writings of the Apostles we find all things which pertain to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3).

9. Truthfulness (or lack of it) of any message or activity is discovered only by comparing such a teaching or practice with what the Apostles revealed (1 Corinthians 14:37; 2 Thess. 3:6,14; 1 John 4:1-5).

10. Going beyond the truth found in the writings of the Apostles, the teachings of Christ revealed through the Apostles is not to be received (2 John 9-11).

11.

The ‘faith’, the truths, beliefs and practices which compose Christianity were once for all revealed to the saints (Jude 3). And this took place in the First Century.

12. Finally, there is absolutely no promise of any future revelation beyond what the apostles would record.

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John 16:13 “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.”

“He will guide you into all the truth”-Jesus believed in objective and absolute truth. In addition, Jesus believed that there are many absolutes to be accepted. Many things which are eternally and absolutely true, compose “the truth”. The Apostles, in their writings assert that this is what happened (1 Corinthians 2:9-13; Ephesians 3:3-5; 1 Thess.

2:13). 1. ‘In passing we should notice that the attempt of some scholars to “go back to the original Jesus” and by-pass the teaching of the apostles is shown by our Lord Himself to be misguided.’ (Morris p. 700) 2. The ‘truth’, including the truth about Jesus cannot be known apart from the writings of the Apostles.

“for He will not speak on His own initiative”-Like Jesus, the Holy Spirit would not add or edit the revelation to be delivered to the Apostles. Obviously, the Holy Spirit is a distinctive individual in the Godhead. He is not simply a characteristic of God nor an influence from God, because He is said to both hear and speak. Here again, we see the total unity found in the Godhead. The Holy Spirit is also ‘one’ with the Father and the Son. What the Spirit would hear from the Father and the Son, He would reveal to the Apostles (1 Corinthians 2:11-13; Ephesians 3:3-5).

“whatever He hears, He will speak”-If this is the way that One who is God handles the Word of God, then how much more are mere mortals accountable to speak, teach and practice only what God has said (1 Peter 4:11). If Jesus and the Holy Spirit did not feel free to ‘add’ their own slant to a Divine teaching, then who do we think we are if we are tampering with the Scriptures? In light of such statements, how could any sane individual seriously argue that human religious traditions are on an equality with Scripture?

“and He will disclose to you what is to come”-this isn’t talking about dates for the Second Coming of Christ (1 Thess. 5:1-3) or predictions concerning the invention of the automobile, WWW I or man walking on the moon. Rather, ‘”the things to come” is a way of referring to the whole Christian system, yet future when Jesus spoke, and to be revealed to the disciples by the Spirit, not by natural insight.’ (Morris p. 701)

John 16:14 “He shall glorify Me; for He shall take of Mine, and shall disclose it to you.”

“He shall glorify Me”-As Jesus glorified the Father and as the Father glorified the Son. Be impressed with the complete unselfishness of the Godhead. They realize that what brings honor to one of them, brings honor to all of them. The Spirit would glorify Jesus by inspiring men to write the Gospels, in addition to what will be said about Jesus in

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the epistles. Revelation, Colossians and Hebrews are especially books which elevate Jesus tremendously before our eyes. Let the reader be impressed that the Holy Spirit didn’t come to glorify the Holy Spirit. And yet, from the way that many people in the denominational world talk, you would think that the center of the Gospel is the Holy Spirit.

“shall take of Mine, and shall disclose it to you.”-Once again emphasizing the oneness, unity and complete agreement found in the Godhead. What the Holy Spirit would reveal would be the commandments of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 14:37; 2 Peter 3:2). The reader needs to take note of the fact that these verses are saying that the person who ridicules or downplays the writings of the Apostles, is automatically a person who is dishonoring Jesus Christ. To attack the accuracy or inspired nature of the Apostles writings is to attack the Deity of Jesus Christ and it is also to attack the work of the Holy Spirit.

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