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John Chapter Sixteen

 

I. Content of the Chapter

 

What the Son of God the Savior Had Foretold Before His Departure

A. Foretelling that the Disciples Would Be Persecuted (v.1-4)

  B. Foretelling the Works of the Holy Spirit:

1. His “departure” was for the “coming” of the Holy Spirit (v.5-7).

2. The work of the Holy Spirit in the positive aspect ---- to judge oneself (v.5-7).

3. The work of the Holy Spirit in the negative aspect ---- to bring men into the truth (v.12-13).

4. The purpose of the work of the Holy Spirit ---- to glorify Christ (v.14-15)

  C. Foretelling that He Would Depart Them:

1. The disciples would not see the Lord’s physical body and again a little while they would see His spiritual body (v.16-19).

2. It is just like a woman who is in labor ---- being sorrowful first but joyful afterwards (v.20-22).

  D. Foretelling the Advantages to the Disciples Because of His Departure:

         1. Whatever they ask the Father in the Lord’s name He will give them (v.23-26).

2. They believed that the Lord came forth from the Father and went to the Father so the Father loved them (v.27-32).

3. They have peace in the Lord for He has overcome the world (v.33).

 

II. Verse by Verse commentary

 

John. 16:1 “"These things I have spoken to you that you should not be made to stumble.”

   YLT: “`These things I have spoken to you that ye may not be stumbled ”

Literal Meaning: “these things I have spoken to you” “these things” referred to all His teachings to the disciples in the last supper (see chap.13-15). Here it especially referred to the matter that the disciples would be persecuted (see 15:18-25).

  That you should not be made to stumble” “stumble” it in the original means the spring of the snare that may suddenly “spring out” so the word carries a meaning of “being caught unawares” or “making someone astonished”. The famous religionist Knox translated it in this way: “that you should not lose faith because of lacking precautions”.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

     1) What the Lord has told us is to prevent us from stumbling when we walk in the spiritual way. Therefore we should search the Lord’s word earnestly so that we can go ahead smoothly.

     2) Many times the troubles still remain but if we have the word of the Lord we will overcome them and keep firm.

     3) Believers are easiest made to stumble by the way of the cross (the difficulties). However if we have the Lord’s word even the harder the way is the more trust we will have in the Lord.

 

John. 16:2 “They will put you out of the synagogues; yes the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service.”

  YLT: “out of the synagogues they will put you; but an hour doth come that every one who hath killed you may think to offer service unto God;”

Literal Meaning: they will put you out of the synagogues” “put you out of the synagogues” the one will at least be temporarily deprived of his right of partaking in worshiping God or any other normal group activity (about a week to a month). Or in a more serious case he will be excommunicated from the synagogue and be despised and rejected all his life.

  “Whoever kills you” “whoever” indicates that those who kill believers are not only the Judaists (see 7:58-59; 12:2; 23:12; 26:9-10).

  Will think that he offers God service” the word “service” is a compound which means “doing worship” or “offering a divine service”. It indicates that they regard killing believers as a good thing which conforms to the will of God.

   Spiritual Meaning: “the synagogue” typifies the artificial natural and organized religion. The religion is characterized by regarding persecuting and killing those who are truly of God as serving God.

    This verse foretells two commonest persecutions that the true believers shall suffer: (1) be put out of the church ---- the persecution from the religious world; (2) be killed ---- the persecution from the political world.

Enlightenment in the Word:

     1) Such arrogant matter of regarding killing believers as serving God was often seen in the history of Christianity (see Acts 7:57-60). We (especially who desire to serve God) should remember the warning of the Lord here.

     2) Though men’s actions are out of their piety and zeal it still does not guarantee that what they have done are all right. Many times they may be glaringly erroneous.

 

John. 16:3 “And these things they will do to you because they have not known the Father nor Me.”

   YLT: “and these things they will do to you because they did not know the Father nor me.”

Literal Meaning: this verse is the explanation of the previous verse ---- the action of putting out of and killing the believers is because men are short of the true knowledge about God and Christ so that they misapprehend the will of God and Christ.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

     1) If we lack the knowledge about Christ and Christ when we are doing a certain divine work we will fall into terrible faults.

     2) If one had not known the Lord he would have not known the Lord’s Father also. If you had known the Lord you would have known the Lord’s Father also (see 8:19).

 

John. 16:4 “But these things I have told you that when the time 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.”

   YLT: “`But these things I have spoken to you that when the hour may come ye may remember them that I said to you and these things to you from the beginning I did not say because I was with you;”

Literal Meaning: “these things have I told you” “these things” referred to the matter that the disciples would be persecuted.

  That when the time comes” “the time” means when the Lord’s word will be fulfilled.

  You may remember that I told you of them” it indicates that the disciples will remember what the Lord has told them in the inspiration of the Holy Spirit (see 14:26).

  “And these things I did not say to you at the beginning” actually the Lord had repeatedly foretold the disciples would be persecuted (see Matt 5:10-12; 10:16-25 28; 21:35-36; 24:9) but He did not clearly tell them the reason and motivation as well as the relation of the persecutions with His departure for the Father. Therefore He had not told them completely.

  Because I was with you.” ---- It suggested that the world’s hatred and persecution were focused on the Lord Himself so He did not tell the disciples the details.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

    1) The revelation of the Lords word to a man may always surpass his present experience. He will not understand the word until he has the spiritual experience later in the environment that the Lord has arranged for him. Then he shall have the enlightenment again in the word of the Lord.

     2) When we read the word of the Lord we may not clearly know it immediately. However if we can keep the word of the Christ (whatever you have known or unknown) dwelling in you richly (see Col 3:16) it may become efficacious unexpectedly.

 

John. 16:5 "But now I go away to Him who sent Me and none of you asks Me "Where are You going?'

YLT: “and now I go away to Him who sent me and none of you doth ask me Whither dost thou go?”

Literal Meaning:and none of you asks Me "Where are You going?'” ---- In fact Peter had ever asked that where the Lord would go (see13:36). Therefore the Lord’s word might indicate that: (1) the disciples only asked with their mouth but did not really so care about it. (2) What they really cared about was not where the Lord was going but their condition after the Lord’s departure.

Enlightenment in the Word: if a believer cares his own future more than Christ Himself he may take the word of the Lord as unheeded advice. Likewise when we read the Bible if we are prejudiced by first impressions we may lose many important points in the Bible.

 

John. 16:6 But because I have said these things to you sorrow has filled your heart.

YLT: “but because these things I have said to you the sorrow hath filled your heart.”

Literal Meaning: “but because I have said these things to you “these things” referred to His impending departure and the persecutions that the disciples would suffer.

  “Sorrow has filled your heart” “sorrow has filled” it indicated that they were filled with sorrow so that they were pessimistic about their prospects.

Enlightenment in the Word:

     1) Though the Lords word is good to us we can still not obtain advantage from the Lords word if we apprehend it imperfectly or even misapprehend it.

     2) The fact may make a man both joyful and sorrowful which is wholly decided by our attitudes towards it.

 

John. 16:7 Nevertheless 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 depart I will send Him to you.

YLT: “`But I tell you the truth; it is better for you that I go away for if I may not go away the Comforter will not come unto you and if I go on I will send Him unto you;”

Meaning of Words: “advantage”: be better for; be expedient for; “Helper”: beside caller friend Advocate comforter persuader and counselor Legal Helper Intercessor and Strengthener;

Literal Meaning: “I go” the word “go” in the original carries the emphatic meaning of “leaving”. Here He would leave the disciples and would no longer abide with them physically. Therefore His “going” was His death in the flesh and His resurrection three days afterwards. He would be seen by His disciples during forty days and ascended to the heaven and left them finally(see 20:17; Acts1:3 9).

  “It is to your advantage that” it unveiled that His departure was profitable because: (1) the sins of His disciples shall be forgiven through His death on the cross. (2) The Lord in the past abode with the disciples physically and it was restricted by time and space. Therefore He should be dead and risen and abide with the disciples in the spirit so that it shall not be restricted by time and space.

  “For if I do not go away the Helper will not come to you” the “Helper” is the Holy Spirit (see v.13; 14:16-17). The meaning of the “Helper” in the original is “a helper who is called to another one to help him”. This word in the juridical situation refers to the man who accompanies the parties to appear in court and takes care of all the affairs concerned the case. Such man’s work is intercession vindication exhortation preservation and consolation. The Lord Jesus should be dead in the flesh and then come back to the disciples in the Holy Spirit in His resurrection and even enter the disciples (see 20:22).

  “But if I depart I will send Him to you.” ---- The word “depart” suggested it was a purposeful departure namely departing for the Father. “Him” referred to the Helper i.e. the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is sent by both the Father and the Son indicating again that the Father and the Son are one (see 10:30).

Enlightenment in the Word:

     1) We usually found that how pleasant that the disciples abode with the Lord was! They had been eyewitnesses of the Lord and had heard Him with their own ears (see 2Pet 1:16-17; 1John 1:1). However the Lord said: it is to your advantage that I go away. For once He had departed the Helper would come. Obviously the indwelling spirit is better than the physical presence of the Lord.

     2) The last Adam (Jesus Christ) became a quickening spirit (1Cor 15:54). The death of the Lord Jesus enabled Him to give His life in Spirit to those who believe Him.

     3) The Lord has sent the Helper. In fact He sends Himself and comes to be our Helper in the state of spirit (see Zech 2:8-11).

     4) The Holy Spirit the embodiment of Christ substantiates Christ in the believers thus accompanying with us serving us and meeting all our need.

     5) How gentle the attendance of the Holy Spirit is! Whatever we need he can supply us more than sufficient.

     6) The Lord is the Spirit but where the Spirit of Lord liberty (2Cor 3:17).

 

John. 16:8 And when He has come He will convict the world of sin and of righteousness and of judgment:

YLT: “and having come He will convict the world concerning sin and concerning righteousness and concerning judgment;”

Meaning of Words: sin”: miss the mark; “righteousness”: equity justification; “judgment”: accusation condemnation; “convict”: expose convince tell a fault rebuke reprove;

Literal Meaning: “and when He has come “He” refers to the Holy Spirit i.e. the Helper (see v.7).

    “The world of sin and of righteousness and of judgment” there is no definite article for “sin righteousness and judgment”. Therefore it refers to the general instance rather than a special occasion.

  “Sin” means being unable to meet the appointed standard of God. “Righteousness” means being just and righteous before God. “Judgment” refers to the judgment of God to everything.

  “Sin” by Adam sin entered into the world (see Rom 5:12) so sin related to men. “Righteousness” is manifested through the resurrection of Christ (see v.10; Rom 3:25; 4:25) so it relates to Christ. “Judgment” is appointed to Satan (see v.11; 12:31) for it was the originator of sin (see 8:44) so judgment relates to Satan.

  The Holy Spirit makes men know that what is sin righteousness and judgment and that men has sinned and has none righteousness and will be judged. If a man finds that he has sinned and then believes Christ he shall be justified before God and be free of judgment. If a man has not found that he has sinned or even has already seen that he has sinned but does not receive Christ he will be condemned and suffer the judgment and punishment which should be given to Satan.

“He will convict” “convict” refers to “exposing” or “reproving” one’s sins. Men in the world will find their true conditions and then men’s consciences are rebuked in the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit. 

Enlightenment in the Word:

     1) The Holy Spirit testifies three matters in men: (1) men have sinned; (2) only Christ is righteous. (3) Satan must be condemned.

     2) The Holy Spirit will reveal that the Lord has fulfilled three matters on the cross: (1) to forgive sins. (2) To manifest the righteousness. (3) To judge Satan.

     3) The Holy Spirit makes men know the salvation of God through mens self-reproach.

     4) The Holy Spirit brings men into self-reproach thus making men know themselves Christ as well as Satan.

 

John. 16:9 of sin because they do not believe in Me;

YLT: “concerning sin indeed because they do not believe in me;”

Literal Meaning:of sin the first work of the Holy Spirit is to make a man see that he has been born in the sin has grown up in the sin and has lived in the sin namely a absolute sinner under the judgment of God. Therefore he will seek the way to be delivered from the sin and be forgiven.

  Note that “sin” in the original is singular so they are not sins. The Holy Spirit may reprove “believers” for sins but the judgment on the whole world is not according to their sins but their “unbelieving”.

  “They do not believe in Me” “they” refers to the unbelief. The sin of the world focuses on the problem that whether they receive the Lord or not.

  This verse indicates that: (1) the true essence of sin is unbelieving; (2) “Unbelieving” is a typical sin.

Enlightenment in the Word:

      1) Without the conviction of the Holy Spirit men will never truly know that they are sinners.

      2) Unbelieving the basic as well we the worst sin of men is even more terrible than any other sin.

      3) Men may usually note the moral sins but ignore that refusing the truth is a more serious sin. Christ is the truth (see 14:6). Therefore unbelieving of Christ is the most serious sin.

      4) The one who does not believe Christ has no proper relationship with Christ. When the Holy Spirit reproves men he will convict men of the improper relationship with Christ rather than their concrete sins of murdering pride being jealousy and etc.

      5) The most initial work of the Holy Spirit in men is making them realize the sin of not believing the Lord. On the day of Pentecost Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit and bore witness of the fact that Jesus who was crucified on the cross is Christ to the people ---- having heard they were pricked in heart (see Acts 2:37).

      6) The Holy Spirit in the negative aspect enlightens us and convicts us. The enlightenment of the Holy Spirit is according to Christ whom He has revealed. Therefore when the Holy Spirit convicts men of sins he is actually convicting that they are unwilling to open to the fullness of Christ ---- do not believe Me.

      7) If a man in the revelation of the Holy Spirit the more he has seen Christ the more he will reproach himself for his lowness and corruption. The self-accusation because of having seen the glorious Christ is true not artificial or imitative.

 

John. 16:10 of righteousness because I go to My Father and you see Me no more;

YLT: “and concerning righteousness because unto my Father I go away and no more do ye behold me;”

Literal Meaning:of righteousness” the second work of the Holy Spirit is making a man see that he has no righteousness and is in need of righteousness and that the Lord Jesus is the only righteous one. Thus he will receive the righteousness that is fulfilled by the Lord Jesus on the cross.

  Because I go to My Father” it indicates that the righteousness of Christ has been testified because of the approval of the Father: (1) “go to My Father” means His Ascension to the Father after His resurrection. (2) It unveils that His death on the cross has met the righteous requirement of God. (3) It suggests that He is righteous before God for there is none unrighteous one who can stand before God. (4) Therefore His resurrection and ascension is for our justification (see Rom 4:25; 10:9). (5) God bestows Christ as the righteousness upon those who believe Christ (see 1Cor 1:30; Jem 23:6). (6) God justifies him that is of faith of Jesus thus manifesting His own righteousness (see Rom 3:26).

Enlightenment in the Word:

     1) Mens righteousness is shabby and it is as filthy rags (see Is 64:6).

     2) The Holy Spirit enlightens men that the Lord Jesus does not know sin and He has made sin for us so that we might become God's righteousness in Him. Because He has fulfilled the righteousness of God and He is righteousness of Himself. If we enter Him we will be justified and become righteousness.

     3) The Holy Spirit points to men the proof that the Lord is the righteous one ---- if the Lord is not the righteous one God will not exalt Him. If He is the righteous one God will have to exalt Him.

     4) The Holy Spirit convicts men of righteousness according to the fact that Christ has entered the glory of the Father and unto the fullness of God through His death and resurrection ---- I go to the Father thus manifesting mens shortness of having not reached the fullness of Gods will.

     5) Except for the Holy Spirit no one can reveal men that men shall be justified by the death of Christ on the cross only not good deeds.

     6) All those who believe Christ and are jointed to Christ will gain the righteousness of Christ as his own righteousness so that they may grow up to salvation.

 

John. 16:11 of judgment because the ruler of this world is judged.

YLT: “and concerning judgment because the ruler of this world hath been judged.”

Literal Meaning:of judgment the third work of the Holy Spirit is to make men see that the sin must be judged ---- if men do not receive the judgment of God on Jesus on the cross (do not receive the redemption of the Lord Jesus on the cross) they will face the judgment of God by themselves (see Heb 9:27).

  Because the ruler of this world is judged.” ---- “The ruler of this world” refers to Satan (see the commentary in chapter 12 verse 31). “Being judged” has the meanings as below: (1) what Christ has fulfilled on the cross is not only bearing sins but also judging all the negative things ---- including the sin the flesh the world the devil and etc. (2) The Lord Jesus has been in the likeness of flesh of sin (see Rom 8:3) in order to bring these negative things unto the cross to be judged by God. (3) The Lord has annulled the devil who has the might of death through His death on the cross (see Heb 2:14). That is to say the ruler of this world has been judged. (4) All those who are unwilling to believe the Lord will be judged with the devil and be punished with the devil (see Matt 25:41; Rev 20:10-15).

Enlightenment in the Word:

     1) The judgment for those who are in Christ has passed for God cannot judge us again since He had already judged Jesus.

     2) The Holy Spirit convicts men of judgment because Christ has judged the ruler of the world ---- Satan ---- through the victory of His cross. The Holy Spirit enlightens men that they still have something of Satan as well as the constitution against Christ so that men shall reprove themselves.

 

John. 16:12 "I still have many things to say to you but you cannot bear them now.

YLT: “`I have yet many things to say to you but ye are not able to bear now;”

Literal Meaning:I still have many things to say to you.” ---- “Many things” referred to all the truth written in the New Testament which was not taught by the Lord Jesus when He was still with His disciples on the earth in His flesh.

  “But you cannot bear them now” “now”: the time when the Holy Spirit had not entered the disciples. “Cannot bear” means being unable to understand for the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God (see 1Cor 2:14).

Enlightenment in the Word:

     1) The one who has just believed the Lord partakes of milk and cannot eat solid food (see Heb 5:13-14). Therefore we shall seek to grow up swiftly so as to enjoy more spiritual fullness.

     2) He who teaches the saints in the assembly should step by step. Firstly he shall help others establish good foundation and then advance according to their absorbing ability. Otherwise they will be unable to bear them.

 

John. 16:13 However when He the Spirit of truth has come He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.

YLT: “and when He may come -- the Spirit of truth -- He will guide you to all the truth for He will not speak from Himself but as many things as He will hear He will speak and the coming things He will tell you;”

Meaning of Words: guide”: lead show the way instruct;

Literal Meaning:when He the Spirit of truth has come ” the Holy Spirit is called “the Spirit of truth” for: (1) the Holy Spirit inspires men to speak the word of God (see 2Pet1:21). (2) The Holy Spirit will never bring men to faults (see 1John 4:6). (3) He bears witness of Christ who is the truth (see v.6; 15:26). (4) He will lead us into all truth.

  “He will guide you into all truth.” ---- “Guide” means leading men to walk ahead. “Into” it is like entering a new land which has not been researched.

  “And He will tell you things to come.” ---- “Things to come” includes the death of the Lord Jesus resurrection ascension and His second coming. It might also refer to the complete truth of the Christianity from the Acts to Revelation all these were the impending things when the Lord said it. Since the Holy Spirit taught these things to the disciples of the early church the Book of the New Testament was then completed.

Enlightenment in the Word:

     1) The Holy Spirit leads us not only into more of the knowledge of the truth but also into more experience of all the truth.

     2) The Holy Spirit is the reality of every truth. Any truth without Him is only knowledge but lacks the reality. Once there is the Holy Spirit the truth has the reality. He is the reality of the truth. The Holy Spirit in us leads us into not only the knowledge of all truth but also the reality of all truth.

     3) The so-called truth is the spiritual reality namely all the realities in the divine Trinity. Only the Holy Spirit can bring us into such reality.

     4) Many times we have not touched the spiritual reality of a certain thing but only some superficial knowledge. Only when we have been touched in spirit can we touch the reality.

     5) If the Holy Spirit does not reveal us in our spirit we cannot know the heavenly things.

     6) When we read the Holy Scripture we shall not imagine it in our natural mind but gaze at the Lord in the spirit and let the Holy Spirit lead us into all truth.

 

John. 16:14 He will glorify Me for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.

YLT: “He will glorify me because of mine He will take and will tell to you.”

Literal Meaning:He will glorify Me” what the Holy Spirit has done in believers are: (1) leading believers into all truth ---- whatever He hears He will speak and He will tell you things to come (v.13). (2) Glorifying Christ ---- He will take of what is of the Lord and declare it to the disciples.

  He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.” ---- It indicates that: (1) Christ is the origin of the revelation of the Holy Spirit. (2) The revelation of the Holy Spirit is the revelation of Christ Himself.

Enlightenment in the Word:

     1) The Holy Spirit leads us into all truth and reality (see v.13). And this truth is none other but the full Christ Himself. Therefore the Lord said: He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.

     2) The Holy Spirit never draws mens attention to Him but always manifests the glory of Christ.

     3) Anything that does not glorify Christ or any doctrine that does not exalt the cross of the Lord cannot be of the Holy Spirit. On the contrary anything that glorifies Christ and manifests Christ must be of the Holy Spirit.

     4) No man speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed. And no man can say that Jesus is the Lord but by the Holy Ghost (1Cor 12:3).

     5) He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. ---- The revelation and guidance of the Holy Spirit to the church and believers have equal authority with Christ. Therefore the New Testament written by the apostles of the first generation in the guidance of the Holy Spirit is the word of the Lord.

 

John. 16:15 All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.

YLT: “`All things as many as the Father hath are mine; because of this I said That of mine He will take and will tell to you;”

Literal Meaning:All things that the Father has are Mine”. ---- It suggests that in Christ dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily (see Col 2:9). Christ is the embodiment of all the Father is and all He has.

  “He will take of Mine” “He” refers to the Holy Spirit. “Mine” refers to Christ. The Holy Spirit will take of all Christ is and all He has.

  “Declare it to you” “declare”: reveal; “you” refers to believers. The Holy Spirit will bring believers into all the fullness and the reality of God and Christ.

  Note that the phrase of “declaring it to you” appears at the end of the three verses from verse 13 to verse 15. It suggests that the Holy Spirit takes believers as the main object of His works.

Enlightenment in the Word: how earnest the Holy Spirit is to reveal the mystery and fullness of the divine Trinity to us! If we have still known the divine Trinity superficially and gained only a little of them the problem does not lie in the Holy Spirit but ourselves.

 

John. 16:16 "A little while and you will not see Me; and again a little while and you will see Me because I go to the Father."

YLT: “a little while and ye do not behold me and again a little while and ye shall see me because I go away unto the Father.'”

Meaning of Words: “see (the first one)”: discern behold; “see (the second one)”: appear view;

Literal Meaning: “a little while” here it referred to the short period from this speech of Him to His crucifixion on the cross (less than a day).

  “You will not see Me” “Me” referred to the Lord Jesus in the flesh.

  “Again a little while” there were three different explanations as follows: (1) it referred to the period from the crucifixion of the Lord on the cross to His resurrection three days later when He appeared to His disciples again in His spiritual body (see 20:19). (2) It referred to the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit sat upon the disciples (see Acts 2:1-4). (3) It referred to the period of time until the second coming of the Lord Jesus.

  According to the context here the first explanation may be the most acceptable one.

  And you will see Me” the word “Me” refers to the Lord Jesus in His spiritual body of resurrection.

  There are two “see”s in this verse ---- the former one sees physically and latter one sees spiritually.

Enlightenment in the Word: believers walk by faith (the spiritual insight) not by sight (2Cor 5:7). If we see by sight we cannot see any precious spiritual things. However faith is substantiating of things hoped for (see Heb11:1).

 

John. 16:17 Then some of His disciples said among themselves "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 go to the Father'?"

YLT: “Therefore said of his disciples one to another `What is this that he saith to us A little while and ye do not behold me and again a little while and ye shall see me and Because I go away unto the Father?'”

Literal Meaning: the Lord Jesus actually did not speak “because I go to the Father” and “a little while” together but the disciples thought they were connected for both of them were followed by the sentence of “you will see Me”.

  You will not see Me” and “you will see Me” are facts. “Because I go to the Father” is the explanation of the facts.

 

John. 16:18 They said therefore "What is this that He says "A little while'? We do not know what He is saying."

YLT: “they said then `What is this he saith -- the little while? we have not known what he saith.'”

Enlightenment in the Word: many words in the Scripture are very implicit which are difficult to understand through our natural mind. The best way is to ask the Holy Spirit rather than asking one another.

 

John. 16:19 Now Jesus knew that they desired to ask Him and He said to them "Are you inquiring among yourselves about what I said "A little while and you will not see Me; and again a little while and you will see Me'?

YLT: “Jesus therefore knew that they were wishing to ask him and he said to them `Concerning this do ye seek one with another because I said A little while and you do not behold me and again  a little while and ye shall see me?”

 

John. 16:20 Most assuredly I say to you that you will weep and lament but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful but your sorrow will be turned into joy.

YLT: “verily verily I say to you that ye shall weep and lament and the world will rejoice; and ye shall be sorrowful but your sorrow joy will become.”

Meaning of Words: weep”: wail aloud sob bewail; “lament”: mourn;

Literal Meaning:you will weep and lament” it means that the lamentation includes the inward deep wail and the outward sorrowful appearance.

Enlightenment in the Word:

     1) The sorrow and joy are usually contrary to that of the world. What makes us be sorrowful may cause the world happy but what makes us be joyful may cause the world sorrowful.

     2) The extreme pleasure of the world is followed by sorrow ---- the joy is transient but the sorrow is constant. However though we believers may have grief we will become joyful ultimately.

 

John. 16:21 A woman when she is in labor has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child she no longer remembers the anguish for joy that a human being has been born into the world.

YLT: “`The woman when she may bear hath sorrow because her hour did come and when she may bear the child no more doth she remember the anguish because of the joy that a man was born to the world.”

Literal Meaning:A woman when she is in labor has sorrow” “woman” here symbolized the disciples who followed the Lord. When the Lord went to the cross they were just like the women in labor feeling much anguished.

  “As soon as she has given birth to the child” it symbolized the resurrection of the Lord Jesus (see Acts 13:33; Heb 1:5; Rom 1:4).

  “She no longer remembers the anguish for joy that a human being has been born into the world.” ---- Childbearing may usually bring both pain and joy (see Is 26:17-19; 66:7-14; Hos 13:13-14). When the disciples witnessed the risen Christ they would no longer remember the anguish and sorrow but turned to be joyful.

Enlightenment in the Word:

     1) The death of the cross brings the anguish of being in labor. The glorious resurrection produces the joy of being in labor.

     2) The process of the outcome of life is grievous much more so is the new created life. Because if there is no death there is no living ---- the life of the old creation should be annulled and the life of the new creation shall emerge (see 2Cor 4:10-11; 5:17).

     3) The experience of death is painful but the experience of resurrection is joyful.

 

John. 16:22 Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice and your joy no one will take from you.

YLT: “`And ye therefore now indeed have sorrow; and again I will see you and your heart shall rejoice and your joy no one doth take from you ”

Literal Meaning:but I will see you again.” ---- It means He came to the disciples again in His spiritual body after His resurrection (see v.16).

  Your joy no one will take from you.” ---- “Your joy” refers to the joy produced by witnessing the death and resurrection. Death is the worst enemy. If death can not take this joy nothing can take this joy.

Enlightenment in the Word:

     1) The joy obtained after anguish is the fullest joy that no one can take it.

     2) The true joy of men is granted by the Holy Spirit who is always with us. Therefore no one can take our joy.

 

John. 16:23 "And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly I say to you whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you.

YLT: “and in that day ye will question me nothing; verily verily I say to you as many things as ye may ask of the Father in my name He will give you;”

Literal Meaning:in that day”: after the Lord’s resurrection and ascension.

  You will ask Me nothing.” ---- It meant they would not ask the meaning of the Lord’s words before His crucifixion (see v.17) not “asking” in our prayer. Because when the disciples had seen the fact of the resurrection of Christ and had received the indwelling spirit they would suddenly know it.

  Whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you.” ---- The resurrection of Christ brings the indwelling spirit. Then the Lord dwells in those who believe Him and believers dwell in Him ---- they shall be jointed together. They pray in the name of the Lord which is the prayer of the Lord Himself ---- such payer must be granted by God the Father.

 

John. 16:24 Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask and you will receive that your joy may be full.

YLT: “till now ye did ask nothing in my name; ask and ye shall receive that your joy may be full.”

Literal Meaning: “until now you have asked nothing in My name.” ---- Until that time the Lord was still not in them and they were not in the Lord either ---- they had not been fully jointed to the Lord.

  “Your joy may be full.” ---- There are two levels of joy: (1) the joy “in the name of the Lord” namely the joy from the union of the Lord. (2) The joy out of “ask and you will receive” is the joy of the answered prayer.

Enlightenment in the Word:

     1) We Christians have the basic right on the earth namely our prayers shall be granted. Therefore if we want to be Christians filled with joy we should often pray.

     2) If believers have problems in prayer it is possible that they may have not lived in the reality of the Lords name.

 

John. 16:25 "These things I have spoken to you in figurative language; but the time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language but I will tell you plainly about the Father.

YLT: “`These things in similitudes I have spoken to you but there cometh an hour when no more in similitudes will I speak to you but freely of the Father will tell you.”

Meaning of Words: figurative language”: parable proverb adage;

Literal Meaning:I have spoken to you in figurative language.” ---- “Figurative language”: to reveal the truth with parables.

  “I will tell you plainly about the Father.” ---- The word “plainly” indicates two meanings: (1) to speak bluntly; (2) to speak with boldness.

 

John. 16:26 In that day you will ask in My name and I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you;

YLT: “`In that day in my name ye will make request and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father for you ”

Literal Meaning:I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you.” ---- It does not mean He gives up the responsibility of being the patron and no longer intercedes for those who are of the Lord (see Rom 8:34; Heb7:25; 1John 2:1). That is to say we believers should not give up the right of supplicating the Father directly although the Lord would intercede for us.

 

John. 16:27 for the Father Himself loves you because you have loved Me and have believed that I came forth from God.

YLT: “for the Father himself doth love you because me ye have loved and ye have believed that I from God came forth;”

Literal Meaning: this verse provides the proof that believers can supplicate God directly.

 

John. 16:28 I came forth from the Father and have come into the world. Again I leave the world and go to the Father."

YLT: “I came forth from the Father and have come to the world; again I leave the world and go on unto the Father.'”

Enlightenment in the Word:

     1) Only believing that the Lord comes out of the Father is insufficient ---- such faith is incomplete. We should also believe that He will come back to the Father.

     2) If a believer knows where he comes from and where he goes to his sadness will become joy when in anguish.

 

John. 16:29 His disciples said to Him "See now You are speaking plainly and using no figure of speech!

YLT: “His disciples say to him `Lo now freely thou dost speak and no similitude speakest thou;”

 

John. 16:30 Now we are sure that You know all things and have no need that anyone should question You. By this we believe that You came forth from God."

YLT: “now we have known that thou hast known all things and hast no need that any one do question thee; in this we believe that from God thou didst come forth.'”

Literal Meaning:we believe that You came forth from God.” ---- “Believing” and “coming forth from God” are the great two themes of the Book of John.

 

John. 16:31 Jesus answered them "Do you now believe?

YLT: “Jesus answered them `Now do ye believe? lo there doth come an hour ”

Literal Meaning:Do you now believe?” ---- It indicated: “even though you have believed Me now you will soon meet difficulties and then you faith will be shaken” (see v.32). It suggested that the disciples’ faith had not reached the true faith for they had not been tried through afflictions.

 

John. 16:32 Indeed the hour is coming yes has now come that you will be scattered each to his own and will leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone because the Father is with Me.

YLT: “and now it hath come that ye may be scattered each to his own things and me ye may leave alone and I am not alone because the Father is with me;”

Meaning of Words: “leave”: forsake lay aside;

Literal Meaning:you will be scattered each to his own” “scattered” indicated that it had fulfilled what was written in the Scripture: “smite the shepherd and the sheep shall be scattered” (Zech 13:7).

  “Leave Me alone” it meant that the disciples forsook the Lord but the Lord did not seem to care about it.

Enlightenment in the Word:

     1) Many times the more spiritual one is the lonelier he will feel because others cannot feel what he has felt. But thanks the Lord! Though he is alone the Lords presence gives him great consolation.

     2) No one can go to the cross in place of the Lord who has to face it by Himself. When we run in the way of the cross we may become increasingly lonely for many men seek the Lords blessings but refuse the way of the cross.

 

John. 16:33 These things I have spoken to you that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer I have overcome the world."

YLT: “these things I have spoken to you that in me ye may have peace in the world ye shall have tribulation but take courage -- I have overcome the world.'”

Meaning of Words: tribulation”: burdened persecution distress; “be of good cheer”: have courage; “overcome”: conquer prevail and get the victory;

Literal Meaning:In the world you will have tribulation” note that the Lord did not promise the believers that there was no tribulation. The “tribulation” in this verse was the same as the “anguish” of the woman who is in labor in verse 21. It suggested that the tribulation of believers was like the woman’s labor pain which is a transition from anguish to joy.

  “But be of good cheer” what troubles us most is suffering the meaningless suffering i.e. suffering in vain.

  Note the comparisons in this verse: 1 “in Me” and “in the world”; (2) “Peace” and “tribulation”.

Enlightenment in the Word:

     1) The Lord does not ask Christians to close their eyes to ignore the tribulation in the world.

     2) Someone draws an analogy: “tribulation” is like the meat clipped in the sandwich and “being of good cheer” and “peace” are like that two pieces of bread. This sandwich is put in the dish of “victory” and is then sent to believers. Once we have eaten this bread though there is tribulation we can not only overcome the tribulation but also obtain profit from it because there are “being of good cheer” peace and victory.

     3) “In Me you may have peace” it tells us that there is no peace outside the Lord. We shall find true peace in Christ only.

     4) “Into the truth (v.13)” means entering the Lord Himself. Only the one who lives in reality and truth is living in the Lord. And only in such case we shall have true peace and overcome the world.

     5) In the risen Lord the victory of the Lord has become our victory. And we shall always boast of His victory in Him.

 

III. Outlines of the Spiritual Lessons

 

I.  The Works of the Holy Spirit

A.   To help believers:

1.    It is to their advantage (v.7a).

2.    To be the Helper who brings the presence of the Lord in spirit (v.7b)

B.   To enlighten and lead the world:

1.    He will convict the world (v.8).

2.    He will lead the world to know the sin of not believing the Lord (v.9).

3.    He will lead the world to know that Christ is righteousness (v.10).

4.    He will lead the world to know that Satan should be judged (v.11).

C.   To guide believers:

1.    Through guiding them into all truth (v.13a).

2.    Through speaking the truth (v.13b).

3.    Through telling the things to come (v.13c).

D.   To glorify Christ ---- He will take of what is of the Lord and declare it to believers (v.14-15).

 

II.The Revelation and Fulfillment of the Truth in the New Testament

A.   Instead of telling the disciples all things the Lord reserved “many things” (v.12).

B.   The Holy Spirit will guide the disciples into all truth (v.13).

C.   The guidance of the Holy Spirit is the revelation of the Father and the Son (v.13).

D.   The Lord’s disciples are witnesses who are chosen by the Lord to receive and testify all the truth (v.13; 15:27).

 

III.   The Secret of Reading the Scripture and Praying

A.   One should be in the guidance of the Holy Spirit when reading the Scripture (v.12-14).

B.   One should be in the name of the Lord when reading the Scripture (v.23-24).

 

IV.  To Know the Resurrection of Christ

A.   Men do not understand the resurrection (v.16-19).

B.   Resurrection brings the joy which cannot be taken away (v.20-22).

C.   Resurrection opens the way to the God the Father (v.23-24).

D.   Resurrection reveals the will of the Father (v.25-27).

E.   Resurrection proves the relationship between Christ and the Father (v.28).

F.    Resurrection exposes the infirm faith of men (v.29-32).

G.   Resurrection brings men true peace (v.33).

 

V.   The Two Levels of Joy of the Believers

A.   The joy of seeing the Lord’s appearance in His resurrection (v.22) ---- no one can take away such joy.

B.   The joy that their prayer in the name of the Lord has been granted by God (v.24) ---- such joy shall be full.

 

VI.  The Peace and Tribulation of Believers

A.   There is peace in the Lord (v.33a).

B.   There is tribulation in the world (v.33b).

C.   How to overcome the tribulation? ---- To put one’s trust in the Lord who has overcome (v.33c).

 

── Caleb HuangChristian Digest Bible Commentary Series

   Translated by Mary Zhou