查經資料大全

 

| Back to Home Page | Back to Book Index |

 

John Chapter Sixteen

 

John 16

In chapter 16 a further step is taken in the revelation of this grace. The Holy Ghost is looked upon as already here below.

In this chapter the Lord declares that He has set forth all His instruction with regard to His departure; their sufferings in the world as holding His place; their joy as being in the same relationship to Him as that in which He had been while on earth to His Father; their knowledge of the fact that He was in the Father and they in Him and He Himself in them; the gift of the Holy Ghost in order to prepare them for all that would happen when He was gone that they might not be offended. For they should be cast out of the synagogues and he who should kill them would think that he was serving God. This would be the case with those who resting in their old doctrines as a form and rejecting the light would only use the form of truth by which they accredited the flesh as orthodox to resist the light which according to the Spirit would judge the flesh. This would they do because they knew neither the Father nor Jesus the Son of the Father. It is fresh truth which tests the soul and faith. Old truth generally received and by which a body of people are distinguished from those around them may be a subject of pride to the flesh even where it is the truth as was the case with the Jews. But fresh truth is a question of faith in its source: there is not the support of a body accredited by it but the cross of hostility and isolation. They thought they served God. They knew not the Father and the Son.

Nature is occupied with that which it loses. Faith looks at the future into which God leads. Precious thought! Nature acted in the disciples: they loved Jesus; they grieved at His going away. We can understand this. But faith would not have stopped there. If they had apprehended the necessary glory of the Person of Jesus; if their affection animated by faith had thought of Him and not of themselves they would have asked "Whither goest thou?" Nevertheless He who thought of them assures them that it would be gain to them even to lose Him. Glorious fruit of the ways of God! Their gain would be in this that the Comforter should be here on earth with them and in them. Here observe Jesus does not speak of the Father. It was the Comforter here below in His stead to maintain the testimony of His love for the disciples and His relationship to them. Christ was going away: for if He went not away the Comforter would not come; but if He departed He would send Him. When He was come He would act in demonstration of the truth with regard to the world that rejected Christ and persecuted His disciples; and He would act for blessing in the disciples themselves.

With regard to the world the Comforter had one only subject of testimony in order to demonstrate the sin of the world. It has not believed in Jesus-in the Son. Doubtless there was sin of every kind and to speak truth nothing but sin-sin that deserved judgment; and in the work of conversion He brings these sins home to the soul. But the rejection of Christ put the whole world under one common judgment. No doubt every one shall answer for his sins; and the Holy Ghost makes me feel them. But as a system responsible to God the world had rejected His Son. This was the ground on which God dealt with the world now; this it was which made manifest the heart of man. It was the demonstration that God being fully revealed in love such as He was man would not receive Him. He came not imputing their trespasses unto them; but they rejected Him. The presence of Jesus was not the Son of God Himself manifested in His glory from which man might shrink with fear though he could not escape; it was what He was morally in His nature in His character. Man hated Him: all testimony to bring man to God was unavailing. The plainer the testimony the more he turned from it and opposed it. The demonstration of the sin of the world was its having rejected Christ. Terrible testimony that God in goodness should excite detestation because He was perfect and perfectly good! Such is man. The testimony of the Holy Ghost to the world as God's to Cain of old would be Where is my Son? It was not that man was guilty; that he was when Christ came; but he was lost the tree was bad. [1]

But this was God's path to something altogether different-the demonstration of righteousness in that Christ went to His Father and the world saw Him no more. It was the result of Christ's rejection. Human righteousness there was none. Man's sin was proved by the rejection of Christ. The cross was indeed judgment executed upon sin. And in that sense it was righteousness; but in this world it was the only righteous One condemned by man and forsaken by God; it was not the manifestation of righteousness. It was a final judicial separation between man and God (see chapters 11 and 12:31). If Christ had been delivered there and had become the King of Israel this would not have been an adequate consequence of His having glorified God. Having glorified God His Father He was going to sit at His right hand at the right hand of the Majesty on high to be glorified in God Himself to sit on the Father's throne. To set Him there was divine righteousness (see chapter 13:31 32 and 17:1 4 5). This same righteousness deprived the world as it is of Jesus for ever. Man saw Him no more. Righteousness in favour of men was in Christ at God's right hand-in judgment as to the world in that it had lost Him hopelessly and for ever.

Moreover Satan had been proved to be the prince of this world by leading all men against the Lord Jesus. To accomplish the purposes of God in grace Jesus does not resist. He gives Himself up to death. He who has the power of death committed himself thoroughly. In his desire to ruin man he had to hazard everything in his enterprise against the Prince of Life. He was able to associate the whole world with himself in this Jew and Gentile priest and people governor soldier and subject. The world was there headed by its prince on that solemn day. The enemy had everything at stake and the world was with him. But Christ has risen He has ascended to His Father and has sent down the Holy Ghost. All the motives that govern the world and the power by which Satan held men captive are shewn to be of him; he is judged. The power of the Holy Ghost is the testimony of this and surmounts all the powers of the enemy. The world is not yet judged that is the judgment executed-it will be in another manner; but it is morally its prince is judged. All its motives religious and irreligious have led it to reject Christ placing it under Satan's power. It is in that character that he has been judged; for he led the world against Him who is manifested to be the Son of God by the presence of the Holy Ghost consequent on His breaking the power of Satan in death.

All this took place through the presence on earth of the Holy Ghost sent down by Christ. His presence in itself was the demonstration of these three things. For if the Holy Ghost was here it was because the world had rejected the Son of God. Righteousness was evidenced by Jesus being at the right hand of God of which the presence of the Holy Ghost was the proof as well as in the fact that the world had lost Him. Now the world which rejected Him was not outwardly judged but Satan having led it to reject the Son the presence of the Holy Ghost proved that Jesus had destroyed the power of death; that he who had possessed that power was thus judged; that he had shewn himself to be the enemy of Him whom the Father owned; that his power was gone and victory belonged to the Second Adam when Satan's whole power had been arrayed against the human weakness of Him who in love had yielded to it. But Satan thus judged was the prince of this world.

The presence of the Holy Ghost should be the demonstration not of Christ's rights as Messiah true as they were but of those truths that related to man-to the world in which Israel was now lost having rejected the promises although God would preserve the nation for Himself. But the Holy Ghost was doing something more than demonstrating the condition of the world. He would accomplish a work in the disciples; He would lead them into all truth and He would shew them things to come; for Jesus had many things to tell them which they were not yet able to bear. When the Holy Ghost should be in them He should be their strength in them as well as their teacher; and it would be a wholly different state of things for the disciples. Here He is considered as present on the earth in place of Jesus and dwelling in the disciples not as an individual spirit speaking from Himself but even as Jesus said "As I hear I judge " with a judgment perfectly divine and heavenly: so the Holy Ghost acting in the disciples would speak that which came from above and of the future according to divine knowledge. It should be heaven and the future of which He would speak communicating what was heavenly from above and revealing events to come upon the earth the one and the other being witnesses that it was a knowledge which belonged to God. How blessed to have that which He has to give!

But further He takes here the place of Christ. Jesus had glorified the Father on earth. The Holy Ghost would glorify Jesus with reference to the glory that belonged to His Person and to His position. He does not here speak directly of the glory of the Father. The disciples had seen the glory of the life of Christ on earth; the Holy Ghost would unfold to them His glory in that which belonged to Him as glorified with the Father-that which was His own.

They would learn "in part." This is man's measure when the things of God are in question but its extent is declared by the Lord Himself: "He shall glorify me for he shall receive of mine and shall shew it unto you. An that the Father hath is mine: therefore said I He shall take of mine and shall shew it unto you."

Thus we have the gift of the Holy Ghost variously presented in connection with Christ. In dependence on His Father and representing His disciples as gone up from among them on their behalf He addresses Himself to the Father; He asks the Father to send the Holy Ghost (chap. 14:16). Afterwards we find that His own name is all powerful. All blessing from the Father comes in His name. It is on His account and according to the efficacy of His name of all that in Him is acceptable to the Father that good comes to us. Thus the Father will send the Holy Ghost in His name (chap. 14:26). And Christ being glorified on high and having taken His place with His Father He Himself sends the Holy Ghost (chap. 15:26) from the Father as proceeding from Him. Finally the Holy Ghost is present here in this world in and with the disciples and He glorifies Jesus and takes of His and reveals it to His own (chap. 16:13-15). Here all the glory of the Person of Christ is set forth as well as the rights belonging to the position He has taken. "All things that the Father hath" are His. He has taken His position according to the eternal counsels of God in virtue of His work as Son of man. But if He has entered into possession in this character all that He possesses in it is His as a Son to whom (being one with the Father) all that the Father has belongs.

There He should be hidden for a while: the disciples should afterwards see Him for it was only the accomplishment of the ways of God; it was no question of being as it were lost by death. He was going to His Father. On this point the disciples understood nothing. The Lord develops the fact and its consequences without yet shewing them the whole import of what He said. He takes it up on the human and historical side. The world would rejoice at having got rid of Him. Miserable joy! The disciples would lament although it was the true source of joy for them; but their sorrow should be turned into joy. As testimony this took place when He shewed Himself to them after His resurrection; it will be fully accomplished when He shall return to receive them unto Himself. But when they had seen Him again they should understand the relationship in which He has placed them with His Father they should enjoy it by the Holy Ghost. It should not be as though they could not themselves draw nigh to the Father while Christ could do so (as Martha said "I know that whatsoever thou wilt ask of God he willgive it thee"). They might themselves go directly to the Father who loved them because they had believed in Jesus and had received Him when He had humbled Himself in this world of sin (in principle it is always thus); and asking what they would in His name they should receive it so that their joy might be full in the consciousness of the blessed position of unfailing favour into which they were brought and of the value of all that they possessed in Christ.

Nevertheless the Lord already declares to them the basis of the truth-He came from the Father He was going away to the Father. The disciples think they understand that which He had thus spoken without a parable. They felt that He had divined their thought for they had not expressed it to Him. Yet they did not rise really to the height of what He said. He had told them that they had believed in His having come "from God." This they understood; and that which had taken place had confirmed them in this faith and they declare their conviction with regard to this truth; but they do not enter into the thought of coming "from the Father " and going away "to the Father." They fancied themselves quite in the light; but they had apprehended nothing that raised them above the effect of Christ's rejection which the belief that He came from the Father and was going to the Father would have done. Jesus therefore declares to them that His death would scatter them and that they would forsake Him. His Father would be with Him; He should not be alone. Nevertheless He had explained all these things to them in order that they should have peace in Him. In the world that rejected Him they should have tribulation; but He had overcome the world they might be of good cheer.

This ends the conversation of Jesus with His disciples on earth. In the following chapter He addresses His Father as taking His own place in departing and giving His disciples theirs (that is His own) with regard to the Father and to the world after He had gone away to be glorified with the Father. The whole chapter is essentially putting the disciples in His own place after laying the ground for it in His own glorifying and work. It is save the last verses His place on earth. As He was divinely in heaven and so shewed a divine heavenly character on earth so (He being glorified as man in heaven) they united with Him were in turn to display the same. Hence we have first the place He personally takes and the work which entitles them to be in it.

Footnotes

[1] Man is judged for what he has done; he is lost by what he is.

── John DarbySynopsis of John

 

John 16

Chapter Contents

Persecution foretold. (1-6) The promise of the Holy Spirit and his office. (7-15) Christ's departure and return. (16-22) Encouragement to prayer. (23-27) Christ's discoveries of himself. (28-33)

Commentary on John 16:1-6

(Read John 16:1-6)

Our Lord Jesus by giving his disciples notice of trouble designed that the terror might not be a surprise to them. It is possible for those who are real enemies to God's service to pretend zeal for it. This does not lessen the sin of the persecutors; villanies will never be changed by putting the name of God to them. As Jesus in his sufferings so his followers in theirs should look to the fulfilling of Scripture. He did not tell them sooner because he was with them to teach guide and comfort them; they needed not then this promise of the Holy Spirit's presence. It will silence us to ask Whence troubles come? It will satisfy us to ask Whither go they? for we know they work for good. It is the common fault and folly of melancholy Christians to look only on the dark side of the cloud and to turn a deaf ear to the voice of joy and gladness. That which filled the disciples' hearts with sorrow was too great affection for this present life. Nothing more hinders our joy in God than the love of the world and the sorrow of the world which comes from it.

Commentary on John 16:7-15

(Read John 16:7-15)

Christ's departure was necessary to the Comforter's coming. Sending the Spirit was to be the fruit of Christ's death which was his going away. His bodily presence could be only in one place at one time but his Spirit is every where in all places at all times wherever two or three are gathered together in his name. See here the office of the Spirit first to reprove or to convince. Convincing work is the Spirit's work; he can do it effectually and none but he. It is the method the Holy Spirit takes first to convince and then to comfort. The Spirit shall convince the world of sin; not merely tell them of it. The Spirit convinces of the fact of sin; of the fault of sin; of the folly of sin; of the filth of sin that by it we are become hateful to God; of the fountain of sin the corrupt nature; and lastly of the fruit of sin that the end thereof is death. The Holy Spirit proves that all the world is guilty before God. He convinces the world of righteousness; that Jesus of Nazareth was Christ the righteous. Also of Christ's righteousness imparted to us for justification and salvation. He will show them where it is to be had and how they may be accepted as righteous in God's sight. Christ's ascension proves the ransom was accepted and the righteousness finished through which believers were to be justified. Of judgment because the prince of this world is judged. All will be well when his power is broken who made all the mischief. As Satan is subdued by Christ this gives us confidence for no other power can stand before him. And of the day of judgment. The coming of the Spirit would be of unspeakable advantage to the disciples. The Holy Spirit is our Guide not only to show us the way but to go with us by continued aids and influences. To be led into a truth is more than barely to know it; it is not only to have the notion of it in our heads but the relish and savour and power of it in our hearts. He shall teach all truth and keep back nothing profitable for he will show things to come. All the gifts and graces of the Spirit all the preaching and all the writing of the apostles under the influence of the Spirit all the tongues and miracles were to glorify Christ. It behoves every one to ask whether the Holy Spirit has begun a good work in his heart? Without clear discovery of our guilt and danger we never shall understand the value of Christ's salvation; but when brought to know ourselves aright we begin to see the value of the Redeemer. We should have fuller views of the Redeemer and more lively affections to him if we more prayed for and depended on the Holy Spirit.

Commentary on John 16:16-22

(Read John 16:16-22)

It is good to consider how near our seasons of grace are to an end that we may be quickened to improve them. But the sorrows of the disciples would soon be turned into joy; as those of a mother at the sight of her infant. The Holy Spirit would be their Comforter and neither men nor devils neither sufferings in life nor in death would ever deprive them of their joy. Believers have joy or sorrow according to their sight of Christ and the tokens of his presence. Sorrow is coming on the ungodly which nothing can lessen; the believer is an heir to joy which no one can take away. Where now is the joy of the murderers of our Lord and the sorrow of his friends?

Commentary on John 16:23-27

(Read John 16:23-27)

Asking of the Father shows a sense of spiritual wants and a desire of spiritual blessings with conviction that they are to be had from God only. Asking in Christ's name is acknowledging our unworthiness to receive any favours from God and shows full dependence upon Christ as the Lord our Righteousness. Our Lord had hitherto spoken in short and weighty sentences or in parables the import of which the disciples did not fully understand but after his resurrection he intended plainly to teach them such things as related to the Father and the way to him through his intercession. And the frequency with which our Lord enforces offering up petitions in his name shows that the great end of the mediation of Christ is to impress us with a deep sense of our sinfulness and of the merit and power of his death whereby we have access to God. And let us ever remember that to address the Father in the name of Christ or to address the Son as God dwelling in human nature and reconciling the world to himself are the same as the Father and Son are one.

Commentary on John 16:28-33

(Read John 16:28-33)

Here is a plain declaration of Christ's coming from the Father and his return to him. The Redeemer in his entrance was God manifest in the flesh and in his departure was received up into glory. By this saying the disciples improved in knowledge. Also in faith; "Now are we sure." Alas! they knew not their own weakness. The Divine nature did not desert the human nature but supported it and put comfort and value into Christ's sufferings. And while we have God's favourable presence we are happy and ought to be easy though all the world forsake us. Peace in Christ is the only true peace in him alone believers have it. Through him we have peace with God and so in him we have peace in our own minds. We ought to be encouraged because Christ has overcome the world before us. But while we think we stand let us take heed lest we fall. We know not how we should act if brought into temptation; let us watch and pray without ceasing that we may not be left to ourselves.

── Matthew HenryConcise Commentary on John

 

John 16

Verse 3

[3] And these things will they do unto you because they have not known the Father nor me.

They have not known the Father nor me — This is the true root of persecution in all its forms.

Verse 4

[4] 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.

I did not tell you these things at the beginning because I was with you — To bear the chief shock in my own person and to screen you from it.

Verse 5

[5] But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me Whither goest thou?

None of you asketh me — Now when it is most seasonable. Peter did ask this before John 13:36.

Verse 7

[7] 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.

It is expedient for you — In respect of the Comforter John 16:7 etc. and of me John 16:16 etc. and of the Father John 16:23 etc.

Verse 8

[8] And when he is come he will reprove the world of sin and of righteousness and of judgment:

He — Observe his twofold office; toward the world John 16:8 etc.; toward believers John 16:12 etc.: will convince - All of the world - Who do not obstinately resist by your preaching and miracles of sin and of righteousness and of judgment - He who is convinced of sin either accepts the righteousness of Christ or is judged with Satan. An abundant accomplishment of this we find in the Acts of the Apostles.

Verse 9

[9] Of sin because they believe not on me;

Of sin — Particularly of unbelief which is the confluence of all sins and binds them all down upon us.

Verse 10

[10] Of righteousness because I go to my Father and ye see me no more;

Of righteousness because I go to my Father — Which the Spirit will testify though ye do not then see me. But I could not go to him if I were not righteous.

Verse 11

[11] Of judgment because the prince of this world is judged.

The prince of this world is judged — And in consequence thereof dethroned deprived of the power he had so long usurped over men. Yet those who reject the deliverance offered them will remain slaves of Satan still.

Verse 12

[12] I have yet many things to say unto you but ye cannot bear them now.

I have yet many things to say — Concerning my passion death resurrection and the consequences of it. These things we have not in uncertain traditions but in the Acts the Epistles and the Revelation.

But ye cannot bear them now — Both because of your littleness of faith and your immoderate sorrow.

Verse 13

[13] 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.

When he is come — It is universally allowed that the Father Son and Holy Ghost dwell in all believers. And the internal agency of the Holy Ghost is generally admitted. That of the Father and the Son as represented in this Gospel deserves our deepest consideration.

Verse 15

[15] All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I that he shall take of mine and shall shew it unto you.

All things that the Father hath are mine — Could any creature say this?

Verse 16

[16] 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.

A little while and ye shall not see me — When I am buried: and again a little while and ye shall see me - When I am risen: because I go to my Father - I die and rise again in order to ascend to my Father.

Verse 19

[19] 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?

Jesus said to them — Preventing their question.

Verse 20

[20] 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.

Ye will weep and lament — When ye see me dead; but your sorrow will be turned into joy - When ye see me risen.

Verse 22

[22] 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.

Ye now therefore have sorrow — This gives us no manner of authority to assert all believers must come into a state of darkness. They never need lose either their peace or love or the witness that they are the children of God. They never can lose these but either through sin or ignorance or vehement temptation or bodily disorder.

Verse 23

[23] 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.

Ye shall not question me about any thing — Which you do not now understand. You will not need to inquire of me; for you will know all things clearly.

Whatsoever ye shall ask — Knowledge love or any thing else he will give it - Our Lord here gives us a charte blanche. Believer write down what thou wilt. He had said John 14:13 I will do it where the discourse was of glorifying the Father through the Son. Here speaking of the love of the Father to believers he saith He will give it.

Verse 24

[24] Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask and ye shall receive that your joy may be full.

Hitherto ye have asked nothing in my name — For they had asked him directly for all they wanted.

Verse 26

[26] At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you that I will pray the Father for you:

At that day ye shall ask — For true knowledge begets prayer.

And I say not that I will pray — This in nowise implies that he will not: it means only The Father himself now loves you not only because of my intercession but also because of the faith and love which he hath wrought in you.

Verse 30

[30] 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.

Thou knowest all things — Even our hearts. Although no question is asked thee yet thou answerest the thoughts of every one.

By this we believe that thou camest forth from God — They as it were echo back the words which he had spoken in John 16:27 implying We believe in God; we believe also in thee.

── John WesleyExplanatory Notes on John

 

Chapter 16. The Spirit of Truth

The Biggest Warning
The Greatest Comfort

I. The Work of the Holy Spirit

  1. Convict the World of Sin
  2. Guide into All Truth
  3. Glorify Jesus

II. Sorrow Will Turn into Joy

  1. Sorrow of Separation
  2. Joy of Meeting Again
  3. Ask and You Will Receive

III. Jesus Has Overcome the World

  1. Relation to the World
  2. Relation to Father
  3. Relation among Disciples
── Chih-Hsin ChangAn Outline of The New Testament