Warning of Persecution
Study note
Jesus forewarns the disciples that they will be expelled from synagogues and that people who kill them will believe they are serving God. He tells them this in advance so that when persecution comes, they will remember his warning and not fall away. This sober preparation reflects Jesus' pastoral care -- he does not promise an easy path but equips them to endure.
1 "I have warned you about all of this so that when hard times come, your faith will not be shaken." These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.
2 "People will ban you from the synagogues. In fact, a time is coming when someone who kills you will think they are doing God a favor." They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.
3 "They will do these things because they have never truly known the Father or me." And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.
4 "But I am telling you now so that when it happens, you will remember my warning. I did not mention all this earlier because I was right here beside you." 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.
The Work of the Holy Spirit
Study note
Jesus explains that his departure is actually advantageous because it enables the coming of the Comforter. The Spirit will convict the world concerning sin (for not believing in Jesus), righteousness (because Jesus goes to the Father), and judgment (because the ruler of this world is judged). The Spirit of truth will guide the disciples into all truth, speaking only what he hears from the Father and Son, and will glorify Jesus by revealing what belongs to him.
5 "But now I am heading back to the one who sent me, and none of you is even asking, 'Where are you going?'" But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou?
6 "Instead, your hearts are heavy with sadness because of what I have told you." But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart.
7 "But I am telling you the honest truth: it is better for you that I go away. If I stay, the Helper will not come to you. But when I leave, I will send him to you." 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.
8 "When the Helper comes, he will open the world's eyes to the truth about sin, about what is right, and about judgment:" And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
9 "about sin, because people refuse to believe in me;" Of sin, because they believe not on me;
10 "about what is right, because I am returning to my Father and you will no longer see me here;" Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;
11 "and about judgment, because the ruler of this world has already been found guilty." Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
12 "There is so much more I want to tell you, but it is more than you can handle right now." I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.
13 "When the Spirit of truth comes, he will walk you through everything and help you understand the full truth. He will not be making things up on his own -- he will share what he hears, and he will give you glimpses of what is coming." 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.
14 "He will bring me honor, because he will take the things that belong to me and explain them to you." He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
15 "Everything the Father has also belongs to me. That is what I mean when I say the Spirit will take what is mine and explain it to you." All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
Sorrow Turned to Joy
Study note
Using the analogy of a woman in labor whose pain turns to joy at the birth of her child, Jesus promises that the disciples' coming grief over his death will be transformed into an unshakeable joy at his resurrection. In that day, they will pray directly to the Father in Jesus' name and receive what they ask, making their joy complete. The temporary sorrow of the cross gives way to the permanent joy of new life.
16 "In just a little while, you will not see me anymore. But then a little while after that, you will see me again, because I am going to the Father." 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.
17 Some of his followers turned to each other and asked, "What is he talking about? 'In a little while you will not see me, and then after a little while you will see me again'? And what does he mean by 'because I am going to the Father'?" Then said some of his disciples among themselves, What is this that he saith unto us, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me: and, Because I go to the Father?
18 They kept saying, "What does 'a little while' mean? We cannot figure out what he is trying to say." They said therefore, What is this that he saith, A little while? we cannot tell what he saith.
19 Jesus could tell they wanted to ask him about it. So he said, "Are you trying to figure out what I meant when I said, 'In a little while you will not see me, and then a little while later you will see me again'?" Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him, and said unto them, Do ye inquire 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?
20 "I am telling you the truth: you are going to weep and be heartbroken while the world celebrates. You will go through deep grief, but your grief will eventually be transformed into the greatest joy." 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.
21 "Think about a woman in labor. While she is going through it, the pain is intense. But the moment her baby arrives, the pain fades from her memory because she is so overjoyed that a new life has entered the world." A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world.
22 "Right now you are going through pain. But I am going to see you again, and when I do, your hearts will explode with joy -- and nobody will ever be able to take that joy away from you." 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.
23 "When that day comes, you will not need to ask me questions anymore. Instead, whatever you ask the Father using my name, he will give it to you. I am telling you the truth about this." 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.
24 "Up to this point you have not asked for anything using my name. Start asking! And you will receive what you ask for, so your joy will be completely full." Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
I Have Overcome the World
Study note
Jesus transitions from speaking in figures of speech to speaking plainly about his origin from the Father and return to the Father. The disciples believe they finally understand, but Jesus warns that they will soon be scattered, each to his own home, leaving him alone -- though he is never truly alone because the Father is with him. He concludes with one of the most encouraging promises in Scripture: 'In the world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.'
25 "I have been using word pictures to explain things to you. But a time is coming when I will stop using word pictures and will speak to you plainly and directly about the Father." These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father.
26 "On that day, you will ask the Father in my name. I am not saying I will have to ask the Father for you." At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you:
27 "The Father himself already loves you deeply, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God." For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.
28 "I left the Father's side and came into the world. Now I am leaving the world behind and going back to the Father." I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.
29 His followers said, "Now you are speaking plainly at last. No more word pictures!" His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb.
30 "Now we can see that you know everything, and you do not even need anyone to ask you questions. Therefore we believe you came from God." 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.
31 Jesus replied, "So now you finally believe?" Jesus answered them, Do ye now believe?
32 "Listen -- the time is coming, and it is almost here, when you will all scatter and run to your own homes. You will leave me all alone. But I am never truly alone, because the Father is always with me." Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.
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. These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.