John 16:1-15

November 23, 2014

Well return to our study of John in chapter sixteen. Jesus and his disciples are in the upper
room on the night before his arrest, and hes preparing them for the sudden change the
crucifixion will bring.
These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.
These things refers back to chapter fifteen where he promises that the disciples will be
hated by the world just for being his followers. This was to be the case as well see in the
rest of the New Testament through stories of their persecution and teachings for others to
expect the same. The Greek word for offended is (skandalisthete);1 we
get our English word for scandal from it,2 and it means to stumble or be offended.3 Hes
comforting them so that when the persecution starts they wont fall away, and theyll know
its all intentional.
2

They shall put you out of the synagogues:

This doesnt sound too bad for us, but the synagogue is the place of public prayer and the
pivot of the Jewish community.4 For them to be put out is public disgrace.
yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.
3
And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor
me.
They think this is what God wants because they dont actually know him. They claim to
follow the Law, but they fail in mercy and love, but anyone who claims to love God and
hates his brother is a liar and the truth is not in him (1 Jn. 4:20). On the contrary, anyone
who loves God and has him for a Father will love his brother because God is love. This is
what Jesus means in 15:12 when he tells the disciples to love each other.
The world, however, have the devil for their father (Jn. 8:44), so they want to do his will
instead of Gods. This is how Cain treated Abel, how the Jews treated the prophets and
Christ and his disciples, and its how theyll treat us. Even today we see persecution in
many countries around the world where believers are harassed and imprisoned for their
faith, but this is because they do not know the Father or the Son.
4

But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember
that I told you of them.
1

http://biblehub.com/text/john/161.htm
http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=scandal
3
http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/morph?l=skandalisqhte&la=greek#lexicon
4
http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/14160synagogue
2

They dont understand a lot of what hes saying because theyre not yet able to bear it (v.
12), but the Comforter will come and teach them all things when the time is right (14:26).
Until then he puts it into their minds so they can recall it later.
And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you. 5But now
I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou? 6But
because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart.
He hasnt always talked this way, but the time is now at hand. They had wondered about
where he was going, but they werent thinking about the big picture, so they were
sorrowful. They wont be left that way though because he will rise and their sorrow will
turn to joy (16:22).
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.
Its profitable for them because his departure signifies the coming of the Spirit and the
onset of the New Covenant; atonement will be made, Christ will rise and ascend, and he will
send the Spirit to be a helper for his followers.
8

And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of
judgment:
The Spirit joins in the testimony against the world when he reproves or convicts; it means
he exposes or puts them to shame,5 and we find it used again in Jude 1:14-15: And Enoch
also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten
thousands of his saints, 15To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly
among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their
hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him. The Spirit will speak against
the world and expose three things:
9

Of sin, because they believe not on me;

This is similar to what Jesus did when he preached to the spirits in prison: But and if ye
suffer for righteousness sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be
troubled; 15But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to
every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
16
Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be
ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. 17For it is better, if the will of
God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing. 18For Christ also hath once suffered
for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh,
but quickened by the Spirit: 19By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;
5

http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/morph?l=elegcei&la=greek#lexicon

20

Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of
Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
21
The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the
filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus
Christ: 22Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and
powers being made subject unto him (1 Pt. 3:14-22). They refused to believe the word
spoken to them, and he goes to them to convict them of their disobedience.
10

Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;

He reproves of righteousness because he goes to the Father. They called him a common
sinner and refused his claims, but he was validated in the end at the ascension. The Father
accepted him.
11

Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

In 1 John 3:8 we read that Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil. He overthrew him,
brought his kingdom to an end. His subjects, therefore, also have a limited to time in power,
and they soon will also be overthrown.
12

I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. 13Howbeit
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. 14He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it
unto you. 15All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take
of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
They cant receive everything he has to say, but theyll learn in time because of the work of
the Spirit. Jesus spoke from the Father, and the Spirit will do the same, and the result is one
singular message:
Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that
begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. 2By this we know that we love the children of
God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. 3For this is the love of God, that we keep
his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. 4For whatsoever is born of God
overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 5Who
is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? 6This is he
that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood.
And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. 7For there are three that
bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. 8And
there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these
three agree in one. 9If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is
the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. 10He that believeth on the Son of God
hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he
believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. 11And this is the record, that God hath given

to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath
not the Son of God hath not life. 13These things have I written unto you that believe on the
name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on
the name of the Son of God (1 Jn. 5:1-13).
Believe on the Son and be saved!
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