John 16 - NKJV Study Bible

16:2 They will put you out of the synagogues . . . kills you: The persecution that the disciples would face included excommunication and even execution. Excommunication had economic as well as religious implications, because much of the life of an ancient Jew revolved around the synagogue. Offers expresses the idea of offering a sacrifice. The murderers of believers would imagine that they were offering a sacrifice to God.

16:4 at the beginning: Jesus had been preparing His disciples to assimilate the truth (see Prov. 22:6). In His wisdom, the Lord never gives us more than we can handle.

16:5 none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’: Peter had asked this very question (13:36) and Thomas had suggested it (14:5). However, things were different now. The disciples had learned about denials, suffering, and death. To go with Jesus involved the most serious consequences.

16:7 The disciples must have thought, “How can it be to our advantage to be alone? The Romans hate us because they see us as disturbers of the peace. The Jewish leaders hate us because they see us as blasphemers. You alone love us, and You are leaving us.” So Jesus explained the benefits of His departure. When Jesus left, the believers would have (1) the provision of the Holy Spirit (vv. 7–15); (2) the potential of full joy (vv. 16–24); (3) the possibility of fuller knowledge (vv. 25–28); (4) the privilege of peace (vv. 29–33). I will send Him: Jesus explained that the Holy Spirit will convict the world (vv. 7–11) and communicate truth to the apostles (vv. 12–15). to you: The Holy Spirit would not be given to the world, but to believers. The coming of the Spirit would be more profitable to believers than even the physical presence of Christ, since the Spirit could dwell in all believers at the same time.

16:8 Convict means “convince” or “reprove.” The Holy Spirit would demonstrate the truth of Christ beyond the fear of contradiction. The Holy Spirit convicts unbelievers through believers who witness about Christ (15:26,27). Believers are the mouthpiece for God’s voice. The content of the witness that the Spirit reinforces includes truth about sin, righteousness, and judgment.

16:9 of sin: Note the singular sin, not sins. Our witness should not focus on sins (adultery, gluttony, pride, and other sins), but on the full payment that Christ has made for all sin. Reception of the full pardon is the only cure for the disease of sin.

16:10 of righteousness: After Christ’s departure the Holy Spirit would convict the world of the nature of righteousness and the need for righteousness. Jesus’ work on the Cross was completely righteous. This is demonstrated by the Father’s emptying of the tomb, signifying His satisfaction with the righteous payment and His acceptance of Christ into His presence.

16:11 of judgment: Satan, the ruler of this world, rules in the hearts of unregenerate people and blinds their minds (see 1 Cor. 2:6–8). Satan was judged at the Cross, and the Holy Spirit would convince people of the judgment to come. Satan has been judged, so all who side with him will be judged with him. There is no room for neutrality. A person is either a child of God or a child of the devil.

16:12 You refers to the apostles. Technically, what the Lord says about the ministry of the Holy Spirit in vv. 12–15 applies primarily to the apostles. The Holy Spirit’s ministry to them was threefold: (1) He would guide them into all truth (v. 13); (2) He would tell them of the future (v. 13); (3) He would help them glorify Christ (vv. 14,15). Jesus’ words were fulfilled in the apostles’ preaching and writings. The Holy Spirit guided the apostles by revealing to them not only the truths embodied in Jesus’ life and death, but also the glorious future of all believers. The apostles, in turn, wrote it down in the NT, which glorifies—that is, reveals—Jesus Christ. The word bear means “to carry a burden” and is used later of Christ carrying the Cross (19:17). In other words, there were truths that they could not understand (v. 13) or handle until the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost.

16:13 Spirit of truth: The phrase means that the Holy Spirit is the source of truth (14:17; 15:26). guide: The Holy Spirit would not compel or carry the disciples into truth. He would lead; their job was to follow. All truth refers to the truth necessary to be mature saints and thoroughly equipped servants (see 2 Tim. 3:16,17). Things to come includes truths about the church (see Eph. 3:1–7), as well as future events.

16:14 For indicates that the last part of the verse explains glorify Me. The Holy Spirit glorifies Christ by declaring Him or making Him known. It is the work of the Holy Spirit to throw light on Jesus Christ, who is the image of the invisible God. Christ is to be on center stage; that is the desire of both the Father and the Spirit. The apostles received truth from the Holy Spirit, truth about things to come, and truth about Christ. Then under the guidance of the Holy Spirit they wrote those truths in documents known today as the NT (see 14:25,26; 1 Cor. 2:13).

16:15 To say that the Holy Spirit will take what belongs to Christ (v. 14) does not mean He will concentrate on Christ to the exclusion of the Father. There is no division within the Godhead. What the Father has, the Son has (17:10). What the Son has, the Spirit will declare (see 1 Cor. 2:13). However, the focus will be on Christ because He is the “image of the invisible God” (see Col. 1:15). His steps are the only ones we can follow because He is the only one we have “seen.”

16:16 You will see Me has been interpreted to mean: (1) the disciples would literally see Jesus after the Resurrection; (2) the disciples would spiritually see Jesus after the ascension because of the work of the Holy Spirit. Verse 22 seems to support the literal sight after the Resurrection.

16:18 A little while: The biggest question weighing on the disciples’ minds was the time factor. They simply did not understand the strange intervals marked by their separation from Jesus.

16:20,21 weep and lament: When Jesus died, the disciples would openly express their intense sorrow. The world would rejoice, assuming that it was rid of Jesus. But the sorrow of the disciples would be turned into joy. This is not merely a case of sorrow being followed by joy, but of sorrow becoming joy. The sorrow itself would be transformed. The death of Jesus would be first a sorrow and then a joy. To explain His words (in v. 20), Jesus used the example of a pregnant woman. A woman . . . in labor has sorrow, but the very sorrow is transformed into joy in the birth of the child.

16:22 I will see you again refers to Jesus’ postresurrection appearances. your joy no one will take: The disciples’ sorrow would depart; their joy would remain. Jesus’ death and resurrection brings the joy of forgiven sins (see 1 Pet. 1:8) that the world cannot take away.

16:25 An example of figurative language is the allegory of the grapevine in 15:1–8, which presents the work of the Father in producing the fruit of love in believers. A figure of speech can be more vivid and graphic than ordinary prose.

16:26,27 In My name means by Christ’s authority. I do not say . . . I shall pray the Father for you: Because Jesus provides forgiveness of sins through His death and now intercedes for all believers at the right hand of the Father (see Heb. 7:25), we have direct access to the Father. We do not need the intercession of a priest, because Jesus acts as our High Priest before God. For indicates that v. 27 explains the previous verse. After Jesus’ departure, the disciples would be able to pray directly to God the Father, who loves them because they believed in and loved His Son, Jesus.

16:29,30 we believe: Jesus had read the disciples’ hearts (v. 19) and answered their questions. Like the Samaritan woman, they concluded that He knew all things (4:39). To the disciples, Jesus’ supernatural knowledge proved His divine mission.

16:31 now believe: We continue in the Christian life the same way we begin, by believing in Jesus. The more we learn of Christ, the more we have to believe. The more we place our trust in Jesus, the more we receive. The more we receive, the more we can accomplish for His glory.

16:32 you will be scattered: The disciples would desert Jesus. Knowing this, Jesus still loved them, an amazing example of unconditional love.

16:33 Tribulation is literally “pressure,” and figuratively means “affliction” or “distress.” Be of good cheer means “be confident and courageous.” When we place our trust in God, He can give us peace in the midst of pressure. See Phil. 1:27–30 for Paul’s explanation of the principle of joy in suffering.