John 16

(1)  These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.
(2)  They shall put you out of the synagogues: 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.
(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.
(5)  But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou?
(6)  But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart.
(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.
(8)  And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
(9)  Of sin, because they believe not on me;
(10)  Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;
(11)  Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
(12)  I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.
(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.
(14)  He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
(15)  All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
(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.
(17)  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 said therefore, What is this that he saith, A little while? we cannot tell what he saith.
(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?
(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.
(21)  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)  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)  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)  Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
(25)  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)  At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you:
(27)  For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.
(28)  I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.
(29)  His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb.
(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.
(31)  Jesus answered them, Do ye now believe?
(32)  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 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.

Previous Chapter

Next Chapter

Study Questions

read more

1. Why did Jesus have to speak so plainly about persecution that was to come to these disciples? Verse 1.

2. How would the Jews justify persecuting and even killing Jesus’ disciples? Verse 2.

3. In what way did the Jews not know Jesus or the Father? Verse 3.

4. Why didn’t Jesus speak to the disciples about terrible persecutions before this? Verse 4.

5. Why didn’t the disciples ask Jesus where he was going? Verses 5-6.

6. How will Jesus’ going away be an advantage to the disciples? Verse 7.

7. How does the Holy Spirit convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment? Verse 8.

8. Why couldn’t the disciples “bear” other things Jesus wants to say to them? Verse 12.

9. What three things will the Spirit of truth do that will make fully known what they can’t bear at this time? Verse 13.

10. How will the presentation of the truth by the Spirit glorify Jesus? Verse 14.

11. How is the statement that “all that the Father has is His” an assertion of Jesus’ deity? Verse 15.

12. How would the disciples see Jesus again in a little while? Verse 16.

13. Why didn’t the disciples understand Jesus’ statements when we can understand so easily? Verses 17-18.

14. Why didn’t Jesus explain the meaning of his statements again? Verse 19.

15. What would cause the disciples to weep and lament and the world to rejoice and how would their sorrow be turned to joy? Verse 20.

16. How is the situation of the disciples like that of a woman in childbirth? Verses 21-22.

17. How is the preaching of the apostles on the day of Pentecost a demonstration of Jesus’ statement that “ye shall ask me nothing”? Verse 23.

18. What would be different about the prayers of Jesus from henceforth? Verse 24.

19. Why were the sayings of Jesus “dark,” and how would they be made plain? Verse 25.

20. Why will Jesus not say, “I will pray the Father for you”? Verses 26-27.

21. What great features of the gospel are affirmed in this verse? Verse 28.

22. What changed the understanding of the disciples? Verses 29-30.

23. Does Jesus think the disciples’ faith would be enough to sustain them during his trial and crucifixion? Verses 31-32.

24. What theme was used to end the dark sayings of Jesus this dark night? Verse 33.