An Expository Study of John’s Gospel
CHAPTER 16
Scripture Reading: John 16 (KJV)
THE REVELATION OF THE SON OF GOD TO THE DISCIPLES
Read vs. 1-4
The chapter break after v. 27 is unfortunate. Jesus continues to prepare His disciples for what will soon come. There will soon be a sudden death in the family, for which no one will be prepared, so, Jesus puts His words in their minds, words to strengthen them under the terrible stress soon to come: the shunning process (the excommunicating emptiness of being “put out” of the synagogues); the torture; the killings, all with good conscience, in the name of God.1 Joy and sorrow overflowed in the heart of the Master; joy from the total obedience of some, and sorrow from total rejection of others. The joy of being right, the horror of being wronged. Life is not fair. Truth does not always triumph. Justice often hides her face behind the vail of some religious zealot. Prepare by talking, by communicating, by breaking the silence with words we would rather not hear.
Read vs. 5-15
Now Jesus brings hope. “I’m going away . . . you cannot come with Me now . . . I must go by way of the cross. I know you will not understand this now, but I must go. I will have finished the work My Father gave Me to do. But, good news. When I am gone, I will send you another Comforter. He is mighty. He will reprove the world of sin, and of rightness and judgment.” What a marvelous promise and wonderful Comforter and powerful witness. He will be your comforter, your repository of thought and words. He will convict the world. He will: expose truth, and bring you eventual victory.
Power
In what power and in whose name did Peter stand up and preach words with such convicting power, on that Pentecost day, that the audience was “cut to the heart” (Acts 2:37)? This “Power” is the prosecuting attorney; the One who convicts the world of sin, righteousness and judgment to come. What Power was in Paul, when he stood before Felix and “reasoned of righteousness, temperance and judgment to come” so powerfully until this politician “trembled” (Acts 24:25)? What would cause King Agrippa to cry out, “Almost thou persuadeth me to be a Christian”, responding to the witness of Paul (Acts 26:27-29)? The enemies of the cross “marveled” when they heard the strong voice of Simon Peter preach, “Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name under heaven given men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Why? All of these questions have a simple answer: “When He, the Spirit of truth is come, He will guide you in all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak; and He will show you things to come” (v. 13). It can all be summed up in the saying, “Take and make.” He (the Holy Spirit) will take from the Father and make it known to you. Paul later wrote, “All Scripture is given by inspiration [God breathed] of God, and is profitable for doctrine [teaching], for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect [complete], thoroughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Tim. 3:16-17; emphasis added).
Read vs. 16-27
What is heaven like? How will the judgment take place? When all flesh is resurrected, in what body shall we appear? If Jesus materialized in the midst of our assembly today, what more could He tell us? What could He say that our finite minds could possibly comprehend? Paul said he ascended up into Paradise and heard unspeakable words he could not speak and we could not understand. Through proverbs and parables, Jesus spoke mysteries to His disciples; mysteries, at the time, they did not understand. But in time (the near future), events will explain them all. Later, over and over, the disciples say “Now we know what the Master was saying”; “Now we understand the mysteries.” It would be nice, sometimes, to know the future; but if we knew the final score before the game began, the excitement would be gone. For seven days after Jesus ascended, “The disciples all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication” (Acts 1:14). These 120 disciples had time to look back, to remember. Mary, the mother of Jesus, remembered the angels, predictions, and prophecies. Elizabeth and Zacharias reflected on the birth and life of their son, John. Now Peter can understand his humanness, failings; and denial.
After Pentecost
The disciples surely talked about what had happened during the last three years. With all their failings, denials, and misunderstandings prior to Pentecost. It is worth considering that after Pentecost we have no record of them discussing among themselves their mistakes of the past – no accusations, recriminations, slander, or rejections. After Pentecost, they understood the words of the Master, "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 show you plainly of the Father. At that day ye shall ask in my Name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you: For the Father Himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God” (vs. 25-27).
Conclusion
Evidence is the key. Jesus had said, “Believe on me for my very works sake.” When John the Baptist doubted, Jesus simply reminded him of the evidence (Matt. 11). It is by “many infallable proofs” that we believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Anointed of God (Acts 1:3). The disciples struggled in their belief and when Jesus was crucified, they fulfilled the prophecy “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 for the Father is with me” (v. 32). Peace was always a ready word and a golden desire of Jesus. So, “These things have I spoken unto you, that ye might have peace” (v. 33). Trials, tribulations, prisons, persecutions, despair all lay in wait for the disciples. Yet, inner peace would be the rock on which they would stand. Not one recanted. Not one denied. No one failed. This is the legacy of the Master. This is the secret garden where the final victory is assured. “I have overcome the world” is the clarion call for those who follow Jesus Christ.
