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Explanation |
15:26 The Holy Spirit is a witness to Christ. The word “Counsellor” shows that the Holy Spirit conducts Christ’s legal case for Him before the world. He is to bring to light the truth of the revelation of Jesus in His word, deed, death, and resurrection.
15:27 Christians are to bear witness to the facts of saving grace.
16:1 Jesus was preparing the disciples for the severe trials ahead so that they would not be taken by surprise. It can be translated as: “so that your faith may not be taken unawares”.
16:2 The enemies would excommunicate them. In the future, there is a time people’s values will be so perverted that anyone who kills Jesus’ followers will think that he is serving God.
16:3 The statement indicates certainty. The disciples will surely suffer for their faith. The enemies are completely ignorant both of the Father and of the Son.
16:4 While the Master was with them, the disciples were neglected by their enemies. The removal of the Master would result in hostity directed at them. “Their hour” is similar to Jesus’ “hour”.
16:5 Earlier, Peter asked, “Lord, where are you going?” (13:36) But he made no real attempt to find out where Jesus was going. He only cared about the consequences for the disciples.
16:7 To the disciples the departure of Jesus seemed disastrous; but actually it was for their profit. The reasons: (a) It is better for them not to be dependent on the visible bodily presence of Jesus, and (b) more importantly, the Holy Spirit will not come until Jesus goes away. John explains (7:39) that the Spirit was not given “since Jesus had not been glorified.” Only when salvation based on the death of Jesus is accomplised can the Holy Spirit stay permanently.
16:8 The Holy Spirit is the powerful advocate who goes before the church to convict the world. He shows the world to be guilty, that is, He secures a verdict of “Guilty.”
16:9 The Holy Spirit will convict the world of its sin because they do not believe. Also, He convicts the individual sinner’s conscience.
16:10 The Spirit shows people that righteousness depends not on their own efforts but on Christ’s atoning work. “You can see me no longer” refers to the cross or to the ascension.
16:11 The work of judgment refers to the defeat of Satan. Justice is done in the overthrow of Satan.
16:12 “Bear” means enduring anything burdensome. Their experience so far sets a limit to their ability to perceive.
16:13 The Spirit will lead them deeper and deeper into the knowledge of truth.
The Spirit’s teaching is not from Himself. He is not originating something radically new.
“What is yet to come” probably refers to the whole Christian beliefs. Some also think that it is about future calamities and intense persecution of Christians in the last days.
16:14 The work of the Spirit is Christocentric.
16:15 There is no division in the three persons of the Godhead.
Jesus assures the disciples that they will have joy (v.19-24), faith (v.25-30), and peace (v.31-33).
16:16 Jesus will come again after resurrection. Some think it refers to the Second Coming.
16:20 “I tell you the truth” again. Jesus answered not to the question of the disciples but to their need. He assured them that they must go through a time of sorrow when their enemies triumphed, but would emerge with an abounding joy.
“Weep and mourn” are deep inward grief and outward expression. Jesus speak of their sorrow as being “replaced” by joy, not just “turning” into joy. Just like the cross would first be a cause of sorrow but would later be a source of joy.
16:21 Jesus uses the analogy of the state of mind of the mother before and after the birth of the child. She will go through distress but the distress is forgotten afterwards.
16:22 “Therefore” they would be in distress very soon (“now”) but when they saw Jesus after resurrection, they would then rejoice in a permanent way, one that the world cannot take away.
16:23 After resurrection, the disciples would not look for further information from Him. This points to an activity of the Holy Spirit who would be with them to teach them (14:26;16:13).
“I tell you the truth” again. Their prayers will be answered on the basis of the work of the Son.
16:24 God is interested in the well-being and happiness of His people. The prayers will be answered in order that their joy may be complete.
16:25 The whole discourse is given “figuratively” (as in parables or in the form of wisdom sayings), that is, the meaning does not lie on the surface, but must be searched for and thought about. “A time” (“an hour”) refers to the time after resurrection.
16:26 The disciples will pray in Christ’s name. Asking in Jesus’ name is not a way of enlisting His support. It is praying on the basis of all that He is and has done for our salvation (v.23).
16:27 The two verbs “loved” are in perfect tense implying continuance. The verse is a continuation of the last verse and explains why the disciples can pray to God in Jesus’ name.
16:29 The disciples thought they understood Jesus, Yet, had they really understood as they claimed, they would have reacted very differently when the crisis came.
16:31 After the disciples reaffirmed their trust in Jesus, Jesus’ reaction can be an exclamation or a question. Later events showed that their faith was weak.
16:32 Jesus prophesied that they would shortly (presently) abandon their Lord.
16:33 There are 3 contrasts: (a) “in me” vs. “in this world”, (b) “you may have” vs. “you will have”, (c) “peace” vs. “trouble”. All must live in the world and thus have trouble. But believers also live in Christ and when they do (a condition), they have peace. “Trouble” (Gr. thliyin, used only here and 16:21) denotes great and pressing affliction, not some mild malady.
Jesus “has overcome” the world: the statement is emphatic: “I, none else (Gr. ero), have overcome.” The perfect tense denotes an abiding victory. Jesus went to the cross not in fear or in gloom, but as a conqueror.
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Application |
§ Even when Jesus was facing imminent death, He worried about the well-beings of His disciples. He gave them hope and assured them that they would have joy and peace at the end (v.22, 33).
§ The perversion of the values (v.2) is clearly in our society. We need to ask the Holy Spirit to help us discern and reject these ungodly values.
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Hymn |
Hymns of Life no.512 “This is my Father’s world” (a perfect children’s hymn)
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This
is my Father’s world; And
to my list’ning ears, All
nature sings, and round me rings The
music of the spheres. This
is my Father’s world; I
rest me in my thought Of
rocks and trees, of skies and seas, His
hand the wonders wrought. |
This
is my Father’s world; Oh,
let me ne’er forget That
though the wrong seems oft so strong, God
is the Ruler yet. This
is my Father’s world; Why
should my heart be sad? The
Lord is King; let the heavens ring. God
reigns; let the earth be glad. |