John Chapter 16

This the third of four chapters where Jesus teaches his disciples after the Last Supper. Jesus tells the Apostles they will be persecuted, but they will see Him again! He states that He has already conquered the world and they will have their sorrow turned to joy. 

At the beginning John 16, Jesus says “All this I have told you so that you will not go astray.” List three things, from the Gospel of John, Chapters 13, 14 and 15 (one from each) that Jesus told them that might have helped them to not go astray?

John 13:34-35 - “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

John 14:1 - ”Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.”

John 15:12-17 - “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.  Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.  You are my friends if you do what I command.  I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.  You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit-fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.  This is my command: Love each other.”

Why will the Holy Spirit convict the world?

▪ For not believing in Jesus Christ which is sin

▪ For righteousness

▪ For judgement

John 16:8-11 - “he (Holy Spirit) will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; 10 in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11 and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.”

In your own words, explain righteousness.

Right standing with God; The qualification of a person as being correct in the eyes and judgment of God,

How are sin, righteousness and judgment related?

All who reject Jesus Christ are dead in their sins. 

All who believe in Jesus Christ are righteous,  despite their sin.

All who do not believe in Jesus Christ are judged for their sins.

From John 16:13-14, list, at least, three things Jesus tells the disciples about the Holy Spirit.

• He will guide you into all truth
• He will not speak on his own
• He will speak only what he hears
• He will tell you what is yet to come
• He will bring glory to Jesus by taking from what is his and making it known to the disciples

Cite, at least, three prophecies provided by Jesus in John 16:22-28:

• Verse 22– “but I will see you again”
• Verse 22– “and you will rejoice”
• Verse 22– “and no one will take away your joy”
• Verse 23- “In that day you will no longer ask me anything”
• Verse 23– “my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name”
• Verse 25- "Though I have been speaking figuratively, a time is coming when I will no longer use this kind of language but will tell you plainly about my Father”
• Verse 26- “In that day you will ask in my name.
• Verse 28– “I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father”

Why do you think Jesus spoke to the disciples using parables?

Because they could not know or understand that he was to die as part of God’s plan to redeem mankind, they would not have understood the concept.  Moreover, we don’t always comprehend the spiritual aspects of life or the reality of the spiritual truths that God fully revealed to Jesus and the only way to make us understand was to use parables.

What was it specifically that Jesus did that made the disciples believe that Jesus came from God?

John 16:25-21 - "Though I have been speaking figuratively, a time is coming when I will no longer use this kind of language but will tell you plainly about my Father. 26 In that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. 27 No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. 28 I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father."

29 Then Jesus' disciples said, "Now you are speaking clearly and without figures of speech. 30 Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God."

31 "You believe at last!" Jesus answered.

List 3 reasons Jesus gave in this chapter for the things he told his disciples?

• In verse 1 Jesus said “All this I have told you so that you will not go astray.”
• In verse 4 Jesus said “I have told you this, so that when the time comes you will remember that I warned you.”
• In verse 15 Jesus said “All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.”
• In verse 33 Jesus said "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome theworld.”

Questions to ponder:

How have you suffered as a result of your faith as a Christian?