John 16 (Holy Week)

April 13, 2022

Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.

Reading along with us in John for Holy Week? Here’s today’s reading:

John 16 (NIV)

1 “All this I have told you so that you will not fall away. 2 They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, the time is coming when anyone who kills you will think they are offering a service to God. 3 They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me. 4 I have told you this, so that when their time comes you will remember that I warned you about them. I did not tell you this from the beginning because I was with you,..............Continue Reading

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This Post Has 10 Comments

  1. I think about how confusing this must have been for the disciples to hear Jesus say he is going and will be back, that He came from the Father and will now return to Him. It is so obvious after the fact but in their eyes there was still so much more to be done, so many more questions they had and to think they thought He was just leaving anyway. Despite the fact that where He was going to a horrible death that would finish His work here on earth and bring salvation to us all, it still must have been so hard for them to accept not really understanding the big picture.
    I love the last line on this chapter because it sums up things quite well…
    “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 the world.”
    No promise that things would be easy for the disciples or for us in this life but that we need to remain strong in our faith because victory is God’s and because of what Christ did on that cross we can join in that ultimate victory!

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  2. “Take heart for I have overcome the world!”
    Jesus gives us comfort of all kinds. He knows what we’re going through and has sent the Holy Spirit to help us.

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  3. “Now Jesus knew that they desired to ask Him, and He said to them, “Are you inquiring among yourselves about what I said, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me’? 20 Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy. 21 A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. 22 Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you.”

    Jesus’ analogy to childbirth really struck me. Like when a child is born, when Jesus rose from the dead and the disciples saw Him, there must have been an overwhelming feeling of awe and joy. I can only imagine the elation of seeing Jesus the risen savior and recognizing all that it means to them and to the world. No one could take that joy away from them or us. Hallelujah!

    First they have to go through the hard part and certainly we will too BUT Jesus tells us/them, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

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  4. I’m a day behind .. started Monday.
    John 15..
    So very much to take in… continually abiding and pruning… a difficult process sometimes.
    I’m reminded and grateful for my parents knowing scripture and so many were the cornerstone of my non- conformist, crazy chaotic childhood … but grounded in Christ.
    Love one another, by their fruits you shall know them…

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  5. Jesus warms his disciples of what is to come. So they won’t be surprised and taken back. Promising the Holy Spirit which will guide them into all truth. Same as what we have. Little confusing for the disciples. You won’t see me then you will. Imagine the sorrow at the death of Jesus. Now imagine the joy when they saw him soon thereafter. We should have that same joy. He has risen and intercedes for us always. What a statement in verse 33. I have overcome the world. The ultimate victory in all things has been won. Whatever we are going through Jesus will never leave us. The stronger the suffering. The closer he becomes. We can have his peace in any circumstance. I’m still learning that one!!

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  6. John 16 – I love how he ends this chapter, “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 the world”. Jesus doesn’t abandon us he is always with us in our times of troubles he did it all for us.

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  8. Jesus is being very honest and caring to do what He can to help His disciples not go astray. He knows what they will be facing and He wants to prepare them. What an indication that He would do the same for us as we face things in His name, in His work, to His glory. He also prepares them and us with a few things. First, it is the reality of what they will face so that they won’t be surprised. Jesus is always honest about the persecution we will face and tells us because if He knows, He will be present with us. Next He promises them the Holy Spirit. What a fitting replacement for Jesus being WITH them for God to provide someone IN them. It is for theirs and our good….although harder for them who spent time with the physical Jesus. But Jesus is clearly trying to point them from the physical to the spiritual in reinforcing all the Spirit will be for them. The Spirit will even compensate for Jesus’ absence in the conviction He brings to the world as well!! The next item of preparation is them receiving everything that is Jesus’….which is really all that is the Father’s…because all that is the Father’s is Jesus’….and this all comes through the Spirit too. John 16:15 is very powerful for preparation!

    It is confusing why the disciples would talk to each other about what Jesus has said rather than asking Jesus, and I think that is what Jesus’ response confronts. But in it we find another item of preparation: ask and you will receive. Like Mark J, I too have been amazed at how often Jesus says this and even how He connects it to joy. And how joyful it is to have an engaged relationship with God, where we are living in His will and we ask for things and He makes it happen. And the last item of preparation: the Father loves you….You thought your relationship was just with ME, you thought you only had my love and regard…but guess what, as you walk your journey and face the stuff of the world, the Father in heaven, the Lord of the Universe loves you too. And you can take all those things to the bank!

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  9. John 16,
    There’s an awful lot here.
    Warnings
    Knowledge of the Holy Spirit coming in place of Jesus, also sent by the Father.
    I love to hear the Holy Spirit …
    Glad we have a comforter. I’ve been rewatching a series by Shawn Boltz “ Discovering God” ..: various aspects of his character..: just saw the “Holy Spirit as Counselor” … wonderful reminder of this truth.

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  10. John 17
    I love the prayer of Jesus here:
    S Sanctify them purify consecrate separate them for your self, make them holy by truth; your word is truth. I have a similar prayer for myself and my children. I love that God is the truth.

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