Study on the Gospel of John Chapter 16

The upper room discourse (chapter 13-17) continues; Jesus teaches disciples, love (13), the Holy Spirit (14), and, in chapter 15, “I am the true vine.”. Continue in 16, teaching on persecutions, the Holy Spirit, and joy.

Purpose of His warning on persecutions, (1) I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away. But they’d have joy because, (33) but take heart; I have overcome the world.

Outline and Exposition

The World Hates the Disciples (15:18-16:4)

(2) put out of the synagogue: the synagogue was the center of Jewish community life, so excommunication cut a person off from many social relationships - (9:22)

service to God: religious people have often persecuted others in the strong conviction that they were doing God’s will

• (Ac 26:9): I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things in opposing the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
• (Gal 1:13-14) For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers.

The Work of the Holy Spirit (5-16)

(5) none of you asks me: Peter had asked such a question (13:36), but quickly turned his attention to another subject. His concern had been with what would happen to himself and the others and not for where Jesus was going. Including Peter, the disciples didn’t concern on Jesus’ hardship (the cross) nor joy (resurrection and returning to the Father) but they only concerned themselves; i.e., what'd happens for them when Jesus left.

(6) sorrow has filled your heart: because of his announced departure

(7) if I do not go away: Jesus did not say why the Spirit would not come until he went away, but clearly taught that his saving work on the cross was necessary before the sending of the Spirit.

(12) you cannot bear them now: this may mean “more than you can understand now,” or “more than you can perform without the Spirit’s help” (to live out Christ’s teaching requires the enabling presence of the Spirit).

(13) whatever he hears he will speak: the verse stresses the close relationship among the three

(14) He will glorify me: The Spirit draws no attention to himself but promotes the glory of Christ.

• (1:14) And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

(15) All that the Father has is mine: the three Persons are closely related

• (17:10) All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them.

(16) A little while … a little while: few doubt that the first phrase refers to the interval before the crucifixion. But interpretation differ as to whether the second refers to the interval preceding the resurrection or the coming of the Spirit or the second coming of Christ. It seems that the language here best fits the resurrection. (v 22)

The Disciples’ Grief will turn to Joy (17-33)

(17) going to the Father: Jesus had not linked this with “a little while,” but the apostles saw them as connected

(20) weep: loud wailing of deep sorrow with outward expression, as in (11:33) “When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled.”

(21) a woman is giving birth: causes both pain and joy

(22) no one will take your joy from you: the resurrection would change things permanently bringing a joy that cannot be removed by the world’s assaults

• (15:11) These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

(23) you will ask nothing of me: seems to mean asking for information (rather than asking in prayer), which would not be necessary after the resurrection. Jesus then moved on to the subject of prayer. However, Jesus may have been saying that his disciples previously had been praying to Christ, but after his death and resurrection they were to go directly to the Father and pray in Christ’s name

(25) in figures of speech: throughout the discourse, not just in the immediately preceding words. There is a sense in which it is necessarily true of all Christ's teaching, and of all teaching in words. They are but parables until the truth which they contain has been thought out by the man that hears them. For the disciples much of Christ's teaching remained in a parabolic form, until the Spirit brought all things which He had said to the mind, and quickened their minds so that they could grasp its meaning. 

(26) I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf: there will be no need for him to make petitions in our behalf

(32) you will be scattered: the disciples had faith, but not enough to stand firm in face of disaster. Jesus knew they would fail

• (Mt 26:31) Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’

However, his church is not built on people’s strength but on God’s ability to use people even after they have failed.

(33) in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation: notice the contrasts

• (1:9) The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.

Topical

The Holy Spirit Convicts the World

(8) convict the world: expose the guilt of the world; the work the Spirit does in the world. The NT normally speaks of his work in believers. Apart from the Spirit’s convicting work, people can never see themselves as sinners.

Jesus teaches the Holy Sprit convicts concerning 3 areas - sin, righteousness, and judgement.

1. concerning sin (9): their sin is their failure to believe or their unbelief is a classic example of sin
2. concerning righteousness (10): the righteousness brought about by Christ’s sacrificial death:
   • (Ro 1:17) For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.
   • (Ro 3:21-24) But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
   • No one but the Holy Spirit can reveal to a person that a righteous status before God does not depend on good works but on Christ’s death on the cross.
3. concerning judgment (11): Jesus was speaking of the defeat of Satan, which was a form of judgment, not simply a victory. More than power is in question. God acts with justice.

References

• 2002 NIV Study Bible (Zondervan)
• John MacArthur Study Bible
• http://kcm.co.kr/bible/kor/Joh16.html
• https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+16&version=ESV
• https://biblehub.com/john/16-1.htm