Four Reasons to Take Courage – John 16:1-33
16 I have told you these things so that you will not stumble. (2) They will put you out of the synagogues; in fact, the hour is coming when anyone who kills you will think that he is offering a service to God. (3)They will do these things because they have neither known the Father nor me. (4) But I have told you these things so that when their hour has come you may remember that I warned you. I did not tell you these things from the beginning, because I was with you. (5) But now I am going to the one who sent me; yet none of you asks me, Where are you going? (6) But because I have told you these things your hearts have become filled with sorrow.
(7) Nevertheless, I tell you the truth, it is better for you that I go away; because if I do not go away, the Counselor will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. (8) And when he has come, he will convict the world about sin, and about righteousness, and about judgment. (9) Regarding sin, because they do not believe in me; (10) regarding righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will no longer see me; (11) regarding judgment, because the prince of this world has been judged.
(12) I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear those things at this time. (13) However, when he, the Spirit of truth, has come, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak of his own accord; on the contrary, he will only declare the things he hears, and he will reveal to you the things that are still to come. (14) He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and reveal it to you. (15) All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said that he will take what is mine and will reveal it to you.
(16) In a little while you will no longer see me; and then after a little while you will see me again. (17) Some of his disciples asked one another, What does he mean by telling us, “In a little while you will no longer see me;” and “After a little while you will see me again;” and, “Because I am going to the Father?” (18) They were asking, What does he mean when he says, “A little while?” We do not know what he means. (19) Jesus perceived that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, Are you discussing among yourselves what I meant when I said, “In a little while you will no longer see me; and then after a little while you will see me again?” (20) I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn, but the world will rejoice. You will grieve, but your grief will be turned into joy. (21) When a woman gives birth to a child she has pain, because her hour of delivery has come. But when the child is delivered, she no longer remembers the anguish; because of the joy that a child has been brought into the world. (22) So it is that you will now have grief; but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.
(23) On that day you will not ask me anything. I tell you the truth, if you shall ask the Father for anything, he will give it to you in my name. (24) Up to now you have asked nothing in my name; ask, and you shall receive, so that your joy may be complete. (25) I have spoken these things to you in a parable. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in parables, but I will speak to you in plain language about the Father. (26) On that day you will ask in my name. I am not telling you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; (27) for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came forth from the Father.
(28) I have come forth from the Father and have come into the world. Now I will leave the world and go back to the Father. (29) Then his disciples said, Now you are speaking in plain language and no longer speaking in parables. (30) Now we know that you know everything and you do not need anyone to ask you anything. Because of this we believe that you have come forth from God. (31) Jesus answered them, Do you now believe? (32) Listen, the hour is coming, in fact it has come, when you shall be scattered, each one to his own home, and shall forsake me. However, I am not forsaken, because the Father is with me. (33) I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation. But have courage; I have conquered the world.
Now proceed to the next section of this study, entitled, Exploring the Passage.
