The Gospels · Chapter 16 of 21
John 16
What is the meaning of John 16?
On the night before the cross, Jesus prepares his disciples for a world that will hate them and for his own departure. He promises the Comforter, the Spirit of truth, who will convict the world and guide believers into truth. He tells them their sorrow will become joy, like a mother after childbirth, and invites them to ask the Father in his name so their joy may be full.
What happens in John 16
Jesus warns the disciples that they will be expelled from synagogues and even killed by those who imagine they serve God. He explains why he must go away: unless he departs, the Comforter will not come. When the Spirit arrives he will reprove the world concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment, and will guide the disciples into all truth, glorifying Christ. Jesus speaks of a little while when they will not see him and again a little while when they will.
Puzzled, the disciples murmur among themselves. He answers with the image of a woman in travail whose anguish turns to joy at her child's birth. Their sorrow, likewise, will become a joy no one can take. He urges them to ask the Father in his name that their joy may be full. Finally he foretells their scattering, yet promises peace in him, for he has overcome the world.
John 16 in context
These words belong to the farewell discourse spoken in the upper room, chapters fourteen through sixteen of John's Gospel, on the eve of the crucifixion. The disciples do not yet grasp that Jesus will die and rise.
Written decades later for a church already facing expulsion from the synagogue and persecution, John records these promises to steady believers who follow a Lord they can no longer see with their eyes.
Main themes of John 16
John 16 (KJV)
1These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended. 2They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. 3And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me. 4But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you. 5But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou? 6But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart. 7Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. 8And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9Of sin, because they believe not on me; 10Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; 11Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. 12I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. 13Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. 14He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. 15All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you. 16A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father. 17Then said some of his disciples among themselves, What is this that he saith unto us, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me: and, Because I go to the Father? 18They said therefore, What is this that he saith, A little while? we cannot tell what he saith. 19Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him, and said unto them, Do ye enquire among yourselves of that I said, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me? 20Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. 21A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. 22And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you. 23And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. 24Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. 25These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father. 26At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you: 27For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God. 28I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father. 29His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb. 30Now are we sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou camest forth from God. 31Jesus answered them, Do ye now believe? 32Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. 33These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
Verses to carry from John 16
“Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.”John 16:7
“And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.”John 16:22
“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”John 16:33
Direct words of Jesus
How John 16 points to Jesus
Every promise here rests on Jesus himself. He is the one who departs to the Father and yet remains present through the Spirit he sends. The Comforter does not replace Christ but makes him known, taking what is Christ's and showing it to us. Jesus claims what belongs only to God when he says all things the Father has are his. His overcoming of the world is not wishful comfort but the confidence of the one about to conquer death.
When he tells the disciples their joy will be full if they ask in his name, he places himself as the ground of prayer and the source of lasting joy. The peace he gives is the peace of his own victory, offered freely to all who trust him.
Questions about John 16
Who is the Comforter Jesus promises in John 16?
The Comforter, also called the Spirit of truth, is the Holy Spirit. Jesus says the Spirit will come only after he departs, and will convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. Rather than speaking on his own, the Spirit guides believers into all truth and glorifies Christ, taking what belongs to Jesus and revealing it to his followers.
What did Jesus mean by a little while in John 16?
Jesus tells the disciples that in a little while they will not see him, and again in a little while they will. He points to his death, when they will grieve, and his resurrection, when their sorrow becomes joy. Like a mother forgetting her anguish once her child is born, their brief loss gives way to lasting gladness that no one can take from them.
Reflection
Jesus never pretends the road is easy. He tells his friends plainly that trouble will come, yet in the same breath offers peace and joy that the world cannot give or remove. Where do you expect life to be free of tribulation, and what would change if you sought his peace within it instead of waiting for it to end?
A prayer from John 16
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