Every Man's Bible - Proverbs - Flipbook - Page 16
page 1419 | John 16
you must also testify about me because you
have been with me from the beginning of
my ministry.
16
“I have told you these things so that
you won’t abandon your faith. 2 For
you will be expelled from the synagogues, and the time is coming when those
who kill you will think they are doing a holy
service for God. 3 This is because they have
never known the Father or me. 4 Yes, I’m telling you these things now, so that when they
happen, you will remember my warning. I
didn’t tell you earlier because I was going to
be with you for a while longer.
The Work of the Holy Spirit
“But now I am going away to the one who
sent me, and not one of you is asking where
I am going. 6 Instead, you grieve because of
what I’ve told you. 7 But in fact, it is best
for you that I go away, because if I don’t,
the Advocate* won’t come. If I do go away,
then I will send him to you. 8 And when
he comes, he will convict the world of its
sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the
coming judgment. 9 The world’s sin is that it
refuses to believe in me. 10 Righteousness is
available because I go to the Father, and you
will see me no more. 11 Judgment will come
because the ruler of this world has already
been judged.
12 “There is so much more I want to tell
you, but you can’t bear it now. 13 When the
Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into
all truth. He will not speak on his own but
will tell you what he has heard. He will tell
you about the future. 14 He will bring me
glory by telling you whatever he receives
from me. 15 All that belongs to the Father is
mine; this is why I said, ‘The Spirit will tell
you whatever he receives from me.’
5
Sadness Will Be Turned to Joy
“In a little while you won’t see me anymore. But a little while after that, you will
see me again.”
17 Some of the disciples asked each other,
“What does he mean when he says, ‘In a
16
little while you won’t see me, but then you
will see me,’ and ‘I am going to the Father’?
18 And what does he mean by ‘a little while’?
We don’t understand.”
19 Jesus realized they wanted to ask him
about it, so he said, “Are you asking yourselves what I meant? I said in a little while
you won’t see me, but a little while after
that you will see me again. 20 I tell you the
truth, you will weep and mourn over what is
going to happen to me, but the world will rejoice. You will grieve, but your grief will suddenly turn to wonderful joy. 21 It will be like
a woman suffering the pains of labor. When
her child is born, her anguish gives way to
joy because she has brought a new baby into
the world. 22 So you have sorrow now, but I
will see you again; then you will rejoice, and
no one can rob you of that joy. 23 At that time
you won’t need to ask me for anything. I tell
you the truth, you will ask the Father directly,
and he will grant your request because you
use my name. 24 You haven’t done this before.
Ask, using my name, and you will receive,
and you will have abundant joy.
25 “I have spoken of these matters in figures of speech, but soon I will stop speaking
figuratively and will tell you plainly all about
the Father. 26 Then you will ask in my name.
I’m not saying I will ask the Father on your
behalf, 27 for the Father himself loves you
dearly because you love me and believe that
I came from God.* 28 Yes, I came from the Father into the world, and now I will leave the
world and return to the Father.”
29 Then his disciples said, “At last you are
speaking plainly and not figuratively. 30 Now
we understand that you know everything,
and there’s no need to question you. From
this we believe that you came from God.”
31 Jesus asked, “Do you finally believe?
32 But the time is coming—indeed it’s here
now—when you will be scattered, each one
going his own way, leaving me alone. Yet I
am not alone because the Father is with me.
33 I have told you all this so that you may
have peace in me. Here on earth you will
have many trials and sorrows. But take heart,
because I have overcome the world.”
16:7 Or Comforter, or Encourager, or Counselor. Greek reads Paraclete.
16:27 Some manuscripts read from the Father.
16:33 In this world, we will encounter “many trials and sorrows.” Some of these difficulties are inevitable and beyond our control. These can be endured with God’s help. On the other hand, some of our
suffering is self-inflicted and can be avoided. In such situations, God still offers us peace as we muster
the courage to make needed changes in our lives. God’s forgiveness and loving acceptance can give
us peace as we face our trials and sorrows, even when the pain we face is ultimately our own fault. He
has the power to lead us down the path of life; he has already overcome all the obstacles that stand in
our way!
