Immerse: Messiah - Flipbook - Page 440
428
IMMERSE
•
MESSIAH
16:1-24
testify about me because you have been with me from the beginning of
my ministry.
“I have told you these things so that you won’t abandon your faith. 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. This is
because they have never known the Father or me. 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.
“But now I am going away to the one who sent me, and not one of you
is asking where I am going. Instead, you grieve because of what I’ve told
you. 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. And when
he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness,
and of the coming judgment. The world’s sin is that it refuses to believe
in me. Righteousness is available because I go to the Father, and you will
see me no more. Judgment will come because the ruler of this world has
already been judged.
“There is so much more I want to tell you, but you can’t bear it now.
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. He will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from
me. All that belongs to the Father is mine; this is why I said, ‘The Spirit will
tell you whatever he receives from me.’
“In a little while you won’t see me anymore. But a little while after that,
you will see me again.”
Some of the disciples asked each other, “What does he mean when he
says, ‘In a little while you won’t see me, but then you will see me,’ and ‘I
am going to the Father’? And what does he mean by ‘a little while’? We
don’t understand.”
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. 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.
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. So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again; then you will
rejoice, and no one can rob you of that joy. 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. You haven’t done
