John Chapter 16:1-33 King James Bible KJV

Jesus Warns of Persecution, The 3 Main Roles of the Holy Spirit, Sorrow Will Turn to Joy, Jesus’ Final Words of Encouragement

John Chapter 16:1-33 King James Bible KJV. John Chapter 16 continues Jesus’ Farewell Discourse, focusing on the role of the Holy Spirit, the disciples’ coming challenges, and the hope and joy they will find in Jesus’ ultimate victory. Jesus offers his followers encouragement and assurance in the face of the sorrow and opposition they will experience, emphasizing that the Spirit’s presence will guide them through the trials to come. Through the presence of the Holy Spirit, the promise of lasting joy, and the certainty of Jesus’ victory, believers are equipped to face life’s difficulties with courage, faith, and peace.

Key Themes

• The Holy Spirit’s Role: Jesus introduces the Holy Spirit as the Comforter and Advocate, emphasizing the Spirit’s role in convicting the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. This shows that the Holy Spirit will actively work to reveal God’s truth and guide believers, ensuring they have the support and guidance they need to carry out Jesus’ mission.
• Transformation of Sorrow into Joy: Jesus prepares his disciples for the emotional pain of his crucifixion, assuring them that this sorrow will be temporary. His resurrection will bring them unshakeable joy, a promise that also extends to all believers facing trials, knowing that God’s work brings ultimate, lasting joy.
• Access to the Father in Jesus’ Name: Jesus’ assurance that his followers will be able to ask the Father directly in his name highlights the access believers have to God because of Jesus’ sacrifice. This means they can confidently bring their needs to God, who will respond with love and provision.
• Jesus’ Victory Over the World: Jesus’ statement, “I have overcome the world,” is both a comfort and a call to courage. Despite the hostility and challenges the disciples will face, they can be confident that Jesus’ victory over sin and death is complete and permanent, securing hope for all who believe in him.

John Chapter 16:1-33 King James Bible KJV
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Jesus Warns of Persecution – verses 1-4
Jesus begins by warning his disciples that they will face severe persecution, including being “put out of the synagogue” and even targeted for death by those who believe they are serving God. Jesus offers this forewarning so that his disciples will not fall away in times of persecution. He knows they will face serious opposition from religious leaders who misunderstand his message and mission.

This section reminds the disciples, and later readers, that following Jesus often brings opposition and requires enduring faith.

The Role of the Holy Spirit – verses 5-15
Jesus explains that it is good for him to go away because, in his absence, he will send the Holy Spirit (the Advocate) to be with them. The Spirit’s presence will empower and guide them in ways Jesus could not while physically with them.

The Holy Spirit will have three main roles:

• Convicting the World of Sin: The Spirit will reveal the true nature of sin, especially the sin of unbelief in Jesus, calling people to repentance.
• Convicting the World of Righteousness: The Spirit will confirm the righteousness of Jesus, demonstrating that he was sent by God and has returned to the Father.
• Convicting the World of Judgment: The Spirit will reveal that judgment has come upon the “prince of this world” (Satan) and expose the consequences of rejecting Jesus.

The Holy Spirit will also guide the disciples into all truth, speaking only what he hears from Jesus and the Father, and revealing future things to come. This means the Spirit will help them understand God’s plan and equip them to continue Jesus’ ministry with wisdom and power.

Sorrow Will Turn to Joy – verses 16-24
Jesus tells his disciples that he will soon leave, but then they will see him again. This “little while” is confusing to the disciples, but Jesus is referring to his impending death and resurrection. He compares the disciples’ sorrow to that of a woman in labor. Though she experiences pain, her suffering turns to joy once her child is born. Likewise, the disciples will grieve Jesus’ death, but that grief will transform into joy with his resurrection.

Jesus assures them that this joy will be lasting and cannot be taken away. He also promises that, after he leaves, they will have direct access to the Father, allowing them to ask in his name and receive what they need to fulfill their mission.

Jesus’ Final Words of Encouragement – verses 25-33
Jesus summarizes his teachings, noting that although he has been speaking in figures of speech, a time will come when he will speak plainly to them. This likely points to the enlightenment they will receive through the Holy Spirit after his resurrection and ascension.

The disciples profess their belief in Jesus, yet he warns them that they will soon scatter and leave him alone when he is arrested. Still, he reassures them that he is not truly alone, as the Father is always with him. Jesus concludes by saying, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” This final statement offers profound hope, as Jesus acknowledges the inevitable difficulties his followers will face while also affirming his ultimate victory over evil.

John Chapter 16:1-33 King James Bible KJV

1 These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.
2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.
3 And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.
4 But 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.

5 But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou?
6 But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart.
7 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.
8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;
10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;
11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.
13 Howbeit 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.
14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew itunto you.

16 A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father.
17 Then 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?
18 They said therefore, What is this that he saith, A little while? we cannot tell what he saith.
19 Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him, and said unto them, Do ye inquire 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?
20 Verily, 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.
21 A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she isdelivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world.
22 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.
23 And 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.
24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.

25 These 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.
26 At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you:
27 For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.
28 I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.
29 His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb.
30 Now 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.
31 Jesus answered them, Do ye now believe?
32 Behold, 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.
33 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