John 16
“These things I have spoken to you, that you ashould not be made to stumble. 2 aThey will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming bthat whoever kills you will think that he offers God service. 3 And athese things they will do to you because they have not known the Father nor Me. 4 But these things I have told you, that when the time comes, you may remember that I told you of them.
“And these things I did not say to you at the beginning, because I was with you.
The Work of the Holy Spirit
5 “But now I ago away to Him who sent Me, and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’ 6 But because I have said these things to you, asorrow has filled your heart. 7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but aif I depart, I will send Him to you. 8 And when He has acome, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 aof sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 aof righteousness, bbecause I go to My Father and you see Me no more; 11 aof judgment, because bthe ruler of this world is judged.
12 “I still have many things to say to you, abut you cannot bear them now. 13 However, when He, athe Spirit of truth, has come, bHe will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 aHe will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. 15 aAll things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.
Sorrow Will Turn to Joy
16 “A alittle while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me, bbecause I go to the Father.”
17 Then some of His disciples said among themselves, “What is this that He says to us, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me’; and, ‘because I go to the Father’?” 18 They said therefore, “What is this that He says, ‘A little while’? We do not know what He is saying.”
19 Now Jesus knew that they desired to ask Him, and He said to them, “Are you inquiring among yourselves about what I said, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me’? 20 Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and alament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into bjoy. 21 aA woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. 22 Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and ayour heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you.
23 “And in that day you will ask Me nothing. aMost assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. 24 Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, athat your joy may be bfull.
Jesus Christ Has Overcome the World
25 “These things I have spoken to you in figurative language; but the time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language, but I will tell you aplainly about the Father. 26 In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you; 27 afor the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and bhave believed that I came forth from God. 28 aI came forth from the Father and have come into the world. Again, I leave the world and go to the Father.”
29 His disciples said to Him, “See, now You are speaking plainly, and using no figure of speech! 30 Now we are sure that aYou know all things, and have no need that anyone should question You. By this bwe believe that You came forth from God.”
31 Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? 32 aIndeed the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, beach to his own, and will leave Me alone. And cyet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. 33 These things I have spoken to you, that ain Me you may have peace. bIn the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, cI have overcome the world.”
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson.
All rights reserved.