After the Passover meal, Jesus began comforting His disciples and showing the depth of His care for them. He said, “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.” He promised to prepare a place in His Father’s house for you. He certified His love for you is the same kind and quality of love that He and the Father share. The depth of His love is demonstrated by His care. Everyone who believes in Him was promised the ability to do the works that He did and even greater works because He was going to the Father. If any who believe in Him ask anything in His name, Jesus promised to do it. As a continuation of His care, Jesus promised to pray the Father to give the Holy Spirit to abide with them forever. He promised to never leave or forsake them and to abide with them forever. He promised to give them His peace that they had experienced by walking with Him. He demonstrated their connection and relationship by telling them He was the vine and they were branches. If you continue to abide in Him, you will produce much fruit, keep His commandments, and abide in His love.
The disciples had known Jesus to be their Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Teacher… He had walked with them, prayed for them, helped, healed and supplied their needs. He said, “You did not choose Me, I chose you.” Each of us need to know that we have been chosen and appointed and that the Lord deeply cares for us.
During this message of His care, connection and concern, Jesus warned them of things that would happen.
John 16:1-6 NKJV These things I have spoken to you, that you should not be made to stumble. They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service. And these things they will do to you because they have not known the Father nor Me. 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. But now I go away to Him who sent Me, and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’ But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart.
Everything in your life is not going to be good, pleasing and wonderful. God has not abandoned us when bad things happen. We need to know how much God cares for us.
Jesus’ time with His disciples was coming to an end and He was giving them some really bad news.
John 16:20 NKJV Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy.
Why would He give that kind of message? Sometimes the truth is hard to hear. Jesus gave an illustration of a woman when she is in labor. He said she has sorrow because her hour has come. After she has given birth to the child, she forgets her anguish. You may go through times of sorrow and pain but your hour of joy is coming. Listen to what He said in Isaiah 43.
Isaiah 43:2 NKJV When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you.
The Lord gives these kinds of warnings for a reason.
John 16:1 NKJV These things I have spoken to you, that you should not be made to stumble.
Stumble — skan·dal·id·zo — make to offend, put a stumbling block or trip and fall, entice to sin, cause a person to begin to distrust and desert one whom they should trust and obey. (NET) – fall away, (NIV) go astray, (AMP) “should not be offended (taken unawares and falter, or be caused to stumble and fall away)”.
By forewarning His disciples of what is coming, Jesus was preparing them so they will not be offended and fall away. Just because Satan attacks or the world hates you does not mean that the Lord does not care or will not come to your aid.
John 16:2-3 NLT 2For you will be expelled from the synagogues, and the time is coming when those who kill you will think they are doing God a service. 3This is because they have never known the Father or me.
The Lord does not want His disciples to be offended, scandalized, or trip and fall over what may happen.
There is good news here for all of us. The Lord knows what the future holds. He wants all believers to be strengthened and prepared so that they may be able to stand in the evil days.
Notice how truthful the Lord was with them. He did not give a false sense of security. He did not lie about the future. He gave an accurate picture of what was going to happen. Their way was going to be hard and they would face much opposition. They would be hated by the world. Even the people in their own synagogue would hate them.
In the middle of trying situations, it is difficult to remember that this world is our temporary home. This world is not our final reward. These tests, trials, and troubles are temporary.
Jesus said He was going to His Father’s house to prepare a place for those who believe in Him. Then Jesus said He would receive us unto Himself, that where He is we would be also. He told a little about His Father’s house and the peace and joy that awaits all who believe and trust in Him. We have this hope that there is a place prepared for us in heaven.
Jesus made it very clear what life down here will be like. Someone will betray, friends will forsake and the world will hate you.
Why would Jesus tell us this? These are the tests of true disciples. Jesus had just told them that their relationship was based on love. Love will inspire us to do things that nothing else will.
Often when couples pledge themselves in marriage, they say something like: “For better for worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness or in health, to love and to cherish, until death do us part…” True love will cause you to do what nothing else will.
Have you ever considered what it means to give your life to the Lord?
Luke 14:33 NKJV So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.
What does it mean when He says, “forsake all?”
- Jesus said: ‘foxes have holes and birds have nests, but He didn’t have a place to lay His head.’
- He said: “take up our cross and follow Me daily.” He did not say that we had to take up His Cross. We have our own cross. We are to take up our own cross and follow Him.
- He said: ‘If we suffer with Him down here, we shall reign with Him up there.’
- He said: ‘His followers are going to be in the world but not of the world.’
- He said: ‘the world would hate them just like they hated Him.’
He made all of this very clear. Jesus never said it would be easy for His followers down here.
Matthew 7:13 NKJV Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.
Many people will plunge into eternity without Christ. Everyone is not going to a land of rest and peace. We have hope of heaven. The troubles, trials, and tests of this life will end and one day we shall see God. After a while it will all be over and the sun is going to shine.
Jesus said: “These things have I spoken unto you, that you should not be offended.”
- He does not want His church to be discouraged and quit.
- He wants you to remain strong.
- He wants us to know what is coming.
- He wants us to know that His love will last to the very end.
- He will be with you and never forsake you.
- He knows and understands what you are going through.
Jesus knew that offenses would come. He told them this to encourage them. In everything we face, He will sustain us and never forsake us.
John 16:4 NKJVBut 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.”
Jesus wants you to remember His care — “When the time comes.” When trouble arises in your life, “don’t let your heart be troubled, you believe in God, believe also in Me.” Jesus wants His Church to know what is coming. He is training us for what is coming.
Avoid being overwhelmed with sorrow. Don’t allow the trouble you face to overwhelm your heart. Don’t let other people’s attitude and actions into your heart. Keep your heart and mind in the Lord. When you experience disappointment, opposition, or grief, don’t become bitter and unbelieving.
You need to know that all of these things are going to pass.Jesus has called us to rise above all of these things. We are to be more than conquerors with Christ. The joy of the Lord is our portion. He wants us to live in fullness of joy. His joy gives us strength.
To accomplish this, Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit.
John 16:7–15 NKJV 7Nevertheless 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 if I depart, I will send Him to you. 8And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9of sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; 11of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. 12“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He 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. 14He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. 15All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.
The arrival of the Holy Spirit in our lives is good news.
The Holy Spirit will help, teach and turn our sorrow into joy. He will bring all things the Father said to our remembrance. He will bring the blessings that Christ has provided. He helps us overcome life’s troubles, trials, and tests. He will help us pray when we don’t know how to pray. He will help us live in victory.
