WilliamBarclay'sDailyStudy

Bible
John16
Verses133
Chapter16
WARNINGANDCHALLENGE(John16:14)
16:14"Ihavespokenthesethingstoyouincaseyoushouldbe
causedtostumbleintheway.Theywillexcommunicateyou
fromthesynagogue.Yes,atimeiscomingwhenanyonewho
killsyouwillthinkthatheisrenderingaservicetoGodand
theywilldothesethingsbecausetheydidnotrecognizethe
Fatherorme.ButIhavespokenthesethingstoyou,sothat
whentheirtimecomes,youwillrememberthatIspokethemto
you."
BythetimeJohnwaswritingitwasinevitablethatsomeChristiansshouldfallaway,
forpersecutionhadstrucktheChurch.Revelationcondemnsthosewhoare
unbelievingandfearful(Revelation21:8).WhenPliny,thegovernorofBithynia,was
examiningpeopletoseewhetherornottheywereChristians,hewrotetohisemperor
Trajantosaythatsomeadmitted"thattheyhadbeenChristians,buttheyhad
ceasedtobesomanyyearsago,someasmuchastwentyyearsago."Evenamidst
theheroismoftheearlyChurch,therewerethosewhosefaithwasnotgreatenough
toresistpersecutionandwhoseendurancewasnotstrongenoughtostaythe
course.
Jesusforesawthisandgavewarningbeforehand.Hedidnotwantanyonetobeable
tosaythathehadnotknownwhattoexpectwhenhebecameaChristian.When
Tyndalewaspersecutedandhisenemieswereoutforhislifebecausehesoughtto
givetheBibletothepeopleintheEnglishlanguage,hesaidcalmly:"Inever
expectedanythingelse."Jesusofferedmenglory,butheofferedthemacrossas
well.
Jesusspokeoftwowaysinwhichhisfollowerswouldbepersecuted.
Theywouldbeexcommunicatedfromthesynagogue.ThisforaJewwouldbeavery
hardfate.Thesynagogue,theHouseofGod,hadaveryspecialplaceinJewishlife.
SomeoftheRabbiswentthelengthofsayingthatprayerwasnoteffectiveunlessit
wasofferedinthesynagogue.Buttherewasmoretoitthanthat.Itmaybethata
greatscholaroragreattheologiandoesnotneedhumancompanyhemaybeable
tolivealoneandsolitary,keepingcompanywiththegreatthoughtsandadventures
ofhismind.Butthedisciplesweresimplefolktheyneededfellowship.Theyneeded
thesynagogueanditsworship.Itwouldbehardforthemtobeostracized,withall
doorsshutagainstthem.Menhavesometimestolearn,asJoanofArcsaid,that:"It
isbettertobealonewithGod."Sometimeslonelinessamongmenisthepriceof
fellowshipwithGod.
JesusalsosaidthatmenwouldthinktheywererenderingaservicetoGodwhen
theykilledhisfollowers.ThewordJesususesforserviceislatreia(Greek#2999),
whichisthenormalwordfortheservicethatapriestrenderedatthealtarinthe
TempleofGodandisthestandardwordforreligiousservice.Oneofthetragediesof
religionhasbeenthatmenhavesooftenthoughtthattheywereservingGodby
persecutingthosewhomtheybelievedtobeheretics.Nomanevermoretruly

thoughtthathewasservingGodthanPauldid,whenhewastryingtoeliminatethe
nameofJesusandtowipeouttheChurch(Acts26:911).Thetorturersandjudges
oftheSpanishInquisitionhaveleftanamewhichisloathedyettheywerequitesure
thattheywereservingGodbytorturinghereticsintoacceptingwhattheyconsidered
tobethetruefaith.Astheysawit,theyweresavingmenfromhell."OLiberty."said
MadameRoland,"whatcrimesarecommittedinthyname!"Andthatisalsotrueof
religion.
Ithappens,asJesussaid,becausetheydonotrecognizeGod.Thetragedyofthe
Churchisthatmenhavesooftenlabouredtopropagatetheirideaofreligionthey
havesooftenbelievedthattheyhaveamonopolyofGod'struthandgrace.The
staggeringfactisthatitstillhappensthatisthebarriertounionandunitybetween
theChurches.Therewillalwaysbepersecutionnotnecessarilykillingandtorture,
butexclusionfromthehouseofGodsolongasmenbelievethatthereisonlyone
waytohim.
Jesusknewhowtodealwithmen.Hewasineffectsaying:"Iamofferingyouthe
hardesttaskintheworld.Iamofferingyousomethingwhichwilllacerateyourbody
andtearoutyourheart.Areyoubigenoughtoacceptit?"Alltheworldknows
Garibaldi'sproclamationatthesiegeofRomein1849,whenheappealedforrecruits
intheseterms:"Iofferneitherpay,norquarters,norprovisionsIofferhunger,thirst,
forcedmarches,battlesanddeath.Lethimwholoveshiscountryinhisheart,and
notwithhislipsonly,followme."Andjointheydidintheirhundreds.Whenthe
SpaniardswereconqueringSouthAmericaPizarropresentedhismenwithachoice.
TheymighthavethewealthofPeruwithitsdangers,orthecomparativepovertyof
Panamawithitssafety.Hedrewalineinthesandwithhisswordandhesaid:
"Comrades,onthatsidearetoil,hunger,nakedness,storm,desertionanddeathon
thissideisease.ThereliesPeruwithitsricheshereliesPanamawithitspoverty.
Choose,eachman,whatbestbecomesabraveCastilian.Formypart,Igotothe
south."Therewassilenceandhesitationandthenanoldpilotandtwelvesoldiers
steppedacrosstoPizarro'sside.Itwaswiththemthatthediscoveryandthe
conquestofPerubegan.
Jesusoffered,andstilloffers,notthewayofease,butthewayofglory.Hewants
menwhoarepreparedwithopeneyestoventureforhisname.
THEWORKOFTHEHOLYSPIRIT(John16:511)
16:511"Ididnottellyouthesethingsatthebeginning,because
Iwaswithyou.ButnowIamgoingawaytohimwhosentme,
andnoneofyouasksme:'Whereareyougoing?'Butgriefhas
filledyourheartsbecauseIhavespokenthesethingstoyou.
ButitisthetruthIamtellingyouitistoyourinterestthatI
shouldgoaway,forIfIdonotgoawaytheHelperwillnotcome
toyou.Butwhenhehascome,hewillconvicttheworldofsin,
andconvinceitofrighteousnessandjudgmentofsin,because
theydonotbelieveinmeofrighteousness,becauseIgotomy
Father,andyounolongerseemeofjudgment,becausethe
rulerofthisworldisjudged."
Thediscipleswerebewilderedandgriefstrickenmen.Alltheyknewwasthatthey
weregoingtoloseJesus.Buthetoldthemthatintheendthiswasallforthebest,
because,whenhewentaway,theHolySpirit,theHelper,wouldcome.Whenhewas
inthebodyhecouldnotbeeverywherewiththemitwasalwaysacaseofgreetings
andfarewells.Whenhewasinthebody,hecouldnotreachthemindsandhearts
andconsciencesofmeneverywhere,hewasconfinedbythelimitationsofplaceand
time.ButtherearenolimitationsintheSpirit.EverywhereamangoestheSpiritis
withhim.ThecomingoftheSpiritwouldbethefulfilmentofthepromise:"Lo,Iam
withyoualways,tothecloseoftheage"(Matthew28:20).TheSpiritwouldbringto
menanuninterruptedfellowshipforeverandwouldbringtotheChristianpreachera
powerandaneffectivenessnomatterwherehepreached.
WehavehereanalmostperfectsummaryoftheworkoftheSpirit.Thewordthat
JohnusesoftheworkoftheSpiritisthewordelegchein(Greek#1651),translated
convincebytheRevisedStandardVersion.Thetroubleisthatnoonewordcan
translateitadequately.Itisusedforthecrossexaminationofawitness,oramanon

trial,oranopponentinanargument.Ithasalwaysthisideaofcrossexamininga
manuntilheseesandadmitshiserrors,oracknowledgestheforceofsome
argumentwhichhehadnotyetseen.Itis,forinstance,sometimesusedbythe
Greeksfortheactionofconscienceonaman'smindandheart.Clearlysuchcross
examinationcandotwothingsitcanconvictamanofthecrimehehascommitted
orthewrongthathehasdoneoritcanconvinceamanoftheweaknessofhisown
caseandthestrengthofthecasewhichhehasopposed.Inthispassageweneed
bothmeanings,bothconvictandconvince.NowletusgoontoseewhatJesussays
theHolySpiritwilldo.
(i)TheHolySpiritwillconvictmenofsin.WhentheJewscrucifiedJesus,theydid
notbelievethattheyweresinningtheybelievedthattheywereservingGod.But
whenthestoryofthatcrucifixionwaslaterpreached,theywereprickedintheirheart
(Acts2:37).Theysuddenlyhadtheterribleconvictionthatthecrucifixionwasthe
greatestcrimeinhistoryandthattheirsinhadcausedit.Whatisitthatgivesaman
asenseofsin?WhatisitthatabaseshiminfaceoftheCross?InanIndianvillage
amissionarywastellingthestoryofChristbymeansoflanternslidesflungonthe
whitewashedwallofavillagehouse.WhenthepictureoftheCrosswasshown,an
Indiansteppedforward,asifhecouldnothelpit:"Comedown!"hecried."Ishould
behangingtherenotyou."Whyshouldthesightofamancrucifiedasacriminalin
Palestinetwothousandyearsagoteartheheartsofpeopleopenthroughoutthe
centuriesandstilltoday?ItistheworkoftheHolySpirit.
(ii)TheHolySpiritwillconvincemenofrighteousness.Itbecomesclearwhatthis
meanswhenweseethatitisJesusChrist'srighteousnessofwhichmenwillbe
convinced.Jesuswascrucifiedasacriminal.Hewastriedhewasfoundguiltyhe
wasregardedbytheJewsasanevilheretic,andbytheRomansasadangerous
characterhewasgiventhepunishmentthattheworstcriminalshadtosuffer,
brandedasafelonandanenemyofGod.Whatchangedthat?Whatmademensee
inthiscrucifiedfiguretheSonofGod,asthecenturionsawattheCross(Matthew
27:54)andPaulontheDamascusRoad(Acts9:19)?Itisamazingthatmenshould
puttheirtrustforalleternityinacrucifiedJewishcriminal.ItistheworkoftheHoly
Spirit.ItishewhoconvincesmenofthesheerrighteousnessofChrist,backedby
thefactthatJesusroseagainandwenttohisFather.
(iii)TheHolySpiritconvincesmenofjudgment.OntheCrossevilstands
condemnedanddefeated.Whatmakesamanfeelcertainthatjudgmentliesahead?
ItistheworkoftheHolySpirit.Itishewhogivesustheinnerandunshakable
convictionthatweshallallstandbeforethejudgmentseatofGod.
(iv)ThereremainsonethingwhichatthemomentJohndoesnotgoontomention.
Whenweareconvictedofourownsin,whenweareconvincedofChrist's
righteousness,whenweareconvincedofjudgmenttocome,whatgivesusthe
certaintythatintheCrossofChristisoursalvationandthatwithChristweare
forgiven,andsavedfromjudgment?This,too,istheworkoftheHolySpirit.Itishe
whoconvincesusandmakesussurethatinthiscrucifiedfigurewecanfindour
SaviourandourLord.TheHolySpiritconvictsusofoursinandconvincesusofour
Saviour.
THESPIRITOFTRUTH(John16:1215)
16:1215"Ihavemanythingstosaytoyou,butyoucannotbear
themnow.WhentheSpiritofTruthhascome,hewillleadyou
intoallthetruth.Forhewillnotspeakonhisownauthorityand
outofhisownknowledge,buthewillspeakallthathewillhear,
andhewilltellyouofthethingstocome.Hewillglorifyme,for
hewilltakeofthethingswhichbelongtome,andwilltellyouof
them.AllthingsthattheFatherhasaremine.ThatiswhyIsaid
thattheSpiritwilltakeofthethingswhichbelongtome,andtell
themtoyou."
ToJesustheHolySpiritistheSpiritofTruth,whosegreatworkistobringGod's
truthtomen.WehaveaspecialnameforthisbringingofGod'struthtomenwecall
itrevelation,andnopassageintheNewTestamentshowsuswhatwemightcallthe
principlesofrevelationbetterthanthisone.

(i)Revelationisboundtobeaprogressiveprocess.ManythingsJesusknewhe
couldnotatthatmomenttellhisdisciples,becausetheywerenotyetabletoreceive
them.Itisonlypossibletotellamanasmuchashecanunderstand.Wedonot
startwiththebinomialtheoremwhenwewishtoteachaboyalgebraweworkupto
it.Wedonotstartwithadvancedtheoremswhenwewishtoteachachildgeometry
weapproachthemgradually.Wedonotstartwithdifficultpassageswhenweteacha
ladLatinorGreekwestartwiththeeasyandthesimplethings.God'srevelationto
menislikethat.Heteachesmenwhattheyareableandfittolearn.Thismost
importantfacthascertainconsequences.
(a)ItistheexplanationofthepartsoftheOldTestamentwhichsometimesworry
anddistressus.ATthatstagetheywereallofGod'struththatmencouldgrasp.
TakeanactualillustrationintheOldTestamenttherearemanypassageswhichcall
forthewipingoutofmenandwomenandchildrenwhenanenemycityistaken.At
thebackofthesepassagesthereisthegreatthoughtthatIsraelmustnotriskthe
taintofanyheathenandlowerreligion.Toavoidthatrisk,thosewhodonotworship
thetrueGodmustbedestroyed.Thatistosay,theJewshadatthatstagegrasped
thefactthatthepurityofreligionmustbesafeguardedbuttheywishedtopreserve
thatpuritybydestroyingtheheathen.WhenJesuscame,mencametoseethatthe
waytopreservethatpurityistoconverttheheathen.ThepeopleoftheOld
Testamenttimeshadgraspedagreattruth,butonlyonesideofit.Revelationhasto
bethatwayGodcanrevealonlyasmuchasamancanunderstand.
(b)ItistheproofthatthereisnoendtoGod'srevelation.Oneofthemistakesmen
sometimesmakeistoidentifyGod'srevelationsolelywiththeBible.Thatwouldbe
tosaythatsinceaboutA.D.120,whenthelatestbookintheNewTestamentwas
written,Godhasceasedtospeak.ButGod'sSpiritisalwaysactiveheisalways
revealinghimself.Itistruethathissupremeandunsurpassablerevelationcamein
JesusbutJesusisnotjustafigureinabook,heisalivingpersonandinhimGod's
revelationgoeson.GodisstillleadingusintogreaterrealizationofwhatJesus
means.HeisnotaGodwhospokeuptoA.D.120andisnowsilent.Heisstill
revealinghistruthtomen.
(ii)God'srevelationtomenisarevelationofalltruth.Itisquitewrongtothinkofitas
confinedtowhatwemightcalltheologicaltruth.Thetheologiansandthepreachers
arenottheonlypeoplewhoareinspired.Whenapoetdeliverstomenagreat
messageinwordswhichdefytime,heisinspired.WhenH.F.Lytewrotethewords
ofAbidewithmehehadnofeelingofcomposingthemhewrotethemasto
dictation.Agreatmusicianisinspired.Handel,tellingofhowhewroteTheHallelujah
Chorus,said:"Isawtheheavensopened,andtheGreatWhiteGodsittingonthe
Throne."Whenascientistdiscoverssomethingwhichwillhelptheworld'stoiland
makelifebetterformen,whenasurgeondiscoversanewtechniquewhichwillsave
men'slivesandeasetheirpain,whensomeonediscoversanewtreatmentwhichwill
bringlifeandhopetosufferinghumanity,thatisarevelationfromGod.Alltruthis
God'struth,andtherevelationofalltruthistheworkoftheHolySpirit.
(iii)ThatwhichisrevealedcomesfromGod.Heisalikethepossessorandthegiver
ofalltruth.Truthisnotmen'sdiscoveryitisGod'sgift.Itisnotsomethingwhichwe
createitissomethingalreadywaitingtobediscovered.Atthebackofalltruththere
isGod.
(iv)RevelationisthetakingofthethingsofJesusandrevealingtheirsignificanceto
us.PartofthegreatnessofJesusishisinexhaustibleness.Nomanhasever
graspedallthathecametosay.Nomanhasfullyworkedoutallthesignificanceof
histeachingforlifeandforbelief,fortheindividualandfortheworld,forsocietyand
forthenation.RevelationisacontinualopeningoutofthemeaningofJesus.
Therewehavethecruxofthematter.Revelationcomestous,notfromanybookor
creed,butfromalivingperson.ThenearerwelivetoJesus,thebetterwewillknow
him.Themorewebecomelikehim,themorehewillbeabletotellus.Toenjoyhis
revelationwemustaccepthismastery.
SORROWTURNEDTOJOY(John16:1624)
16:1624"Inalittlewhileyouwillnotseemeanymoreand
againinalittlewhileyouwillseeme."Someofhisdisciples

saidtoeachother:"Whatisthemeaningofthisthatheis
sayingtous'Inalittlewhileyouwillnotseeme,andagainina
littlewhileyouwillseeme'?Andwhatdoeshemeanwhenhe
says:'IamgoingtomyFather'?Whatdoeshemeanwhenhe
talksabout'Alittle'?Wedonotknowwhathemeans."Jesus
knewthattheywishedtoaskhimtheirquestions,andhesaidto
them:"YouarediscussingamongyourselveswhatImeant
whenIsaid:'Inalittlewhileyouwillnotseeme,andagainina
littlewhileyouwillseeme.'ThisisthetruthItellyouyouwill
weepandyouwilllament,buttheworldwillrejoice.Youwillbe
grieved,butyourgriefwillturnintojoy.Whenawomanbearsa
childshehasgrief,becauseherhourhascome.But,whenthe
childisborn,shedoesnotrememberherpainbecauseofher
joythatamanisbornintotheworld.Soyoutooforthepresent
havegrief.ButIwillseeyouagain,andyourheartwillrejoice,
andnoonewilltakeyourjoyfromyou.Inthatdayyouwillnot
haveanyquestionstoaskme.ThisisthetruthItellyouthe
Fatherwillgiveyouinmynamewhateveryouwillaskhim.Up
tillnowyouhaveaskednothinginmyname.Ask,andyouwill
receive,thatyourjoymaystandcomplete."
HereJesusislookingbeyondthepresenttothenewagewhichistocome.Whenhe
does,heusesaconceptiondeeplyrootedinJewishthought.TheJewsbelievedthat
alltimewasdividedintotwoagesthepresentageandtheagetocome.Thepresent
agewaswhollybadandwhollyundercondemnationtheagetocomewasthegolden
ageofGod.Inbetweenthetwoages,precedingthecomingoftheMessiah,who
wouldbringinthenewage,therelaytheDayoftheLordandtheDayoftheLord
wastobeaterribleday,whentheworldwouldbeshatteredintofragmentsbeforethe
goldenagewoulddawn.TheJewswereinthehabitofcallingthatterriblebetween
time"thebirthtravailofthedaysoftheMessiah."
TheOldTestamentandtheliteraturewrittenbetweentheTestamentsarebothfullof
picturesofthisterriblebetweentime."BeholdtheDayoftheLordcomes,cruelwith
wrathandfierceanger,tomaketheearthadesolationandtodestroyitssinnersfrom
it"(Isaiah13:9)."LetalltheinhabitantsofthelandtrembleforthedayoftheLordis
coming,itisnear,adayofdarknessandgloom,adayofcloudsandthickdarkness"
(Joel2:12)."Andhonourshallbeturnedintoshame,andstrengthhumiliatedinto
contempt,andprobitydestroyed,andbeautyshallbecomeugliness"(2Baruch27).
"TheDayoftheLordwillcomeasathief,andthentheheavenswillpassawaywith
aloudnoise,andtheelementswillbedissolvedwithfire,andtheearthandthe
worksthatareuponitwillbeburnedup"(2Peter3:10).Suchwasthepictureofthe
birthpangsofthecomingoftheMessiah.
Jesusknewthescripturesandthesepictureswereinhismindandmemory.And
nowhewassayingtohisdisciples:"IamleavingyoubutIamcomingbackthe
daywillcomewhenmyreignwillbeginandmykingdomwillcomebutbeforethat
youwillhavetogothroughterriblethings,withpainlikebirthpangsuponyou.But,if
youfaithfullyendure,theblessingswillbeveryprecious."Thenhewentontooutline
thelifeoftheChristianwhoendures.
(i)Sorrowwillturntojoy.TheremaybeatimewhenitlooksasiftobeaChristian
bringsnothingbutsorrow,andtobeoftheworldbringsnothingbutjoy.Buttheday
willcomewhentherolesarereversed.Theworld'scarelessjoywillturntosorrow
andtheChristian'sapparentsorrowwillturntojoy.TheChristianmustalways
remember,whenhisfaithcostshimdear,thatthisisnottheendofthingsandthat
sorrowwillgivewaytojoy.
(ii)TherewillbetwopreciousthingsaboutthisChristianjoy.(a)Itwillneverbetaken
away.Itwillbeindependentofthechancesandchangesoftheworld.Itisthesimple
factthatineverygenerationpeoplewhoweresufferingterriblyhavespokenofsweet
timeswithChrist.Thejoytheworldgivesisatthemercyoftheworld.Thejoywhich
Christgivesisindependentofanythingtheworldcando.(b)Itwillbecomplete.In
life'sgreatestjoythereisalwayssomethinglacking.Itmaybethatsomehowthere
lingerssomeregretthatthereisacloudnobiggerthanaman'shandtomaritthat
thememorythatitcannotlastisalwaysatthebackofourminds.InChristianjoy,
thejoyofthepresenceofChrist,thereisnotingeofimperfection.Itisperfectand

complete.
(iii)InChristianjoythepainwhichwentbeforeisforgotten.Themotherforgetsthe
paininthewonderofthechild.Themartyrforgetstheagonyinthegloryofheaven.
AsBrowningwroteofthemartyr'stabletonthewall:
"Iwassometimeinbeingburned.
Atlastahandcamethrough
Theflamesanddrew
MysoultoChristwhomnowIsee
Sergiusabrotherwritesforme
Thistestimonyonthewall.
FormeIhaveforgotitall."
Ifaman'sfidelitycostshimmuch,hewillforgetthecostinthejoyofbeingforever
withChrist.
(iv)Therewillbefullnessofknowledge."Inthatday,"saidJesus,"youwillnotneed
toaskmeanyquestionsanymore."Inthislifetherearealwayssomeunanswered
questionsandsomeunsolvedproblems.Inthelastanalysiswemustalwayswalkby
faithandnotbysightwemustalwaysbeacceptingwhatwecannotunderstand.Itis
onlyfragmentsofthetruththatwecangraspandglimpsesofGodthatwemaysee
butintheagetocomewithChristtherewillbefullnessofknowledge.
AsBrowninghaditinAbtVogler:
"Theevilisnull,isnought,issilenceimplyingsound
Whatwasgoodshallbegood,with,forevil,somuchgood
more
Ontheearththebrokenarcsintheheaven,aperfectround.
Allwehavewilledorhopedordreamedofgoodshallexist
Notitssemblance,butitselfnobeauty,norgood,norpower
Whosevoicehasgoneforth,buteachsurvivesforthemelodist
Wheneternityaffirmstheconceptionofanhour.
Thehighthatprovedtoohigh,theheroicforearthtoohard,
Thepassionthatleftthegroundtoloseitselfinthesky,
AremusicsentuptoGodbytheloverandthebard
Enoughthathehearditonceweshallhearitbyandby."
WhenwearefullywithChristthetimeofquestionswillbegoneandthetimeof
answerswillhavecome.
(iv)TherewillbeanewrelationshipwithGod.WhenwereallyandtrulyknowGodwe
areabletogotohimandaskhimforanything.Weknowthatthedoorisopenwe
knowthat,hisnameisFatherweknowthathisheartislove.Wearelikechildren
whoneverdoubtthattheirfatherdelightstoseethemorthattheycantalktohimas
theywish.InthatrelationshipJesussayswemayaskforanything.Butletusthink
ofitinhumantermstheonlytermswehave.Whenachildlovesandtrustshis
father,heknowsquitewellthatsometimeshisfatherwillsaynobecausehiswisdom
andhisloveknowbest.WecanbecomesointimatewithGodthatwemaytake
everythingtohim,butalwayswemustendbysaying:"Thywillbedone."

(v)ThatnewrelationshipismadepossiblebyJesusitexistsinhisname.Itis
becauseofhimthatourjoyisindestructibleandperfect,thatourknowledgeis
complete,thatthenewwaytotheheartofGodisopentous.Allthatwehave,came
tousthroughJesusChrist.Itisinhisnamethatweaskandreceive,thatwe
approachandarewelcomed.
THEDIRECTACCESS(John16:2528)
16:2528"Ihavespokenthesethingstoyouinsayingsthatare
hardtounderstandbutthehouriscomingwhenIwillnolonger
speaktoyouinsayingsthatarehardtounderstand,butIwill
tellyouplainlyabouttheFather.Inthatdayyouwillaskinmy
name.IdonotsaythatIwillasktheFatherforyou,because
theFatherhimselflovesyou,becauseyouhavelovedmeand
havebelievedthatIcameforthfromtheFather.Icameforth
fromtheFather,andIcameintotheworldIamleavingthe
worldagain,andIamgoingtotheFather."
TheRevisedStandardVersionhasitthatuptillnowJesushasbeenspeakingtohis
disciplesinfigures.TheGreekisparoimia(Greek#3942)itisthewordusedfor
Jesus'parables,butbasicallyitmeansasayingthatishardtounderstand,asaying
whosemeaningisveiledtothecasuallistener,asayingwhichdemandsthought
beforeitsmeaningcanbecomeclear.Itcan,forinstance,beusedforthepithy
sayingsofwisemenwithwhosepregnantbrevitythemindmustgrappleitcanbe
usedforariddlewhosemeaningamanmustguessasbesthecan.Jesusissaying:
"SofarIhavebeengivingyouhintsandindicationsIhavebeengivingyouthetruth
withaveilonitIhavebeensayingthingswhichyouhadtothinkyourwaythrough
butnowIamgoingtospeakthetruthinallitsstarkclarity."Thenhetellsthem
plainlythathecamefromGod,andthatheisgoingbacktoGod.Hereisa
tremendousclaimthatheisnoneotherthantheSonofGodandthattheCrossis
notforhimacriminal'sdeath,butthewaybacktoGod.
ThenJesussayssomethingwemusteverremember.HismencanapproachGod
direct,becauseGodlovesthemhedoesnotneedtotaketheirrequeststoGod
theycantaketheirown.Hereisthefinalproofofsomethingwhichmustneverbe
forgotten.OftenwetendtothinkintermsofanangryGodandagentleJesuswhat
Jesusdidispresentedinawaywhichseemstomeanthathechangedtheattitude
ofGodtomen,andmadehimaGodofloveinsteadofaGodofjudgment.Buthere
Jesusissaying:"YoucangotoGod,becausehelovesyou,"andheissayingthat
beforetheCross.HedidnotdietochangeGodintolovehediedtotellusthatGod
islove.Hecame,notbecauseGodsohatedtheworld,butbecausehesolovedthe
world.JesusbroughttomentheloveofGod.
Hetellsthemthathisworkisdone.HecamefromtheFather,andnow,bywayof
theCross,hegoesback.AndforeverymanthewayisopentoGod.Hedoesnot
needtotaketheirprayerstoGodtheycantaketheirown.TheloverofChrististhe
belovedofGod.
CHRISTANDHISGIFTS(John16:2933)
16:2933Hisdisciplessaid:"See!nowyouarespeakingclearly,
andyouarenotspeakinginhardsayings.Nowweknowthat
youknowallthings,andthatyoudonotneedthatanyone
shouldaskyouanything.Becauseofthiswebelievethatyou
cameforthfromGod."Jesusansweredthem:"Soyoubelieve
atthismoment?See!thehouriscomingithascomewhen
eachofyouwillbescatteredtoyourownhomes,andyouwill
leavemealone.AndyetIamnotalone,becausetheFatheris
withme.Ihavespokenthesethingstoyouthatyoumighthave
peaceinme.Intheworldyouwillhavetribulation.Butcourage!
Ihaveconqueredtheworld."
ThereisastrangelighthereonhowthedisciplesfinallysurrenderedtoJesus.They
suddenlyleaptintofullbeliefbecausetheyrealizedthatJesusdidnotneedtoask
anymananything.Whatdidtheymean?BackinJohn16:1718wefindthem
puzzledbywhatJesushadsaid.BeginninginJohn16:19Jesusbeginstoanswer

theirquestionswithoutaskingthemwhattheywere.Inotherwordshecouldread
theirheartslikeanopenbook.Thatiswhytheybelievedinhim.Atravellerin
Scotlandintheolddaysdescribedtwopreacherswhomhehadheard.Ofonehe
said:"HeshowedmethegloryofGod."Oftheotherhesaid:"Heshowedmemy
wholeheart."Jesuscoulddobothofthesethings.ItwashisknowledgeofGodand
hisknowledgeofthehumanheartwhichconvincedthedisciplesthathewastheSon
ofGod.
ButJesuswasarealist.Hetoldthemthat,inspiteoftheirbelief,thehourwas
comingwhentheywoulddeserthim.Hereisperhapsthemostextraordinarything
aboutJesus.Heknewtheweaknessofhismenheknewtheirfailureheknewthat
theywouldlethimdowninthemomentofhisdirestneedandyethestillloved
themandwhatisevenmorewonderfulhestilltrustedthem.Heknewmenattheir
worstandstilllovedandtrustedthem.Itisquitepossibleforamantoforgive
someoneand,atthesametime,tomakeitclearthatheisneverpreparedtotrust
thatpersonagain.ButJesussaid:"Iknowthatinyourweaknessyouwilldesertme
neverthelessIknowthatyouwillstillbeconquerors."Neverinalltheworldwere
forgivenessandtrustsocombined.Whatalessonisthere!Jesusteachesushowto
forgive,andhowtotrustthemanwhowasguiltyoffailure.
TherearefourthingsaboutJesuswhichthispassagemakesveryclear.
(i)ThereisthelonelinessofJesus.Hewastobeleftalonebymen.Andyethewas
neveralone,becausehestillhadGod.Nomaneverstandsalonefortherighthe
alwaysstandswithGod.Nogoodmanisevercompletelyforsaken,forheisnever
forsakenbyGod.
(ii)ThereistheforgivenessofJesus.Ofthatwehavealreadythought.Heknewthat
hisfriendswouldabandonhim,yetatthemomenthedidnotupbraidthem,and
afterwardshedidnotholditagainstthem.Helovedmeninalltheirweaknesssaw
themandlovedthemastheywere.Lovemustbeclearsighted.Ifweidolizea
personandthinkhimfaultless,wearedoomedtodisappointment.Wemustlovehim
ashereallyis.
(iii)ThereisthesympathyofJesus.Oneversehereatfirstsightseemsoutof
place:"Ihavesaidthistoyou,thatinmeyoumayhavepeace."Thepointisthisif
Jesushadnotforetoldtheweaknessofthedisciples,afterwardswhentheyrealized
howtheyhadfailedhim,mightwellhavebeendriventoutterandabsolutedespair.It
isasifhesaid:"Iknowwhat'sgoingtohappenyoumustnotthinkthatyour
disloyaltycameasashocktomeIknewitwascominganditdoesnotmakeany
differencetomylove.Whenyouthinkaboutitafterwards,don'tdespair."Hereis
divinepityanddivineforgiveness.Jesuswasthinking,notofhowmen'ssinwould
hurthim,butofhowitwouldhurtthem.Sometimesitwouldmakeallthedifferenceif
wethought,notofhowmuchsomeonehashurtus,butofhowmuchthefactthat
theyhurtushasdriventhemtoregretandthesorrowofanachingheart.
(iv)ThereisthegiftofJesuscourageandconquest.Verysoonsomethingwas
goingtobeunanswerablyprovedtothedisciples.Theyweregoingtoseethatthe
worldcoulddoitsworsttoJesusandstillnotdefeathim.Andhesays:"Thevictory
whichIwillwincanbeyourvictorytoo.Theworlddiditsworsttome,andIemerged
victorious.Lifecandoitsworsttoyou,andyoutoocanemergevictorious.Youtoo
canpossessthecourageandtheconquestoftheCross."
Barclay'sDailyStudyBible(NT)
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BibliographyInformation
Barclay,William."Commentaryonjohn16"."WilliamBarclay'sDailyStudyBible".
"http://www.studylight.org/commentaries/dsb/print.cgi?bk=42&ch=16&vs=1".1956
1959.
20012015,StudyLight.org

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