In this next study we will be looking at chapter 16 of John's synoptic gospel in which Jesus first gives a stern warning of persecution and then He explains the working of the Holy Spirit and after that His departure. Lastly He reveals His overcoming the evils of this world. When we have received the promise of all promises we too are empowered to Learn of Him, the vail is rent that covers our own heart to be empowered to see clearly and hear unhindered GOD's word within our being like never before. This is what we acquire as the abundance of His Life is all about. Now for years I have wondered why is it that todays people and churches have not the witness in power of the Holy Spirit. In this study we just may find out why. You see we are called to be set apart and a peculiar people indwelt by GOD, the Godhead, to walk as His ambassadors and stewards of His word just as did a few men and women throughout the worlds history. This is the power or authority spoken of through our Bible and seen within its pages. We are to be His witnesses of Christ coming in the flesh, again. Yes I said "again" because of Genesis where we have the Spirit of the LORD...ie' Christ, present as John bears out in John chapter 1. John having spent time close to Jesus and then walking with Paul before writing by revelation the things of Christ including the stand alone book of Christ's Revelation. Now I will turn again to the ESV translation to do this study.
Jesus warns of Persecution to follow
John 16:1-3 "I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away. They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor Me.
I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you. "I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you."
Jesus speaks of His leaving and then the work of the Holy Spirit
John 16:5-6, 7-11, 12-15 "But now I am going 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.
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 if I go, I will send Him to you. And when He comes, He will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see Me no longer (this does not mean that He is gone but rather is returned to His original state of Spirit remains ever present); concerning judgment, because the ruler (within mans being of the flesh) of this world is judged.
"I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of Truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth, for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak, and He will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take what is Mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is Mine; therefore I said that He will take what is Mine and declare it to you."
Sorrow turns to Joy at His resurrection (within our soul)
John 16:16, 17-24 "A little while, and you will see Me no longer; and again a little while, and you will (know Me in a new way) see Me."
So some of his disciples said to one another, "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 am going to the Father'?" So they were saying, "What does He mean by 'a little while'? We do not know what He is talking about (the unbelieving world, this includes mans religions, remains to this day in blindness and darkness to this)." Jesus knew what they wanted to ask Him, so He said to them, "Is this what you are asking yourselves, what I meant by saying, 'A little while and you will not see Me, and again a little while and you will see Me'? Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. So also you have sorrow now, but I will see (be within) you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. In that day you will ask nothing of Me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in My (anointed name, this being Messiah or Christ) name, HE will give it to you. Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full."
I have Overcome the world
John 16:25-33 "I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father. In that day you will ask through My name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed that I came from GOD. I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father." His disciples said, "Ah, now You are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech! Now we know that You know all things and do not need anyone to question You; this is why we believe that You came from God." Jesus answered them, "Do you now believe? Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave Me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is within Me. I have said these things to you, that in (through) Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world."
This is overcoming is spoken of in Revelation where we are told how to overcome the world through Christ and His Spirit restored within us. Next comes the LORD's Prayer that reveals GOD's transformation which took place at Pentecost. It forever changed the landscape for humanity from being of the flesh as in the days before Jesus' coming to our being spiritually endowed by GOD in Christ to become His again. During the ancient days He as the Spirit settled upon men and women but did not seem to indwell man, as they spoke and wrote as the Spirit gave them utterance.
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