John 16:1-4, Persecution
"All this I have told you so that you will not go astray. They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God. They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me.
I have told you this, so that when the time comes you will remember that I warned you. I did not tell you this at first because I was with you.
Even being on the Messiah's team does not offer protection from persecution, even death. There is a deeper goal here....
"Now I am going to him who sent me, yet none of you asks me, `Where are you going?' Because I have said these things, you are filled with grief. But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.
When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.
The Counselor bring a certain light and transparency. Under that light, people see their inherent selfishness. Under that light, Jesus is revealed as righteous and as savior of the world, defeating evil.
"I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you.
"All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you."
The disciples will no longer receive direct teaching from Jesus. But the Counselor, the "Spirit of Truth" will teach them further. And for that to happen, Jesus must leave....
John 16:16‑23, Childbirth
"In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me."
Some of his disciples said to one another, "What does he mean by saying, `In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me,' and `Because I am going to the Father'?" They kept asking, "What does he mean by `a little while'? We don't understand what he is saying."
Jesus saw that they wanted to ask him about this, so he said to them, "Are you asking one another what I meant when I said, `In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me'? I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.
A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. In that day you will no longer ask me anything. I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.
The disciples didn't understand Jesus's timetable. The timetable is still unclear, but the temporary defeat, followed by victory, is described by John later in his gospel.
Two statements, seemingly contradictory, appear together here. "You will grieve..." and "ask me anything." The disciples are alerted to a pending time of grief, while assured that this is all part of a plan.
Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.
"Though I have been speaking figuratively, a time is coming when I will no longer use this kind of language but will tell you plainly about my Father. In that day you will ask in my name.
I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father."
"Though I have been speaking figuratively, a time is coming when I will no longer use this kind of language but will tell you plainly about my Father. In that day you will ask in my name.
I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father."
There is a transition of some type that will occur rapidly. Soon the figurative speech will end. In this new age, the disciples will ask God directly for aid and it will be freely given.
Then Jesus' disciples said, "Now you are speaking clearly and without figures of speech. Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God."
"You believe at last!" Jesus answered. "But a time is coming, and has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me.
The disciples' statement of affirmation is met with a reality check.
I wonder which disciple was speaking here. Apparently his opinion is reflected by most of them?
"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."
The final statement is a clear summary of this passage and possibly a theme for John. The Logos has overcome the World. Do not expect the World to bring safety or fulfillment, but expect this of the Logos.
What exactly is the new relationship here between the disciples and Jesus-God?
For further thought and meditation: What exactly is to be our relationship with the world? It is a beautiful world, with many good things in it.
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