John 16, I Am Leaving (Overview)

Jesus has just said that he is the True Vine, the source of all spiritual truth and power.  But staying close to Jesus, relying on him -- that will not be easy.

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....

John 16: 5‑11, The work of the Counselor
"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.

John 16: 12‑15, The work of the Counselor
"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.

John 16: 24-28, Ask

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."

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.

John 16: 29-32, You came from God
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?

John 16: 33, I have overcome the World

"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.

John 15: 26 -- John 16: 1-4, Counselor, Advocate

Jesus has told the disciples that their love for him and for each other will draw, from "the world" a certain hatred. There is a price to be paid for following the Messiah.

He then has some encouraging words about support....

John 15: 26-27, The world will hate you (if you love each other)!
“When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me. 
27 And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.

The disciples will receive an Advocate, the Holy Spirit, who will keep them in communication with God, so that they may successfully speak on the Messiah.

John 16: 1-4, Persecution
“All this I have told you so that you will not fall away. 
2 They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, the time is coming when anyone who kills you will think they are offering a service to God. 
3 They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me. 

4 I have told you this, so that when their time comes you will remember that I warned you about them. I did not tell you this from the beginning because I was with you, 

The concern about the world's hatred is repeated.  Jewish believers in the Messiah will be expelled from synagogues, maybe even killed.

Even being on the Messiah's team does not offer protection from persecution, even death. There is a deeper goal here....

John 15: 17-25, The World Hates You

Jesus is in a farewell conversation with his disciples.

John 15: 17 One Command!
This is my command: Love each other.

The first mark of the Christian is that we love each other. We should start there. "Greater love has no one than this..." is a statement that Jesus will demonstrate his love for those around him whom he has chosen, not just as disciples, but as friends.

John 15: 18-27, The world will hate you (if you love each other)!
“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 
19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. 
20 Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. 
21 They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me. 
22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin. 
23 Whoever hates me hates my Father as well. 
24 If I had not done among them the works no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. As it is, they have seen, and yet they have hated both me and my Father. 
25 But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: ‘They hated me without reason.’

There is a warning included in the command, "Love each other."  If one follows Jesus, and along the way, insists in acting in love, the world will turn away.  The World has other goals.  The citizen of heaven should not expect to gain power and control in this realm.  (And the citizen of heaven does not want power and control in the next realm!)

The hatred of the world is really not focused on the Christian, suggests this passage, but is due to hatred of God and the things of God.  If the disciples are members of an eternal Kingdom then they will suffer some consequences for that here.

This hatred has been stimulated by the appearance of Jesus among the people of Israel; the religious elite resist him.

The quote in verse 20 is from John 13:16, repeating an earlier statement made during the footwashing. The quote in verse 25 is from Psalms 35:19 or Psalms 69:4.

Meditation: What should be a Christian’s expectations of society?  (Is society getting better and better as Christians make an impact? Is it getting worse and worse? staying the same? Should Christians expect success? failure? pleasure? pain? understanding? anger?)

How do our expectations influence our actions? Why is it important to have proper expectations?

John 15: 9-17, My Command

Jesus explains to his disciples that he is the "vine", the source of all spiritual knowledge and growth. We grow like a wild vine if we are linked to him and relying on him.

John 15: 9-13, My commandment
“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 
10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 
11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 
12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 
13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 

The first mark of the Christian is that we love each other. We should start there. "Greater love has no one than this..." is a statement that Jesus will demonstrate his love for those around him whom he has chosen, not just as disciples, but as friends.

Those who stay "in the vine" must then remain loving, caring for others.  This is a farewell speech; after Jesus is gone, the disciples' ability to work together, on the same Kingdom mission, will be sorely tested.  Sometimes caring for one's teammates may even lead to sacrificial death; Jesus will demonstrate this.

We grow like a wild vine if we are linked to him and relying on him.

John 15: 14-16, My friends
You are my friends if you do what I command. 
15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 

16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 

As Jesus prepares to leave, he emphasizes the friendship, family level of their relationship. Yes, he is the Messiah and they are the servants, but now they are friends and will begin acting, themselves, in Messianic, priestly ways.

Verse 16 repeats earlier promises. They have been appointed to be successful in their ministry with spiritual resources readily available.

John 15: 17, The command
This is my command: Love each other.

The command is once again repeated.  It is central to this passage.

There is a warning included in the command, "Love each other."  If one follows Jesus, and along the way, insists in acting in love, the world will turn away.  The World has other goals.  The citizen of heaven should not expect to gain power and control in this realm.  (And the citizen of heaven does not want power and control in the next realm!)

John 15: 1-8, The True Vine

Jesus has been telling the disciples that he is going away, but that they are not to be concerned, for he will leave them with The Counselor. Jesus is either still in the Upper Room or walking with them towards Gethsemane.

John 15: 1‑4, The Vine
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 
2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 
3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 
4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

A straightforward agricultural metaphor makes it clear that seeking to do good, to be productive in God's kingdom requires being part of the plant, directly linked into the flow of the Holy Spirit from God.

NIV footnotes: "he prunes" could also be translated "he cleans".  So the branch that bears some fruit is "cleaned up" to perform even better.  This fits with verse 3, where Jesus assures the disciples that they are already cleaned up. 

Verse 4 is an admonition; the disciples are to keep this metaphor in mind and make sure to stay connected to their source!

John 15: 1‑8, Remain in Me
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 
6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 
7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 
8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

Jesus is the source of spiritual nutrient.  We grow like a wild vine if we are linked to him and relying on him.  This is necessary for all who consider themselves a Jesus-follower.  If we stay linked to the vine, we begin to "bear fruit", developing in healthy ways into the person God wants us to become.

The last few verses in this paragraph promise success to those attache to the vine, including answers to their requests (as the teachings of Jesus are deeply learned.)

John 15, The Vine (Overview)

Jesus has been telling the disciples that he is going away, but that they are not to be concerned, for he will leave them with The Counselor. Jesus is apparently still in the Upper Room

John 15:1‑8, The Vine
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. 

"No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

Jesus is the source of spiritual nutrient.  We grow like a wild vine if we are linked to him and relying on him.  This is necessary for all who consider themselves a Jesus-follower.  If we stay linked to the vine, we begin to "bear fruit", developing in healthy ways into the person God wants us to become.

John 15: 9-16, My commandment
"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.

"If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.

"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command.  I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.

"You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit‑‑fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.

The first mark of the Christian is that we love each other. We should start there. "Greater love has no one than this..." is a statement that Jesus will demonstrate his love for those around him whom he has chosen, not just as disciples, but as friends.

John 15: 17-27, The world will hate you (if you love each other)!
This is my command: Love each other.

"If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.

Remember the words I spoke to you: `No servant is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the One who sent me.

If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin. Now, however, they have no excuse for their sin. He who hates me hates my Father as well. If I had not done among them what no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. But now they have seen these miracles, and yet they have hated both me and my Father. But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: `They hated me without reason.'

"When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me. And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.

The quote in verse 20 is from John 13:16. The quote in verse 25 is from Psalms 35:19 or Psalms 69:4.

There is a warning included in the command, "Love each other."  If one follows Jesus, and along the way, insists in acting in love, the world will turn away.  The World has other goals.  The citizen of heaven should not expect to gain power and control in this realm.  (And the citizen of heaven does not want power and control in the next realm!)

What comfort does this passage give us? What is the explanation for our persecution? What responsibility does this give us?

Meditation: What should be a Christian’s expectations of society?  (Is society getting better and better as Christians make an impact? Is it getting worse and worse? staying the same? Should Christians expect success? failure? pleasure? pain? understanding? anger?)

How do our expectations influence our actions? Why is it important to have proper expectations?