The Gospel of John for Youth
Commentary by Pastor Ron Beckham

John Chapter 16

(Words in red in the Scriptures are the words of Jesus)

Verse 1.  "These things I have spoken to you so that you may be kept from stumbling."

The Lord has given you His words in His Bible, so you can understand what God wants and not be confused.

Verse 2.  "They will make you outcasts from the synagogue, but an hour is coming for everyone who kills you to think that he is offering service to God."

Sometimes religious people don't like those who TRUST in Jesus Christ.  Don't be afraid of them - just have faith in Jesus and He will get you through.

Verse 3.  "These things they will do because they have not known the Father or Me."

The reason some religious people don't like those who have faith in Jesus Christ, is because they don't love God the Father or God the Son.

Verse 4.  "But these things I have spoken to you, so that when their hour comes, you may remember that I told you of them. These things I did not say to you at the beginning, because I was with you."

It was time for Jesus to tell His disciples (students) they would have trouble in this world.  He would be leaving them (going to the cross) and they needed to know what was going to happen.  He would not be on earth to explain things to them.

Verse 5.  "But now I am going to Him who sent Me; and none of you asks Me, 'Where are You going?'"

The disciples (students of Jesus) were AMAZED by what He was saying.  He was going back to the Father and they were so upset, they were not able to ask Him anything.

Verse 6.  "But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart."

The disciples (students of Jesus) expected Him to be with them all the rest of their lives.  He told them He would be LEAVING them, and they were filled with sadness.

Verse 7.  "But 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."

It was sad that Jesus was leaving them, even though they would be with Him in heaven.  But something wonderful was going to happen.  Jesus would send His Holy Spirit to those who love Him, and He will be with you - forever.

Verse 8.  "And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment;"

You don't need to worry about telling others about Jesus.  Those in the world need to know they are sinners in need of God’s help, and the Holy Spirit will help you tell them.

Verse 9.  "concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me;"

What is “sin”?  It is right here in this verse - it is refusing to believe in Jesus Christ.

Verse 10.  "and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father and you no longer see Me;"

To be seen as a good (righteous) person to God, you must believe in His Son.  Jesus has gone to God the Father, and God especially loves those who trust in His Son.

Verse 11.  "and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged."

The world needs to know that EVERYBODY will be judged by God.  Those who trust in Jesus will be saved – they’ll be with Him forever.  Those who don't trust Him are just like Satan – they’re in big trouble.

Verse 12.  "I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now."

Jesus has told you what you must hear.  All you have to know has been said by Him.  What you need is right here in these verses.  There is much more He COULD say, but there is a limit to what we can take.

Verse 13.  "But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come."

The Holy Spirit of God (the Spirit of truth) will gently tell you what you need to know.  He will speak to your "heart" and He will explain to you what God the Father and the Son want from you.

Verse 14.  "He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you."

The Holy Spirit will teach you about Jesus and how to have faith in Him.  He will show you everything you need to know.

Verse 15.  "All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose it to you."

Everything belongs to Jesus Christ, including you and me, and He knows everything we need to learn.  The Holy Spirit will give you ANSWERS to anything you are worried about.

Verse 16.  "A little while, and you will no longer see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me."

Jesus would go to a grave, and they (the disciples) would run away.  They would be alive and He would be dead – they would not see Him!  But He would then rise from the dead and go to them.  At that time, they would see Him again.

Verse 17.  "Some of His disciples then said to one another, 'What is this thing He is telling us, 'A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me'; and, 'because I go to the Father'?"

The disciples (students) of Jesus didn’t understand what He was saying.  They didn’t WANT to understand, because they thought He was saying He would leave them.  It was true – He would leave.  But only for a little while.  He’s with YOU right now.

Verse 18.  "So they were saying, 'What is this that He says, 'A little while'? We do not know what He is talking about.'"

Jesus’ disciples (students) were no longer listening to Him, because they were busy talking among themselves.  We need to listen to the Lord and not spend so much time worrying.  Jesus will take care of you and me.

Verse 19.  "Jesus knew that they wished to question Him, and He said to them, 'Are you deliberating together about this, that I said, 'A little while, and you will not see Me, and again a little while, and you will see Me'?"

The disciples wanted to ask Jesus a lot of questions but they were afraid.  He spoke to them and comforted them.  He understood they were worrying about what He had just told them.

Verse 20.  "Truly, truly, I say to you, that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; you will grieve, but your grief will be turned into joy."

The disciples would feel very sad and would cry when Jesus died.  Those who killed Jesus would be happy – they would think they got rid of Him.  But His disciples would be filled with JOY, for He would soon rise from the dead.  (And He did).

Verse 21. "Whenever a woman is in labor she has pain, because her hour has come; but when she gives birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy that a child has been born into the world."

Having a baby is painful, but most mothers LOVE their little ones a LOT and are happy when they are born.  The mother forgets about the pain because she loves the child.

Verse 22.  "Therefore you too have grief now; but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you."

Jesus was saying, “What’s happening is like the birth of a child” (see verse 22).  Just like that mother, the disciples (students) would soon be sad because of His death, but then be very GLAD when He rose from the dead.

Verse 23.  "In that day you will not question Me about anything. Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask the Father for anything in My name, He will give it to you."

When Jesus would rise from the dead, His disciples (students) would have no more questions to ask Him.  That He is ALIVE is all we need to know.  And because He is alive, you can ask ANYTHING in His Name, and He will answer your prayer.

Verse 24.  "Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full."

Most people don’t really ask for anything in prayer, because they’re afraid God won’t give them what they want.  If you utterly TRUST in Jesus, you will KNOW what to ask, and He will give you what you need.  Answered prayer will give you JOY.

Verse 25.  "These things I have spoken to you in figurative language; an hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language, but will tell you plainly of the Father."

Jesus often spoke in “parables”, which are like word pictures to help us understand.  Soon, Jesus would speak to His disciples clearly, so they would more easily see what He was saying.

Verse 26.  "In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I will request of the Father on your behalf;"

The disciples didn’t ask anything for themselves, because they thought that only Jesus could get answers from the Father.  (They had seen His miracles.)  He was telling them they could ask the Father themselves, because they would ask in the Name of Jesus.

Verse 27.  "for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed that I came forth from the Father.”

God the Father has a special love for all who love the Lord and believe that God the Son (Jesus Christ) was sent by the Father to this world.

Verse 28.  "I came forth from the Father and have come into the world; I am leaving the world again and going to the Father."

He told His disciples (and us) that He was sent into this world by God the Father and that He would be soon leaving.  He did leave and He went to the Father.

Verse 29.  "His disciples said, 'Lo, now You are speaking plainly and are not using a figure of speech.'"

The disciples were surprised and pleased.  He had just spoken to them with plain words they could understand.

Verse 30.  "Now we know that You know all things, and have no need for anyone to question You; by this we believe that You came from God."

They (the disciples) thought that because they had clearly understood the words of Jesus, they had FAITH at last that He (Jesus) had come from God the Father.

Verse 31.  "Jesus answered them, 'Do you now believe?'"

The disciples thought they now had great faith in the Lord, but Jesus knew them and wasn’t so sure.

Verse 32.  "Behold, an hour is coming, and has already come, for you to be scattered, each to his own home, and to leave Me alone; and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me.”

Jesus knew that soon they would run away and hide.  Instead of faith and love, they would have unbelief and fear.  When Jesus was arrested, they would run away.

Verse 33.  "These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world."

The disciples would remember all of the words of Jesus.  Soon He would die, just as He said.  They would later feel peace, remembering that He told them all this BEFORE He died.  He came back to life, just as He said, and He overcame the world.  Jesus has the victory, even over death.  You can trust in Him.

Ron Beckham, Pastor
Friday Study Ministries
www.fridaystudy.org
ron@fridaystudy.org