Category: John 16

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John John 16

Finding peace and joy

John

It’s very clear from this passage that all that Jesus was saying was weighing heavily on the disciples, mostly because they were so focused on the idea that Jesus was leaving.

As a result, it overshadowed everything else he was saying.

Instead of hearing all that he said about the Spirit and the good things he had in store for them, the only thing they could think about was, “Jesus is leaving. What are we going to do?”

And so Jesus both warned them and encouraged them, saying,

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. (John 16:20–22)

All this was realized in Jesus’ death and resurrection. When Jesus was crucified, his enemies rejoiced while his disciples fell into utter despair. But when they saw him alive again, triumphant over the grave, their grief turned into joy.

And despite all the persecution and hardship they endured, no one was able to take away their joy, and because of that, they changed the world.

But I think the same is true of us in many ways. Until Jesus returns, we will face many troubles in this world. Now is our time of grief.

Paul puts it this way,

We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.

Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. (Romans 8:22–23)

But when Jesus comes again and we see him face to face, we will rejoice and no one will be able to take away our joy.

Until he comes, however, because of Jesus’ work on the cross, we now have direct access to God. Because of that, we can ask anything we wish of him in Jesus’ name and he will give it to us, and we can find joy here and now. (John 16:23–24, 26–27)

I think we spend too much time making disclaimers about Jesus’ words here.

Yes, our prayers need to be according to God’s will. Yes, God reserves the right to say no if we’re asking for a scorpion, thinking it’s a fish.

But we spend so much time making disclaimers that we become afraid of asking at all. And our Father wants us to ask freely.

How much blessing do we miss out on because we don’t ask?

How much is our joy incomplete because we fail to ask for the things we desire in our hearts?

So let us ask. And again, remember the words of Paul who said,

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.

And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will. (Romans 8:26–27)

Sometimes in our human weakness, we do not know what to pray for and sometimes even pray for what is bad for us.

But during those times, the Spirit intercedes for us and prays for what’s good. That’s why Paul can say,

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)

So let us rest in these things:

  • That no matter how bad things are now, Jesus is coming back and will make all things right.
  • That because God loves us, we can ask of the Father anything, knowing the Spirit intercedes for us and will only give us what is good.
  • That God is working all things out for our good and for his purposes. And no power on earth can stop him from doing so.

With these things in mind, I think Jesus’ words ring even more powerfully.

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. (John 16:33)

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John John 16

The work of the Spirit

John

Who is the Holy Spirit? Even today, many Christians are confused as to who he is.

And that’s one thing to remember. The Holy Spirit is a “he,” not that he’s literally of the male gender—although God chooses to reveal him that way—but that he is a person.

Not a thing. Not a force. A person.

We see this clearly in the title that Jesus gives him. He calls him, “The Counselor.”

The word counselor here is very much like the title we give lawyers today. They are advocates for the ones that they represent. They give advice, they help, and they defend against those that would condemn them.

This is hardly something you could attribute to an impersonal force.

So let us make it clear in our minds: the Holy Spirit is a person.

When Satan tries to condemn us, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us along with Christ.

When we don’t even know how to pray, he prays for us (Romans 8:26–27, 34).

When we start to question God’s love for us, he reminds us we are God’s children (Romans 8:15–16, 1 John 3:24).

But Jesus tells us more. The Holy Spirit is the one who convicts people in regards to sin, righteousness, and judgment.

So often, we think that we are the ones that have to change people’s hearts. But while we are responsible for scattering the seeds of the gospel and watering it, only the Spirit can make it grow. Only he can change the human heart.

He is the one who convicts people for rejecting Christ. (Notice here, by the way, that sin, more than simply doing “bad things,” is associated first and foremost with a rejection of Christ.)

With Christ’s visible example of righteousness gone from this earth, the Holy Spirit is the one who shows people what is right and points to Christ as the only way to salvation.

And it is the Holy Spirit who warns people of the coming judgment, not only for the prince of this world (Satan), but for all those who reject Christ.

One last thing that Jesus tells us about the Spirit is that he leads us into all truth. He takes the things that Jesus has said and shows us what they mean.

Words that we can’t understand when we first read them in the Bible, he will bring to mind and shine the light of understanding on when we need them.

The thing that you can’t help but notice in the last part of this passage is the interaction between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

All that the Father knows, Jesus knows. And all that Jesus knows, the Holy Spirit will reveal to us at the appropriate time. For all three are the one God, and they all work together in perfect concert.

What does this mean for us? When Jesus says that it was for our benefit that he departed, he meant it.

For through the Holy Spirit, God dwells in each one of us who believes in Jesus. He works in us to bring others to him. He intercedes for us and defends us. He teaches and guides us. And he comforts us.

Thank you, Jesus, for the gift of your Spirit. That through Him, you are truly Immanuel, “God with us.”

Holy Spirit, lead us, guide us, teach us, and help us each day. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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John John 15 John 16

An occupational hazard

John

I remember one time working for a church here in Japan, and the pastor’s daughter was working at a Christian pre‑school.

One day, she complained that one of her students stabbed her hand with a pair of scissors. (Fortunately, it was a blunt one, but still.)

Later on, she told me, “We need an English teacher at our school. Don’t you want to come?”

Needless to say, I declined. Getting stabbed in the hand is one occupational hazard I could do without. 🙂

As Christians, however, we do face an “occupational hazard” that we cannot avoid.

If we are going to testify for Christ, there will be people that will get angry with us. There will even be people that will hate us for it. Jesus said,

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. (John 15:18–21)

Jesus was perfect love. He lived a perfect life. And still people hated him. Can we expect to escape the same fate as Jesus?

This is not to say that all will hate us. Some will love us for telling them the truth about Jesus. But to expect no conflict at all is unrealistic unless you compromise the message.

And unfortunately, far too many Christians do. Why? Because they don’t want to be hated. They don’t want the conflict.

I’m not saying that we should go out of our way to generate conflict and hatred. We’re going to generate enough as it is just by representing Jesus.

But neither should we be afraid of conflict by telling people the truth. Not just part of the truth, but the “whole counsel of God.” (Acts 20:27)

Jesus never shrank back from it. Why should we?