John 16

So That You Do Not Stumble

1“I have told you these things so that you do not stumble. 2They will put you out of the synagogues. In fact, an hour is coming when everyone who kills you will think they are offering service to God. 3They will do these things because they have not known the Father or me. 4But I have told you these things so that when their hour comes, you may remember that I told you. I did not tell you these things from the beginning because I was with you.

The Advocate and the World

5“But now I am going to the one who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6Instead, because I have told you these things, sorrow has filled your hearts. 7But I tell you the truth: it is better for you that I go away. For if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. 8When he comes, he will expose the world concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment: 9concerning sin, because they do not trust in me; 10concerning righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will no longer see me; 11concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.

The Spirit of Truth

12“I still have many things to tell you, but you cannot bear them now. 13When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth. For he will not speak from himself, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will announce to you the things that are coming. 14He will glorify me because he will take from what is mine and announce it to you. 15Everything the Father has is mine. This is why I said that he takes from what is mine and will announce it to you.

Sorrow Turned to Joy

16“A little while, and you will no longer see me; and again a little while, and you will see me.” 17Some of his disciples said to one another, “What does he mean by saying, ‘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’?” 18They kept saying, “What is this ‘little while’ he speaks about? We do not know what he means.” 19Jesus knew they wanted to ask him, so he said, “Are you discussing with one another what I meant when I said, ‘A little while, and you will not see me, and again a little while, and you will see me’? 20Truly, truly, I tell you, you will weep and mourn, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will become joy. 21When a woman gives birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come. But when she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the distress because of the joy that a human being has been born into the world. 22So you also have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.

Ask the Father in My Name

23“On that day you will ask me nothing. Truly, truly, I tell you, whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give you. 24Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete. 25I have spoken these things to you in figures of speech. An hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures but will tell you plainly about the Father. 26On that day you will ask in my name. I am not telling you that I will ask the Father for you, 27because the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and trusted that I came from God. 28I came from the Father and have come into the world. Again, I am leaving the world and going to the Father.”

You Will Be Scattered

29His disciples said, “Look, now you are speaking plainly and not using a figure of speech. 30Now we know that you know everything and do not need anyone to question you. Because of this, we trust that you came from God.” 31Jesus answered them, “Do you trust now? 32Look—an hour is coming, and has come, when you will be scattered, each to your own place, and you will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. 33I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In the world you have distress. But take courage: I have overcome the world.”