John 16
16
1“I have told you all this so that you will not turn away from the truth. 2You will be thrown out of the synagogue. In fact, the time is coming when someone may kill you. And they will think they are doing God a favor. 3They will do things like that because they do not know the Father or me. 4Why have I told you this? So that when their time comes, you will remember that I warned you about them. I didn’t tell you this from the beginning because I was with you. 5But now I am going to the one who sent me. None of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6Instead, you are filled with sadness because I have said these things. 7But what I’m about to tell you is true. It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Friend will not come to help you. But if I go, I will send him to you. 8When he comes, he will prove that the world’s people are guilty. He will prove their guilt concerning sin and godliness and judgment. 9The world is guilty as far as sin is concerned. That’s because people do not believe in me. 10The world is guilty as far as godliness is concerned. That’s because I am going to the Father, where you can’t see me anymore. 11The world is guilty as far as judgment is concerned. That’s because the devil, the prince of this world, has already been judged.
12“I have much more to say to you. It is more than you can handle right now. 13But when the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own. He will speak only what he hears. And he will tell you what is still going to happen. 14He will bring me glory. That’s because what he receives from me he will show to you. 15Everything that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said what the Holy Spirit receives from me he will show to you.”
The Disciples’ Sadness Will Turn Into Joy
16Jesus continued, “In a little while, you will no longer see me. Then after a little while, you will see me.”
17After they heard this, some of his disciples spoke to one another. They said, “What does he mean by saying, ‘In a little while, you will no longer see me. Then after a little while, you will see me’? And what does he mean by saying, ‘I am going to the Father’?” 18They kept asking, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We don’t understand what he is saying.”
19Jesus saw that they wanted to ask him about these things. So he said to them, “Are you asking one another what I meant? Didn’t you understand when I said, ‘In a little while, you will no longer see me. Then after a little while, you will see me’? 20What I’m about to tell you is true. You will weep and mourn while the world is full of joy. You will be sad, but your sadness will turn into joy. 21A woman giving birth to a baby has pain. That’s because her time to give birth has come. But when her baby is born, she forgets the pain. She forgets because she is so happy that a baby has been born into the world. 22That’s the way it is with you. Now it’s your time to be sad. But I will see you again. Then you will be full of joy. And no one will take away your joy. 23When that day comes, you will no longer ask me for anything. What I’m about to tell you is true. My Father will give you anything you ask for in my name. 24Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask, and you will receive what you ask for. Then your joy will be complete.
25“I have not been speaking to you plainly. But a time is coming when I will speak clearly. Then I will tell you plainly about my Father. 26When that day comes, you will ask for things in my name. I am not saying I will ask the Father instead of you asking him. 27No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me. He also loves you because you have believed that I came from God. 28I came from the Father and entered the world. Now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.”
29Then Jesus’ disciples said, “Now you are speaking plainly. You are using examples that are clear. 30Now we can see that you know everything. You don’t even need anyone to ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God.”
31“Do you believe now?” Jesus replied. 32“A time is coming when you will be scattered and go to your own homes. In fact, that time is already here. You will leave me all alone. But I am not really alone. My Father is with me.
33“I have told you these things, so that you can have peace because of me. In this world you will have trouble. But be encouraged! I have won the battle over the world.”
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John 16: NIrV
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Holy Bible, New International Reader’s Version®, NIrV®
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John 16
16
1“I have told you these things to keep you from giving up. 2People will put you out of their synagogues. Yes, the time is coming when whoever kills you will think that he is offering service to God. 3They will do this because they have not known the Father and they have not known me. 4I have told you these things now. So when the time comes, you will remember that I warned you.
The Work of the Holy Spirit
“I did not tell you these things at the beginning, because I was with you then. 5Now I am going back to the One who sent me. But none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6Your hearts are filled with sadness because I have told you these things. 7But I tell you the truth. It is better for you that I go away. When I go away I will send the Helper# “Counselor,” or “Comforter.” Jesus is talking about the Holy Spirit. to you. If I do not go away, then the Helper will not come. 8When the Helper comes, he will prove to the people of the world the truth about sin, about being right with God, and about judgment. 9He will prove to them about sin, because they don’t believe in me. 10He will prove to them that I am right with God, because I am going to the Father. You will not see me anymore. 11And the Helper will prove to them the truth about judgment, because the ruler of this world is already judged.
12“I have many more things to say to you, but they are too much for you now. 13But when the Spirit of truth comes he will lead you into all truth. He will not speak his own words. He will speak only what he hears and will tell you what is to come. 14The Spirit of truth will bring glory to me. He will take what I have to say and tell it to you. 15All that the Father has is mine. That is why I said that the Spirit will take what I have to say and tell it to you.
Sadness Will Become Happiness
16“After a little while you will not see me. And then after a little while you will see me again.”
17Some of the followers said to each other, “What does Jesus mean when he says, ‘After a little while you will not see me, and then after a little while you will see me again’? And what does he mean when he says, ‘Because I am going to the Father’?” 18They also asked, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We don’t understand what he is saying.”
19Jesus saw that the followers wanted to ask him about this. So Jesus said to the followers, “Are you asking each other what I meant when I said, ‘After a little while you will not see me. And then after a little while you will see me again’? 20I tell you the truth. You will cry and be sad, but the world will be happy. You will be sad, but your sadness will become joy. 21When a woman gives birth to a baby, she has pain, because her time has come. But when her baby is born, she forgets the pain. She forgets because she is so happy that a child has been born into the world. 22It is the same with you. Now you are sad. But I will see you again and you will be happy. And no one will take away your joy. 23In that day you will not ask me for anything. I tell you the truth. My Father will give you anything you ask for in my name. 24You have never asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive. And your joy will be the fullest joy.
Victory over the World
25“I have told you these things, using words that hide the meaning. But the time will come when I will not use words like that to tell you things. I will speak to you in plain words about the Father. 26In that day you will ask the Father for things in my name. I am saying that I will not need to ask the Father for you. 27No! The Father himself loves you. He loves you because you have loved me. And he loves you because you have believed that I came from God. 28I came from the Father into the world. Now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.”
29Then the followers of Jesus said, “You are speaking clearly to us now. You are not using words that are hard to understand. 30We can see now that you know all things. You can answer a person’s question even before he asks it. This makes us believe that you came from God.”
31Jesus answered, “So now you believe? 32Listen to me. A time is coming when you will be scattered. Each of you will be scattered to your own home. That time is now here. You will leave me. I will be alone. But I am never really alone. Why? Because the Father is with me.
33“I told you these things so that you can have peace in me. In this world you will have trouble. But be brave! I have defeated the world!”
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Copyright © 2015 by Tommy Nelson™, a Division of Thomas Nelson, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.