“I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away. 2 They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. 3 And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me. 4 But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you.
“I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. 5 But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. 7 Nevertheless, 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. 8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgement: 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; 11 concerning judgement, because the ruler of this world is judged.
12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15 All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
16 “A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see me.” 17 So some of his disciples said to one another, “What is this that he says to us, ‘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’?” 18 So they were saying, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We do not know what he is talking about.” 19 Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, “Is this what you are asking yourselves, what I meant by saying, ‘A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me’? 20 Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. 21 When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. 22 So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. 23 In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. 24 Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.
25 “I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father. 26 In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; 27 for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. 28 I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.”
29 His disciples said, “Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech! 30 Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that you came from God.” 31 Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? 32 Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. 33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
John 14 Mk II
The themes in this chapter are very similar to the themes in John 14. The disciples will experience persecution. Jesus is sending the Holy Spirit. Jesus and the Father are one. Jesus is going away, but he will come back.
Repetition in the Bible is emphasis. These themes are important and Jesus comes back to them repeatedly. It would be good to read John 14 and John 16 and see how the themes repeat. It would be good then to meditate and to think, “Why is all of this so important?”
However, Jesus concludes with words of encouragement that echo through the ages, “But take heart. I have overcome the world.”
Prayer
I am grateful that the end of the story was written before the actors entered the stage. Help me to take heart.
Questions
- How are John 14 and John 16 similar?
- How are they different?
- Why does Jesus repeat himself?
- How do you remind yourself of these themes?
- What does this have to say to those who don’t read God’s Word regularly?
Plymothian 
1. Jesus talks about the Holy Spirit, His death, and His resurrection in both chapters.
2. In John 14 Jesus emphasizes loving one another and keeping His commandments; in John 16 Jesus emphasizes the grief and joy that the disciples will have.
3. Jesus wants the disciples to understand that He is going to die and rise again.
4. I try to spend time in God’s Word and meditating on it each day.
5. It’s a lot easier to reflect on Jesus death and resurrection if you’re in God’s Word often; the cross is the central point of Scripture!
1) John 14 and John 16 are similar in that both chapters emphasize that the disciples will experience persecution, that the Spirit has come to help guide them, and that Jesus will return again one day.
2) John 14 explains that although the disciples will be troubled, Jesus will give them peace. John 16 explains that although the disciples will be grieving, Jesus will give them joy.
3) Jesus repeats Himself to show the importance of what He is telling them. Reminders are beneficial, especially in Scripture!
4) In thinking about these themes, they remind me that no matter what happens in my life, I have the hope of Jesus giving me peace and joy and also the hope of His return!
5) If someone does not regularly read Scripture, they will not be reminded of the hope we have in Jesus!
How do you remind yourself of these themes?
What does this have to say to those who don’t read God’s Word regularly?
“Without reading regularly, one cannot be daily reminded of Jesus’ promises. If we do not have His words ringing in our heads we will fill our minds with different messages that will most likely be discouraging and destructive. Praying the Word, meditating and reflecting it, and being still are all ways that I remind myself that He is with me and that I am to take courage.”
1. John 14 and 16 both speak of Jesus going away to be with the father, his being glorified and the promise of the Holy Spirit coming to mankind.
2. In chapter 16, Jesus speaks more plainly. He talks about exactly where he is going and the events taking place following his ascension.
3. The wisdom of God is familiar but foreign to man. It has to repeated so it can remembered when we have to use it.
4. In Jesus there is hope. Though I have purpose here on this world, it can be painful. In these times, I look forward my eternity in paradise. Yet, I’d like to say I am torn between the two options, as Paul was. At times, I am overcome with a similar feeling.
5. Jesus explains the in dwelling of the Holy Spirit but he doesn’t simply leave it up to him. He actually gives us valuable information about our persecution and our hope through it all. For those who are saved but not in God’s word, they will fall away, slipping into fear and doubt when the hard times come. Yet God always draws them back to him.
It is easy for us to lose our focus and forget what Jesus has to say to us. I am thankful that he patiently and faithfully reminds us of who he is and what he intends for our lives. Repetition is necessary in following Jesus. We are so forgetful of the basics of the gospel and become confused about who God is.
1. They both have to do with Jesus going away to be with God the Father.
2. Jesus first promises to give the disciples peace, then joy.
3. Because his disciples were sill troubled. He wanted to make sure they knew that it was important for him to leave and that he would still be with them.
4. When I am troubled I remind myself that Jesus is my rock. He is always there to give me peace and joy.
5. They probably do not experience Jesus’ peace and joy as much as those who do read the Bible do.
1. John 14 and 16 both talk about Jesus going away but leaving them the Holy Spirit as their Helper.
2. John 14 focuses on Jesus being the way to the Father, His return to the Father, and sending the Holy Spirit to be their Helper and source of peace. John 16 focuses more on the persecution the disciples will soon face and assures them that their sorrow will be turned to joy.
3. Jesus repeats Himself to reassure the disciples and remind them of His promise to send His Spirit to dwell within them.
4. I remind myself of this by reading God’s word daily and by asking the Holy Spirit to lead me.
5. If we aren’t in God’s word regularly, how are we reminded of the joy and peace we have in Christ?
Jesus repeats himself to demonstrate importance. In these passages, he repeats the message that he will be leaving them but will be sending another. Jesus ends his message with the words, “take heart, for I have overcome the world.” This is a message I need to hear often. I remind myself of the presence of Christ through the Spirit and recognize that his presence affects my life.
The more we read God’s word, the more we maybe notice repetitions, themes, and reoccurring symbols or motifs.
Why is this all so important? This isn’t just something repeated in the gospels. This is the culmination of the law and prophets. This is what the rest of the Bible will follow up on. This is basically the middle, central, and defining moment for the Bible. The Scriptures could really be divided up in the same way we divide our Western history, in BC and AD.
For me, the theme of enduring now for future benefit keeps coming up. I think it is very fitting at this time of the semester. For a little while there are trials to endure, and difficulties to face, but there is so much hope awaiting us later on.
It amazes me to think that God would give us the gift of His Spirit and that to have the Spirit is greater than having Jesus on earth in physical form.
Whatever we ask for in Jesus’ name… This is why I pray “In Jesus’ name” even though it may seem repetitive.
(Late)
1)Both talk about Jesus’ death
I kind of feel like the disciples as I read this. What is Jesus saying? I feel so stupid at times when I have been doing this devotional because when I read I do not understand. My head hurts and I feel frustrated. I just give up because what Bible school student and follower of Jesus wants to openly admit that what Jesus says makes little sense or is confusing? None. I feel like verse 12 a bit.
John 14 and John 16 are similar in that the Holy Spirit figures prominently in both, as do themes of Jesus’ impending departure, and the disciples’ call and ability to have peace in times of upheaval and uncertainty. The two passages differ in that chapter 14 features an emphasis on Jesus’ relationship with the Father that is not present in the later chapter.
I imagine that Jesus repeats those points which are important, or that He wants the disciples to truly have ingrained in their minds and hearts. Additionally, the repetition of themes in different passages allows them to be better understood, as readers study and compare the different messages.
In the past, I have utilized the “breath prayer” method that Mr Worrall taught us in Foundations to remind myself of the peace that I have in Christ (John 14:1). It has been a little while since I have done this, but I have very vivid memories of feeling my body release the weight of anxiety that had been crushing my chest to the in-out rhythm of “you are my strength and my peace.”
I am a little unsure what this passage may communicate to those who do not read their Bibles regularly.