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John 16

Jesus prepares his disciples for separation and persecution by promising the Spirit, renewed joy, and peace grounded in his victory.

Jesus speaks to his disciples about his departure to the Father, and sorrow fills their hearts. He warns that they will face expulsion from synagogues and even death from people who think they are serving God. He promises to send the Spirit of truth, who will glorify him and guide them. As the disciples struggle to understand, Jesus describes sorrow turning to joy, teaches about prayer, and foretells their scattering while declaring his victory over the world.

fear for the futuregriefwanting a steady prayer habit
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1“I have said these things to you so that you wouldn’t be caused to stumble.
2They will put you out of the synagogues. Yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers service to God.
3They will do these things because they have not known the Father nor me.
4But I have told you these things so that when the time comes, you may remember that I told you about them. I didn’t tell you these things from the beginning, because I was with you.
6But because I have told you these things, sorrow has filled your heart.
7Nevertheless I tell you the truth: It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I don’t go away, the Counselor won’t come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.
8When he has come, he will convict the world about sin, about righteousness, and about judgment;
9about sin, because they don’t believe in me;
10about righteousness, because I am going to my Father, and you won’t see me any more;
11about judgment, because the prince of this world has been judged.
12“I still have many things to tell you, but you can’t bear them now.
13However, when he, the Spirit of truth, has come, he will guide you into all truth, for he will not speak from himself; but whatever he hears, he will speak. He will declare to you things that are coming.
14He will glorify me, for he will take from what is mine and will declare it to you.
15All things that the Father has are mine; therefore I said that he takes of mine and will declare it to you.
16“A little while, and you will not see me. Again a little while, and you will see me.”
17Some of his disciples therefore said to one another, “What is this that he says to us, ‘A little while, and you won’t see me, and again a little while, and you will see me;’ and, ‘Because I go to the Father’?”
18They said therefore, “What is this that he says, ‘A little while’? We don’t know what he is saying.”
19Therefore Jesus perceived that they wanted to ask him, and he said to them, “Do you inquire among yourselves concerning this, that I said, ‘A little while, and you won’t see me, and again a little while, and you will see me’?
20Most certainly I tell you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy.
21A woman, when she gives birth, has sorrow because her time has come. But when she has delivered the child, she doesn’t remember the anguish any more, for the joy that a human being is born into the world.
22Therefore you now have sorrow, but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.
23“In that day you will ask me no questions. Most certainly I tell you, whatever you may ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you.
24Until now, you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be made full.
25“I have spoken these things to you in figures of speech. But the time is coming when I will no more speak to you in figures of speech, but will tell you plainly about the Father.
26In that day you will ask in my name; and I don’t say to you that I will pray to the Father for you,
27for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me, and have believed that I came from God.
28I came from the Father and have come into the world. Again, I leave the world and go to the Father.”
29His disciples said to him, “Behold, now you are speaking plainly, and using no figures of speech.
30Now we know that you know all things, and don’t need for anyone to question you. By this we believe that you came from God.”
32Behold, the time is coming, yes, and has now come, that you will be scattered, everyone to his 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, that in me you may have peace. In the world you have trouble; but cheer up! I have overcome the world.”
World English BibleRead in NIV in Psalmlog →Highlighted verses are the most connected.
Key verses
John 16:33Jesus closes with peace rooted in his victory over the world, even as trouble and the disciples’ scattering approach.
John 16:23The promise of asking the Father in Jesus’ name looks ahead to a changed relationship after their sorrow.
John 16:13The Spirit will guide the disciples into truth they cannot yet bear, declaring what he hears and glorifying Jesus.
Where this chapter reaches

Matthew shares Jesus’ warnings of persecution and his prediction that the disciples will scatter; Acts records the Spirit’s coming and opposition faced by Jesus’ followers. First John shares the themes of overcoming the world through faith and confidence in prayer before God.

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Notice

After reading the whole chapter

How does Jesus’ warning that the disciples will scatter shape your reading of his promise of peace?

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What stands out about the Spirit’s work of declaring truth and glorifying Jesus?

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Questions people ask about John 16

What does John 16:33 mean by peace?

Jesus locates peace in himself while telling the disciples they will have trouble in the world. The verse follows his warning that they will scatter and leave him. His victory over the world grounds this peace; the promise leaves room for persecution, sorrow, and the disciples’ coming failure.

Does John 16:23 promise that God will give anything asked for?

Jesus promises that the Father will give what the disciples ask in his name. The surrounding verses connect this prayer with loving Jesus, believing he came from God, and being loved by the Father. Asking in Jesus’ name means approaching the Father through him, with requests shaped by allegiance to him.

Who is the Spirit of truth in John 16?

The Spirit of truth is the Holy Spirit, called the Counselor in verse 7, whom Jesus will send after his departure. He will guide the disciples into truth, speak what he hears, and glorify Jesus. This promise addresses disciples who cannot yet bear everything Jesus has to tell them.

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Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).