by Lane Rogers
Teaching
What is Dark and Foreboding! (16:1-11)
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1"These things I have spoken to you so that you may be kept from stumbling. 2"They will make you outcasts from the synagogue, but an hour is coming for everyone who kills you to think that he is offering service to God. 3"These things they will do because they have not known the Father or Me. 4"But these things I have spoken to you, so that when their hour comes, you may remember that I told you of them These things I did not say to you at 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"But 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 He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment; 9concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father and you no longer see Me; 11and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged. |
I. Verse 1___The purpose of "these things" described in 15:18-27 is to prevent the disciples from being trapped or made to stumble.
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σκανδαλίζω (skandalizō 4624) offend -ed to lay a snare for, set a trap for; hence, to cause to stumble or fall, to give offense or scandal to anyone. |
Perhaps the NEV has a good translation. Notice:"to you to keep you from falling away." (i.e. even the disciples could fall away. Only John Calvin's followers are immune to the Bible).
There are parallel statements to this in John 6:61, 1st John 2:10 and Mark 14:27_____________
II. Verse Two____"They will put you out of the Synagogue"
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95 a.d. Council of Jamnia. The Council was a meeting of Jewish leaders and made several decisions which are referred to as the 18 Benedictions. The Twelfth Benediction reads in part: "And may the Nazarenes [Christians] and heretics perish quickly." Therefore the Council drew a bright line between Christianity and Judaism. Any Jew who became a Christian was unwelcome in the synagogue. |
Of course, Jamnia was the fulfillment of the prophecy of Jesus. In fact, Jesus had said the same thing early on as recorded by Luke.
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22"Blessed are you when men hate you, and ostracize you, and insult you, and scorn your name as evil, for the sake of the Son of Man. LK. 6:22 |
The apostle Paul is the best example I can think of as to one killing Christians under the pretense of doing good.
III. Verse 3-4____"These things" refers to 16:1 and 4a. It is the persecution of the disciples under discussion. We are here reminded again that Jesus is about to depart and "these things" are to prepare the disciples.
IV. Verses 5-6___The subject has been changed. The sadness the disciples experienced was not because of the coming persecution but because Jesus was leaving them. Jesus seems perplexed "none of you have asked me" is different from Peter in our last chapter.
V. Verse 7___Here is one of the greatest proofs of the resurrection of Jesus. Now we are told that the Paraclete can only come if Jesus departs. If we take 16:7 and stand it along side 7:39; 12:23, 27-28, 31-32; 13:31-32 and 20:22, it is evident that the "lifting up of Jesus via the cross" brings about the turn of ages that ushers in the fullness of God's plan. From this time on, the salvation to be found in the kingdom of God may be freely appropriated, in accordance with the ancient promises of the Spirit of the Kingdom of God which will be given for the renewal of man and the kosmos (Joel 2:28-32, Isa. 32:14-18; 44:1-5; Jer. 31:31-34; Ezek 11:17-20; 36:24-27; 37:1-14). All of these passages associated the coming of the Spirit with the saving reign of the Messiah (Isa. 11:1-10; 42:1-4). Stated another way, if the Holy Spirit came (as in Acts chapter 2) then Jesus is already reigning in the kingdom of God. We do not have to wait!!!!!
VI. Verse 8____The role of the Paraclete in relation to the world that has rejected and continues to reject the revelation of God in Jesus is briefly announced in v.8 and explained in vv 9-11. What does it mean to "convict."
ἐλέγχω (elenchō 1651) |
The Paraclete then is to "EXPOSE" and "DEMONSTRATE." Thus, He becomes the supreme aid for the disciples of Christ. The Paraclete will convict the world of its sin, (its short comings) its righteousness (showing its inadequacy) and its judgment (its false assessment of spiritual reality). The Spirit then consoles the disciples by showing how sinful the world is. The Paraclete then is to demonstrate to the disciples what is sin, what is judgment, and what is righteousness. Here is the concept of V.8 and the explanation that follows. The world is to be put on trial before God. The "world" already conducted its own trial of Jesus; therein He was declared guilty of heinous sin__sedition against Caesar and blasphemy against God. The task of the Paraclete then is to expose the reality of this situation and the trial before the Sanhedrin and Pilate's hall in Jerusalem must give way to the judgment of heaven. This Paraclete will unveil the real nature of the world and its lost condition and sin. Yes, seeing Jesus is seeing righteousness.
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And
he (κα εκεινος). Emphatic demonstrative masculine
pronoun. When he is come (ελθων). Second aorist active
participle of ερχομα, "having come" or "coming."
Will convict the world (ελεγξε τον κοσμον). Future
active of ελεγχω, old word for confuting, convicting by
proof already in 3:29; 8:46. Jesus had been doing this (7:7), but
this is pre-eminently the work of the Holy Spirit and the most
needed task today for our complacent age. In respect of sin (περ
αμαρτιας). Concerning the reality of sin as missing the
mark and as wronging God and man, and not a mere slip or animal
instinct or devoid of moral responsibility or evil. Some
scientists and psychologists (Freudians and behaviourists) seem
bent on destroying man's sense of sin, Hence crime waves even in
youth. And of righteousness (κα περ δικαιοσυνης).
The opposite of "sin" and to be yearned for after
conviction. Cf. Ro 1:19-3:21 about the necessity of the God-kind
of righteousness and the Sermon on the Mount for Christ's idea of
righteousness. And of judgment (κα περ κρισεως). As
certain to come as condemnation because of sin and the lack of
righteousness. These are not played out motives in human life, but
basal. For this ministry we have the help of the Paraclete. The
Paraclete is here spoken of "not as man's advocate with God
(1Jo 2:1), but as Christ's advocate with the world"
(Bernard). |
VII. Verse 9___It is here the essence or prime sin is mentioned. Such unbelief in Christ entails rejection, not ignorance of the proclamation of Christ in the Gospel.
VIII. Verse 10__The nature of righteousness is brought to light "when" Jesus goes away. In this we are told that Jesus is "righteousness."
IX. Verse 11___We are here referred back to 12:31. The judgment of the world took place when Jesus was lifted up on the cross. Satan was thrown out and the Son of Man installed. Hence the song of Rev. 11:5 is realized. The rule of the world must now bow to the "Son of God." The world is like the "prince of this world." It has been judged and its cause is lost.
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12"I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13"But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. 14"He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you. 15"All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore "I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose it to you. 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 then said to one another, "What is this thing He is telling us, 'A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me'; and, 'because I go to the Father'?" 18So they were saying, "What is this that He says, 'A little while'? We do not know what He is talking about." 19Jesus knew that they wished to question Him, and He said to them, "Are you deliberating together about this, that I said, '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, that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; you will grieve, but your grief will be turned into joy. 21"Whenever a woman is in labor she has pain, because her hour has come; but when she gives birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy that a child has been born into the world. 22"Therefore you too have grief now; 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 not question Me about anything Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask the Father for anything in My name, He will give it to you. 24"Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full. |
I. Verse 12-13___It is common to claim that this verse contradicts 14:26 below.
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14:26"But the Helper, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. |
The current verse does suggest that the Spirit will give "future" revelation to the disciples. But 14:26 speaks of past revelation from Jesus. The "Spirit of truth" will lead the disciples to gasp "all truth." The Holy Spirit will receive from Jesus what He hears from Jesus just as Jesus hears from the Father. The "Holy Spirit" will tell you (the disciples) of things to come.
II. Verse 14-15___A great paradox of theology. How is it that going to the cross as Jesus did can be interpreted as being glorified? In this context that task (to glorify Jesus) is now the job of the Holy Spirit. It is this Holy Spirit through the preaching of the disciples that tells the world the purpose of His death, burial, and resurrection. Without the testimony of the Spirit how will the world ever know?
III. Verses 16-19___Jesus now reminds them again that in a 'little while" they will no longer see Him. The disciples are again perplexed. It is now that Jesus approaches them about this subject.
IV .Verse 20___ The disciples will both weep and make lamentation for the death (Matt. 11:17; and in Lk. 7:32 there are funeral dirges mentioned. In Luke 23:27 it is conjoined with the beating of breast by women as they follow Jesus to His crucifixion in contrast to the "world" which will rejoice about the death of what they see as an enemy.
V. Verses 21-22___A brief parable is introduced. A woman in birth has anguish but when the child is born the anguish turns to joy. Now the anguish of the disciples will also turn to joy. Jesus will shortly see them again.
VI. Verses 23-24___The new time of Easter is to be characterized by two notable features. (1) The joy of understanding. The disciples will soon see and understand. Easter there will be shaft of light from heaven. A window of understanding. (2) The Father will hear and grant their prayers. This promise assumes that Jesus is the Mediator between God and man. In order to get to the Father we need to go through Jesus. The "parable" of V.21 is replete with OT prophecy and it has an important function in the death and resurrection of our Lord. The figure of "pangs" in childbirth is frequent in the OT and expresses the swift coming of God's judgment on wrongdoers (a judgment figure; Isa. 21:2-3; Jer. 13: 21; Mic 4:9-10). Isaiah 66:7-14 is an example of the same image applied to the new age of salvation.
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25"These things I have spoken to you in figurative language; an hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language, but will tell you plainly of the Father. 26"In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I will request of the Father on your behalf; 27for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed that I came forth from the Father. 28"I came forth from the Father and have come into the world; I am leaving the world again and going to the Father." 29His disciples said, "Lo, now You are speaking plainly and are not using a figure of speech. 30"Now we know that You know all things, and have no need for anyone to question You; by this we believe that You came from God." 31Jesus answered them, "Do you now believe? 32"Behold, an hour is coming, and has already come, for you to be scattered, each to his own home, and to leave Me alone; and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. 33"These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world."
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I. Verse 25___What is figurative language
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παροιμία (paroimia 3942) 1. proverb -s (this specific meaning occurs only in Joh 10:6).Reference(s) 2. parable -s something by or on the way, a wayside discourse, or a wayside illustration, lessons drawn from actions of ordinary life, and from objects and processes in nature; also, an out-of-the-way discourse; hence, an enigmatic speech, a dark saying (in opposite to παρρησίᾳ λαλεῖν (parrēsiai lalein), to speak openly or plainly). |
It is here that Jesus says that He is speaking in "Proverbs." The time of speaking in Proverbs is coming to an end.
II. Verses 26-27___The coming day when this will happen will be after the resurrection. There will be a new understanding and abundant aid to be accessed by prayer. There is "fellowship" here with the Father and that fellowship is rooted in Jesus.
III. Verse 28___This is the "plain speech" mentioned above. You can't get more straightforward than this.
IV. Verse 29-30___The disciples assume that day of "plain speech" has begun. They are excited.
V. Verses 31-33___ Jesus tells them of hard times that are ahead. Their excitement does not last long.