Peace and Victory through Jesus’ Redemption
John 16:16–33 (NKJV)
The Prediction of Christ’s Death and Resurrection
16 “A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me, because I go to the Father.”
17 Then some of His disciples said among themselves, “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 go to the Father’?” 18 They said therefore, “What is this that He says, ‘A little while’? We do not know what He is saying.”
19 Now Jesus knew that they desired to ask Him, and He said to them, “Are you inquiring among yourselves about what I said, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me’? 20 Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy. 21 A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. 22 Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you.
23 “And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. 24 Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.
25 “These things I have spoken to you in figurative language; but the time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language, but I 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 shall pray the Father for you; 27 for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God. 28 I came forth from the Father and have come into the world. Again, I leave the world and go to the Father.”
29 His disciples said to Him, “See, now You are speaking plainly, and using no figure of speech! 30 Now we are sure that You know all things, and have no need that anyone should question You. By this we believe that You came forth from God.”
31 Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? 32 Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. 33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
Message
I. The Restoration of Relationship with God through the Redemption of Jesus (16-30)
See v16.
16 “A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me, because I go to the Father.”
After the Crucifixion, Jesus died and was buried in a tomb. During this time, no one could see Him. But Jesus was raised back to life in three days. Jesus called these three days ‘a little while’. After the Resurrection, they could see Him again. Jesus was seen for 40 days and then He ascended into Heaven. Jesus called these 40 days ‘a little while’.
Jesus knew the future events of His Crucifixion, Resurrection, and Ascension. Later His disciples were convinced that Jesus knew all things and had no need that anyone should question Him. By this, they believed that Jesus came forth from God (30). See v17-18.
17 Then some of His disciples said among themselves, “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 go to the Father’?” 18 They said therefore, “What is this that He says, ‘A little while’? We do not know what He is saying.”
The disciples of Jesus didn’t understand what Jesus said in v16. Why did they not understand? Jesus has been telling them that a little while later He was going to the Father (John 7:33, 13:33). But Jesus hasn’t told them yet that He would be seen in the world between the Resurrection and the Ascension. See v19-22.
19 Now Jesus knew that they desired to ask Him, and He said to them, “Are you inquiring among yourselves about what I said, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me’? 20 Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy. 21 A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. 22 Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you.
Now Jesus foretells them about their sorrow after His Crucifixion and their joy after His Resurrection. Jesus uses the metaphor of a woman in labour, who forgets the anguish after giving birth to the child for joy that a human being has been born. And no one can take their joy from them.
Jesus shows that obedience to the will of the Father results in God’s blessing and reward (a newborn baby in His metaphor) and the initial sorrow is like a woman’s labour pain before her joy of having a newborn baby.
See v23-24.
23 “And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. 24 Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.
After the events, they can pray to the Father directly in the name of Jesus. This shows Jesus opened the way to God through His Redemption.
See v25-28.
25 “These things I have spoken to you in figurative language; but the time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language, but I 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 shall pray the Father for you; 27 for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God. 28 I came forth from the Father and have come into the world. Again, I leave the world and go to the Father.”
When they pray in His name, the Father receives their prayer directly from them. It is because the Father accepts and loves them as His children. The fact they receive this amazing blessing of sonship shows Jesus came forth from the Father and has come into the world (28) and Jesus leaves the world and goes to the Father (29).
See v29-30.
29 His disciples said to Him, “See, now You are speaking plainly, and using no figure of speech! 30 Now we are sure that You know all things, and have no need that anyone should question You. By this we believe that You came forth from God.”
Jesus spoke figuratively in v16. But He spoke plainly in v17-28, which contains the amazing promise – the Restoration of Relationship with God through the Redemption of Jesus. This helped their faith.
II. I have overcome the world (31-33)
See v31-33.
31 Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? 32 Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. 33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
Their faith has been strengthened (31). But they will be scattered and leave Jesus alone. This shows they are still little children in spirit while Jesus is a warrior in spirit. Even though they will leave Jesus alone, Jesus is not alone, because the Father is with Jesus (32). Jesus said all these things so that they might have peace in Him. In the world, they will have trials and sorrows. But they should take heart because Jesus has overcome the world (33).
Jesus would be arrested and face trial. He would be crucified, die and be buried. They might be shaken or fail to follow Him. But they might have peace and take heart in Jesus. Jesus knew He would be successful in the Redemption of humanity - He would sacrifice on the cross for our sins and God would raise Him back to life. He said the future in the past perfect tense: “I have overcome the world.” Amen.
