John 16King James Version
He warns them of persecution. It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come. He will guide you into all truth. A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me. Your sorrow shall be turned into joy. A woman in travail. These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
Jesus continues preparing the disciples: his departure is good because it enables the Spirit to come. The Spirit will convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. He compares their coming sorrow to labor pain that becomes joy at the birth. He closes with a promise: in him they have peace, and he has overcome the world.
The disciples' grief about Jesus leaving is real, but the departure is not abandonment; it is the necessary condition for the Spirit's arrival, who will continue everything Jesus started.
33: "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." Spoken hours before the arrest, this is either madness or the most confident sentence in scripture.
By this point in the upper room discourse, the disciples are tired, confused, and afraid. They have just been told they will be expelled from synagogues and that people will kill them thinking they are doing God a service. This chapter ends with their tentative confession: now we believe. Jesus immediately asks whether they actually do, since they are about to scatter. The honesty is not cruel. It is preparation.
Jesus, steady and explanatory; the disciples, confused and silent then suddenly asking questions; the Holy Spirit, described functionally as the one who continues Jesus's work; the Father, who loves the disciples and hears them directly.
The transition from sorrow to joy described here as a labor analogy becomes the template for Christian theology of suffering. The metaphor is biological and universal: pain toward purpose, anguish that opens into life. Paul will use similar language in Romans. The final verse, spoken hours before the arrest, demonstrates either total delusion or complete authority over what is about to happen.
For when you are in the middle of the pain before the birth and you cannot see past the present moment. The disciples will be weeping and lamenting while the world rejoices, Jesus says. And then your sorrow will be turned into joy.
1These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.
2They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.
3And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.
4But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you.
5But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou?
6But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart.
7Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
8And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
9Of sin, because they believe not on me;
10Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;
11Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
12I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.
13Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
14He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
15All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
16A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father.
17Then said some of his disciples among themselves, What is this that he saith unto us, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me: and, Because I go to the Father?
18They said therefore, What is this that he saith, A little while? we cannot tell what he saith.
19Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him, and said unto them, Do ye enquire among yourselves of that I said, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me?
20Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.
21A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world.
22And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.
23And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.
24Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
25These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father.
26At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you:
27For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.
28I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.
29His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb.
30Now are we sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou camest forth from God.
31Jesus answered them, Do ye now believe?
32Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.
33These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.