INTERNET BIBLE STUDIES | JOHN LESSON 28 | |||
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John Chapter 16:1-17 Memory verses for this week: Psa 34:17 The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. Introduction: In our last study, we saw the teaching of how we are branches from the true vine which is Jesus Christ. Anything we want to accomplish, we must do it through Christ is we want success and to be pleasing in Gods sight. Jesus commanded us to bear much fruit and to love one another in Chapter 15. This week we see the Lord warning the disciples that they would soon face persecution. John 16:1 These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended. John 16:2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. This chapter concludes what is called the Upper Room Discourse. We know from our prior studies that Jesus instituted the Lords supper and taught the disciples about his soon betrayal. We next saw the teaching concerning the vine and the branches, and now we see the warning of what lay ahead for those closest to the Lord. The world many times makes it out that if we know Jesus as Savior, that there will be no more problems or cares. While God does promise to provide and take care of His own, we are not exempt from problems. And the disciples were to soon face persecution like they had never seen. The vast majority of them would die for the cause of Christ, and Jesus was a realist and wanted them to know what was ahead for those that He loved. And you and I need to be ready for what lays ahead of us. As the time draws closer for the Lords soon return, we will continue to face a more hostile environment. Because America is known as a Christian nation, here in our country we face little resistance compared to many foreign countries. But in the past few years, we constantly see the media distorting the Christian beliefs as "The Radical Right". If you stand up for anything for God, you are labeled radical. But what this world needs today is a few more "religious radicals" patterned after the Lord Jesus Christ. The disciples were willing to die for the cause of Christ. How deep is your faith? How deep is mine? We can claim we would stand to the death, but we most likely would be like Peter when it comes to acknowledging we are a disciple of the Lord when our lives are on the line. In verse 2, Jesus tells them that the day was soon coming that those that put you to death would think they were doing God a great service. They would through them out of the synagogues, effectively excommunicating them from the standard service of the Lord. The apostle Paul, when he was still known as Saul before his conversion on the Damascus road, brought many Christians bound and delivered them to the religious leaders thinking he was doing a great work for the Lord.
If we are persecuted, how should we react to that persecution? Should we lash back and fight with force when the world comes down on us? Not at all. We are to accept the persecution, and to render love to those who abuse us, just as Jesus rendered love to all of us who know Him.
John 16:3 And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me. John 16:4 But 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. Had it not been that Jesus came to the disciples (and to us), we would never have truly understood what great sinners we were before God. The law could not save us, but praise the Lord, the one who came and fulfilled the Law can save us from every sin.
Paul explained to the Galatians how the law had a purpose, and that purpose was to teach us how we are a fallen creature, in need of a Holy and Righteous Savior.
John 16:5 But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou? John 16:6 But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart. Jesus tells them that none of them had truly asked Him where he was going from a spiritual perception. Peter had questioned, but it was more like a child asking his father where was he going. Jesus knew they discerned not the magnitude of his soon ascension to the Father. Because He was leaving, their sorrow was overwhelming them. We should never let earthly parting of a loved one so take us that we become so overcome that we are not thinking properly. Some people lose a family member, and effectively lose sight of the work of the Lord for years. If we know the Lord, and our loved one knew the Lord, we have confidence that we will see that person again. And if not, that should so empower us to be more about Gods work that others do not go out unprepared to meet God. Mourning should be for a time, and then we should go on. One of these days, we all shall see Jesus as who He truly is. The King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. John 16:7 Nevertheless 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. John 16:8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: John 16:9 Of sin, because they believe not on me; John 16:10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; John 16:11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
When Jesus sent the Holy Spirit into the world, he came to comfort the believers. But to the world, the Holy Spirit came to convict the world of three things sin, righteousness, and judgement. Jesus tells them about this in saying "Sin, because they believe not on me." Jesus was delivered for our offenses and raised again for justification.
In verse 11, we see that the prince of this world, the old Serpent, Satan, is judged already. He knows what awaits him, and he has but a short time to wreck havoc and deceive as many as he can against God. Jesus returned to the Father after He completed the work He was sent to do. Jesus is coming back as the Righteous Judge. If you are here and have not accepted Christ as your Personal Savior, you dont have to wait to know if youve been condemned. Anyone who has not Christ as Savior is condemned already.
John 16:12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. John 16:13 Howbeit 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 show you things to come. John 16:14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you. The disciples were wrought with grief and sorrow. And they truly at this point were not in a frame of mind to understand the things of the Lord. Sometimes we so get caught up in the moment, that we fail to see deeper things of the Lord. Sometimes the very trial that so overcomes us is being used by God to teach us a great spiritual lesson. We need to be ready to bear whatever God is ready to reveal to us. But if we are weak, praise the Lord, He never puts more on us than we can bear. Jesus had many things He wanted to tell them, but they were not ready to understand. The Holy Spirit would come and reveal many of these things to the disciples not many days hence. Today, when we study Gods Word, the Holy Spirit illuminates our mind with understanding of the scriptures. John 16:15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall show it unto you. John 16:16 A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father. John 16:17 Then 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? God has placed all things that he owns(which is everything) under the power of the son. And all authority is given to Jesus. Jesus tells them that it wont be long until he leaves to go to be with the Father, but He would come again. What a promise Jesus gave. The apostles questioned if this could be, and what Jesus truly meant about returning to the Father.
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