“A JOURNEY THROUGH THE GOSPEL OF JOHN” ST. JOHN 16: 1-11 CHRIST STRENGTHENS HIS DISCIPLES – PART II

What an awesome passage we have before us – one that is filled with tender instruction in view of Christ’s departure from His beloved eleven disciples!  In this passage, our blessed Lord will pick up the subject of the world’s enormous enmity against the Father, against Himself, and His disciples.  In a very tender manner, the Lord warns His disciples plainly of what they should expect from the world (v. 1).  The reason He warns His disciples is that He did not want them to be offended or fall away.

When trouble invades our walk, we should not get offended, for trouble is a part of the Christian’s walk.  Jesus has not exempted us from trouble, for the latter part of St. John 16:33 says – “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”  If we continue to trust in the Lord, He will grant us His awesome peace in the midst of our troubling experience, in that, Isaiah 26:3 says – “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee.”  Verse 4 of that said chapter says – “Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength.”  As an extension of His warning in verse 1, Christ went on to warn His beloved disciples that the world’s hostility will be seen in  the disciples being excommunicated and experiencing even death itself (v. 2).

In the early church period, saints such as Stephen (Acts 7:58-59), James (Acts 12:1-2), and even Paul (II Timothy 4:6-8) were prime examples of those who experienced persecution even to their death!  By inflicting persecution and even death on God’s saints, the world thinks that it would be offering a service to God!  In verse 3, the Lord cites the reason for the world’s hostility toward the disciples:  “the world does not know the Father nor the Son.”  The world is spiritually ignorant of the Father and the Son.  If the Jews really were acquainted with God the Father, they would not have rejected His Son, whom the Father sent.

It was indeed instructive to know that our Lord warned His disciples of the peril ahead to fortify their faith.  Knowing the awesome knowledge that Christ possessed of future events would certainly increase His disciples’ confidence in Him (v. 4).  As long as Christ was with them, He did not tell them of the persecution that they would face; however, He did progressively unfold that fact to them!  Relating to His disciples of His impending departure, certainly brought sadness to them (v. 5-6).  They would no longer experience the Lord’s personal presence.   However, the disciples should have experienced joy, because Christ was going home to be with His Father.  The disciples were obsessed with their own problems, for they did not understand the importance of Christ finishing the work that He was sent to do!  However, the departure of Jesus was vital; although it might have been a tremendous painful experience for His beloved disciples (v. 7).

Christ’s departure paved the way for the Comforter to come – “The Holy Spirit.”  The Comforter came into the world in an unusual way on the day of Pentecost to abide in every child of God (Acts 2).  The Holy Spirit has always been in the world because He is omnipresent; however, in this age of Grace, He takes up residence in every believer.  One of the awesome ministries of the Holy Spirit is to convict the world of sin, righteousness and judgment (vs. 8-11).  The Holy Spirit convicts the minds of unsaved, manifesting to them the truth of God’s word.  In other words, the Holy Spirit convinces the unsaved of their desperate need of a Saviour (v. 9); and that Jesus Christ is righteous (v. 10); and that Jesus’ death and resurrection, totally defeated Satan, the prince of this world (v. 11).  May God Bless!