JOHN LESSON 44
We will begin this lesson in John 16:1.
V-1, "These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be
offended."
Jesus is reminding us that the things He has spoken in the last
chapter were so they (the disciples) would not be hurt when people
give them trouble for the gospel's sake. Jesus knows that all who
take a stand for Jesus will have trouble with the world and its
people.
V-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 is speaking of the followers of Jesus who will be thrown out
of the church (synagogue), because they teach the grace of the Lord,
rather than the old Jewish Law. These self-righteous church people
who are dogmatically hanging on to the law will not accept the good
news of the gospel. They will insist on Jesus' followers being
killed, and they will even believe that they are doing the will of God
in doing this. Saul, who later became Paul, would be one of these
self-righteous this Scripture is speaking of. He actually thought he
was doing God a favour when he locked up the Christians. Christians
were beheaded, fed to the lions, and beaten and stoned, as Stephen
was. Jesus is warning that this will happen, so that they will know
be fore it does happen.
V-3, "And these things will they do unto you, because they have
not known the Father, nor me."
Jesus is speaking here of people who should know God, because
they are supposed to be God's people. They really are in error,
because they have not learned from the Scriptures about Jesus. They
had read of Him; but when He came, they did not realize who He was.
V-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."
Jesus is preparing them to face these problems when they arise.
He wants them to know that these things happen, not because they are
not in God's will, but because they are in the will of God. While
Jesus was with them, He could protect them, but t here was coming a
time when Jesus would not be with them. He says, when these happen,
remember that I told you this would happen.
V-5, "But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you
asketh me, Whither goest thou?"
When you are with someone, it is difficult to imagine not being
with that person. You only start missing them after they are gone.
They were not asking, because they were not believing that He was
leaving. Jesus was a very young man, and none of H is disciples
realized that His departure was so near.
V-6, "But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath
filled your heart."
These disciples were not asking wither, because they were not
wanting to face up to Jesus' departure. Their hearts were very heavy.
To be separated from Jesus in any way was far more painful than they
wanted. One of the very worst things, even I would want to face, is
to be separated from Jesus. The song that says, "Wherever Jesus Is,
Will Be Heaven To Me", is expressing my feelings.
V-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."
Jesus not only tells the truth, He is the Truth. Jesus tells
them that what is about to happen is the best for them. Stop and
think about this: if there were no cross, there would not be
salvation for any of us. The way to heaven is by way of the cross.
This Comforter (the Holy Spirit) will come and dwell inside of you and
bring you peace. He will teach you all truth and will guide you, if
you are a believer.
V-8, "And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and
of righteousness, and of judgment:"
The Holy Spirit will convict you of these things. If there is
sin in your life, you will be compelled to straighten your life up and
live for Jesus. It is actually this Holy Spirit that woos a person to
accept Jesus. The Holy Spirit will come inside of you, and be a
comfort to you, and will teach you all truth after you have accepted
Jesus and have invited Him in. Reprove in this particular instance
seems to mean convince. Sin is the state of the unsaved person.
There is an opportunity offered to all to turn from that sinful way of
life to a life of righteousness in Christ. If a person remains in
sin, he or she can expect the judgement of a righteous Christ.
V-9, "Of sin, because they believe not on me;"
This is Jesus speaking since it is written in red in the Bible.
The one sin that is unforgivable is to totally reject Jesus for all
time. If you do not believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross for
your sins and rose from the grave on the third d ay, you will die in
your sin.
V-10, "Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me
no more;"
This righteousness of Jesus Christ can be ours, if we will only
believe in Jesus and accept His righteousness as ours. Our
righteousness is but filthy rags, but praise God, His righteousness is
unto salvation! He makes us righteous (in right standing with God)
when we believe on Jesus Christ and accept His free gift of salvation,
we take on His righteousness. He became sin for us that we might be
His righteousness.
V-11, "Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged."
The prince of this world is Satan. He will be judged and found
guilty by Jesus Christ the Son of God. Jesus defeated Satan on the
cross at Calvary. The victory was won on the cross. Jesus took on
sin and sin died on the cross for all who will accept life in Jesus.
II Corinthians 5:21, "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew
no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."
V-12, "I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear
them now."
When you were in the first grade, it would have been foolish to
have you learn the multiplication tables before you learned to add.
You would not be ready for it. We see in this sentence above, that
these disciples are not ready to receive these other things. The
reason Jesus does not tell them, is because they are not ready to
receive it.
V-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 shew you
things to come."
These disciples walking with Jesus had come to let Jesus make
every decision for them. They had just carried out the things Jesus
had told them to do. They had no cares; Jesus had taken care of the
problems that arose. They just brought their problems to Jesus, and
He solved them for them. Jesus is telling them that they will not be
left without guidance. The Holy Spirit will be their guide and their
teacher. The Holy Spirit will be in total agreement with the Father
and the Son. When the disciples listen to the Spirit and act
accordingly, it is like the Lord in action, for they (disciples) will
be carrying out His work.
V-14, "He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and
shall shew it unto you."
The only way that any of us can even begin to understand who
Jesus is and what He was about, is as the Spirit reveals Him to us.
The Spirit of God, working in us is our teacher who brings us to all
truth about Jesus (the Word of God).
Notes
John 44 Questions
1. How will the world treat anyone who has made a stand for Jesus?
2. What is a synagogue?
3. What will these people who put you out of the synagogue think they
are doing for God?
4. Who is a good example of someone who persecuted Christians, before
he was saved by Jesus?
5. Who was one who was stoned to death for Jesus?
6. In verse 3, why did these self-righteous people do this?
7. Why didn't Jesus tell them this earlier?
8. What did Jesus tell them that they had not asked Him?
9. When do you start missing someone?
10. Why had sorrow filled their hearts?
11. Why were the disciples not asking whither Jesus was going?
12. Why was it expedient for Jesus to go away?
13. Who will Jesus send?
14. If there were no cross, there would be no _____________________.
15. When He comes, what will He reprove the world of?
16. What does the word reprove mean here?
17. What sin is mentioned in verse 9?
18. Who is the prince of this world?
19. Why did Jesus not tell them more then?
20. Who will guide you into all truth?
21. Who will the Holy Spirit speak of?
22. Who will the Holy Spirit glorify?
Notes
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