John 16.1-33 continues his last discourse to his talmidim before he suffers; Yeshua’s warning about persecution; the benefits of his exodus because of the ministry of the Ruach Ha Kodesh in the world and among believers; his brief departure and the coming sorrow that will soon turn to joy; the talmidim profess their faith in Yeshua and who he is; Yeshua’s conclusion to his departing instructions.
v 1… These things (concerning the world’s hatred for them and the little regard it will have for their doctrine) I have spoken to you, that you may be kept from stumbling (they won’t be surprised when it happens).
v 2…They will make you outcasts (exclude you, excommunicate you) from the synagogue; but an hour is coming for everyone who kills you to think that he is offering service to God (they had a zeal for God and thought they were like Phineas in Num 25.6-14. Paul, before he was saved, had this mindset).
v 3… And these things they will do, because they have not known the Father, or me (though they talk of their knowledge of him. It is the same today when people talk about the Lord or Yeshua, but they don’t know either one).
v 4… But these things I have spoken to you, that you may remember that I told you of them when their hour comes (to come against you). And these things I did not say to you at the beginning because I was with you (their hatred was towards Yeshua, he was the object of their attention, but when he am gone, it will be directed towards them).
v 5… But now I am going to him who sent me; and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going (in 13.36 Peter asked the question, but he was meaning what part of the country he was going to. He had no idea that Yeshua was leaving the world for heaven)?’
v 6… But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart (they were in shock, they saw his departure as a disaster).
v 7… But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the helper (the comforter, the Holy Spirit) shall not come to you; but if I go, I will send him (“him” is masculine in Greek) to you (the advantage is this…the redemption is complete, Yeshua will be glorified which means they will be too. So, the Ruach will be with them and Yeshua will be an advocate, a defense lawyer, in heaven on their behalf).
v 8… And he, when he comes, will convict the world concerning sin (sin is the transgression of the Torah-1 John3.4- and by the Torah is the knowledge of sin-Rom 3.20. If a person thinks that the “Law has been done away with” he will not know what sin is) and righteousness (that it comes by faith through grace) and judgment (a decision will have to be made);
v 9… concerning sin, because they do not believe in me (the sin of unbelief);
v 10… and concerning righteousness (he will intercede for them as their high priest); because I go to the Father; and you no longer behold me;
v 11… and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world (order-the Olam Ha Zeh) has been judged (by his death and resurrection. Yeshua is now the judge and will deal with him, like Azazel in Lev 16.10; the hour of execution).
v 12… I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now (because of their false ideas about Israel, the Torah, prophecy and the kingdom; they were still milk babies-Heb 5.12).
v 13… But when he (if the Holy Spirit was an “it”, “he” would be “ekeino” which is the neuter sense. But it is “ekeinos” which is masculine =”that one”), the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own initiative, but whatever he hears he will speak; and he will disclose to you what is to come (in the last days, prophecy insight-1 Thes 5.1-5).
v 14… He shall glorify me (he will point to Yeshua); for he shall take of mine (the deeper things of God, doctrines concerning Yeshua as redeemer, Messiah, Lord, high priest, etc), and shall disclose it to you.
v 15…All things that the Father has are mine (and available); therefore I said, that he takes of mine, and will disclose it to you.
v 16… A little while, and you will no longer behold me (his impending exodus/departure-Luke 9.31); and again a little while, and you will see me (after three days- the sign of Jonah).
v 17… Some of his talmidim therefore said to one another, “What is this thing he is telling us (they were dull in grasping it), ‘A little while, and you will not behold me; and again a little while, and you will see me; and, “because I go to the Father?”
v 18… And so they were saying, “What is this that he says, “A little while’? We do not know what he is talking about.”
v 19… Yeshua knew that they wished to question him, and he said to them, “Are you deliberating together about this (seeking to find out from one another), that I said, ‘A little while, and you will not behold me, and again a little while, and you will see me’?
v 20… Truly, truly (amen, amen), I say to you, that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice, you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned to joy (at the resurrection and at the following Shavuot-Acts 2).
v 21…. Whenever a woman is in travail she has sorrow (fear and anguish; the birth-pains is a very eschatological term), because her hour has come (there is a fixed time); but when she gives birth to the child, she remembers the anguish no more, for joy that a child has been born into the world.
v 22… Therefore you, too, now have sorrow (here is the application of what he just said); but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and no one takes your joy away from you (because they knew the truth).
v 23… And in that day (when you understand what has happened) you will ask me no question (about it because everything will be clear to you). Truly, truly (amen, amen), I say to you, if you shall ask the Father for anything, he will give it to you in my name (he is talking about prayer here; they had not approached Yehovah through Yeshua as yet).
v 24… Until now you have asked for nothing in my name (because he was with them and they never used Yeshua’s name to the Father yet); ask (in faith), and you will receive, that your joy may be made full.
v 25… These things I have spoken to you (about his departure, their sorrow, his return) in figurative language (proverbs); an hour is coming, when I will speak no more to you in figurative language (proverbs) but will tell you plainly of the Father (after his resurrection and Shavuot when the spirit will be poured out-this difference can be seen in Num 12.6-8 with Moses).
v 26… In that day (after the resurrection and the Holy Spirit has been sent) you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will request the Father on your behalf;
v 27… for the Father himself loves you (That will encourage them to expect an answer to prayer), because you have loved me and have believed that I came forth from the Father.
v 28… I came forth from the Father and have come into the world; I am leaving the world again, and going to the Father (to give an account of his work as his servant).
v 29… His talmidim said, “Lo, now you are speaking plainly (they had better understanding now), and are not using a figure of speech.
v 30… Now we know that you know all things (he answered their questions before they asked-John 19.19; he was omniscient and because of that, they were assured he knew all things), and have no need for anyone to question you (he would answer their questions, knowing what was in their heart, before they asked); by this we believe that you came from God (the true Messiah).”
v 31… Yeshua answered them, “Do you now believe (this word of caution, it took you this long to be settled in your belief; it is safe now, what about later)?
v 32… Behold, an hour is coming (in a few hours), and has come, for you to be scattered, each to his own (friends, relations, homes, country, to their trades) and to leave me alone (this they will do when he is taken by his enemies); and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me (contrary to popular teaching, the Father never forsook Yeshua. What he said on the cross, “sabachtani” is Aramaic and it does not mean “forsake me” but “to this end I was born, my destiny”).
v 33… These things I have spoken to you (to prepare you), that in me you may have peace (not trusting the circumstances or yourselves). In the world you have tribulation (perplexity, trouble, anguish; their peace would come from Yeshua, in who he is, and his blood shed for them, his righteousness, his pardon, forgiveness, it is in him and these things that anyone finds peace), but take courage (cheer up); I have overcome the world (the principalities and powers; all the people with their hatred; the lusts and sins of it).”
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