John 16 ~ I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world

John 16

“I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away. 2 They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. 3 And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me. 4 But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you.


“I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. 5 But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart.

 7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. 8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; 11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.

12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 

13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15 All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.


16 “A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see me.” 

17 So some of his disciples said to one another, “What is this that he says to us, ‘A little while, and you will not see me, and again a little while, and you will see me’; and, ‘because I am going to the Father’?” 

18 So they were saying, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We do not know what he is talking about.” 

19 Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, “Is this what you are asking yourselves, what I meant by saying, ‘A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me’? 20 Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. 21 When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. 22 So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. 23 In that day you will ask nothing of me.

 Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. 24 Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.


25 “I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father. 

26 In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; 27 for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. 28 I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.”

29 His disciples said, “Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech! 

30 Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that you came from God.” 

31 Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? 32 Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me.

33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

The hopeful mood changes.

Now the Disciples are recorded as being talkative during the Last Supper or The New Covenant. And we know they have chatted during most of their time and asked each other for a grounding or earthly opinion. This group truly did act like siblings with a Parent.

These men have now been just about a declaration of War on the Roman Empire. Thomas recently has said in truth, we will die with Jesus. This has been a long dinner for them. And Jesus up until the beginning of John 16 has said some very beautiful things.

Now He is promising worse times are ahead for them. Josephus would agree. Josephus lists about 1.5 or 2 million are the numbers for multitudes in Jerusalem. Acts starts out with multitudes in the Temple - Just for Jesus. Josephus is going to go on to say by Passover 65 A.D. Passover is above 3 million. It looks like A.D. 65, The Temple is just going to chug on forever having killed God's Son.

To add cream to being thrown out of the Temple, Jesus is saying He is going away. Now if you'd spent your 3 years with the Rising Son of God - you would be Very Upset.

To top this off - now Jesus is going to talk about Judgment.

Where is Jesus GOING NOW? They have told HIM - Jesus has the Words of Life. Thomas has said he will die with Jesus and Jesus is Going???


The men are clearly puzzled why sometimes Jesus is so clear and next, they just cannot fathom this dire talk. Yet, they know not only are the secondary Temple Officials really angry with Jesus' power and the interest given to His opinions and miracles. Now, Pilate who has slaughtered Jews for attending Passover - is going to hear about the crowd with the Palms declaring Jesus as Victor.

Sorrow is now with this room to a large extent. They want Jesus to know He is clearly God and they believe. More than likely they are trying to get Jesus to stay or to take them with Him.


Jesus tells this declaring loyal group - He is going to be alone and they will too.

Next He says to this group of tired, afraid, loyal men that He has overcome the world in all of their scattered isolation.

You know if you had followed with Seeing ALL the Miracles of Jesus and Loved JESUS, this would put you feeling like disaster was coming to this good, amazing, miraculous Prophet, the Son of God and this seems to say expect horror, isolation and desertion with Jesus saying He has overcome the world.

These men knew long days going across the Sea of Galilee. They walked 16 miles to a wedding and 16 miles back to Capernaum. These Disciples had followed Jesus immediately when the Temple officials were already gunning for Jesus. Luke 4 and 5.

You would want to sleep next. This is so much trouble.



Jesus, being God, was not catering to their need for comfort or exact answers. Jesus was giving them prophecy that in turbulent times, no other puzzle would fit the slot. That they would see they played exactly into the prophecy and that Jesus would show Himself again to be God.

Although the Dinner was closing with complete worry, Jesus was truly seeing way past and nurturing them all.




Father God,

When the Wild Winds of Life Howl, help me to believe You will work Your Plan for a Hope and a Future. Knowing that we all live the Prodigal Son Story.

Jesus had just told His Disciples, He was going away with God in Jesus. And still, Jesus as God was nourishing His Beloved and Strengthening them to do Life - bringing them Home to Father God. Who as God, the Father, would be looking for the Prodigal Son and the elder son - going to be with His Beloved.

And as Jesus said, and Father God to the eldest sons in this room - I am with You Always.

Father help me always to do Your Will and Your Ways. To Delight in You. To see the Good, to hope for More Good and see as David always did - Your willingness to be Steadfast Love. We are the Easter People and Jesus is our Song.

Let this be so for the ones we love, and the People You have given us.

We thank You for Your Goodness to us and will look each day to find Your Goodness You have provided.
Amen in Jesus.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †