John 16
1 These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended. 2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. 3 And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me. 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.
The Doctrine of Persecution: It will most likely be ‘religious’ people who will be persecuting true Christians here in these last days. Oh, the Liberal Atheists do indeed hate us, but not as much as the ‘established churches’. Who persecuted God’s people during the ‘Dark Ages’?… The Roman Catholic Church! They think that they are doing God a service by attacking these ‘heretics’. They do it all in the name of the God of the Bible!
5 But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou? 6 But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart. 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. 8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 Of sin, because they believe not on me; 10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; 11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. 12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. 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. 14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. 15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
The Doctrine of the Holy Ghost: It was expedient (better for us) that Jesus Christ left the Earth and then would send the Comforter, the Holy Ghost. But why? Because Jesus, while on Earth, was limited to one place and one person’s needs at a time; whereas the Holy Ghost could be everywhere at once, ministering to everyone. Apparently, the main function of the Holy Ghost in regards to the ‘world’ (mostly lost people) is to reprove them of sin, righteousness, and judgment. These 3 deal with bringing one to salvation; they need to know that they are sinners, they need to know where righteousness lies (in the Saviour), and they need to know that judgment is coming (and they can have victory over the world, the flesh, and the devil). Thus, He is doing these very things right now throughout the world. Does He do it consistantly and constantly to every person on the planet? Or is it dependent upon the person’s heart and situation? I believe it is dependent. He is known as the Spirit of truth. The Holy Ghost does not speak of Himself…but, rather, speaks of Jesus Christ (testifies of Jesus, and glorifies Him). The Charismatic crowd seems to be obsessed with the Holy Ghost, vice Jesus Christ; most of their sermons that I come across have the Spirit as their main subject (along with the sign gifts, miracles, paranormal activity, etc.).
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. 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? 18 They said therefore, What is this that he saith, A little while? we cannot tell what he saith. 19 Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him, and said unto them, Do ye inquire among yourselves of that I said, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me? 20 Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. 21 A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. 22 And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.
The Doctrine of the Resurrection: In a few hours Jesus would be crucified and He would be buried; and then 3 days later they would see Him again. The disciples would weep and lament upon His suffering and crucifixion, but the world would be rejoicing in it; but they will be filled with joy when they see the risen Saviour.
We ‘disciples’ often react the same way that they did: ‘what is this that He saith to us here in the Bible…we cannot tell what He saith?’ There are many passages of scripture that are ‘things hard to be understood’. Their problem was that they were not thinking on the whole of scripture… for the O.T. had prophesied of all this… they were limited in their scope of thinking.
23 And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. 24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. 25 These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father. 26 At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you: 27 For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God. 28 I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.
The Doctrine of Prayer: Is it true that ‘whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in (Jesus’) name, he will give it you? Are there any disclaimers on this statement? Jesus was teaching His disciples here on prayer. Once Jesus was gone, they were to pray to the Father in Jesus’ name; it would be a new era of prayer. The key teaching here for us is that the prayer must be in Jesus’ name. What does this mean? Just attach a ‘in Jesus’ name I pray, Amen’ on the end of every prayer and you’re good to go? No. Is it ‘name it, claim it’? No. Jesus’ “name” is what He is all about… Who He is… what His position is… what He believes in… what His character is. It involves praying according to what Jesus’ will would be.
1 John 5:14-15 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
Jesus Christ states here that He will pray to the Father for you; He is our Mediator; all our prayers to the Father, first go to Jesus.
29 His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb. 30 Now are we sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou camest forth from God. 31 Jesus answered them, Do ye now believe? 32 Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. 33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
The Doctrine of Faith: The disciples couldn’t, or wouldn’t, believe fully on Jesus Christ unless they could understand it clearly, plainly. They had to be ‘sure of it’. Did they not believe that Jesus came from God prior to this point (and they were just hours or so from His crucifixion)? The hour had come in which they would lapse in their faith…and in a very big way… they would all run from Him when the soldiers would come for Him. Apparently, they really didn’t have solid faith yet in Jesus Christ… in Who He was and what He was going to do. Were they saved? Can you be saved and not fully believe that Jesus came from God?….