We need to understand this crazy world, God’s purpose and plan for our lives, and why things happen the way they do. The disciples were faced with many of the same questions. Jesus answered them, and I believe, in the process, he answered us, too!
John 15: 18-21
“If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. 19 The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you. 20 Do you remember what I told you? ‘A slave is not greater than the master.’ Since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you. And if they had listened to me, they would listen to you. 21 They will do all this to you because of me, for they have rejected the one who sent me.
Jesus placed a contrast between his followers and those that are not.
– we are children of the light
– we bring flavor and preservation to the things that are good and stop corruption
– love is our ruling concept
– we bring healing to the divides
– we have confidence in who we are because of our call and knowledge of the one who called us
– we are dogmatic about truth, heaven and hell, value of life
We need to understand that the world wants to live in a constant state of grey, and we must live in a black-and-white world. Truth is truth, it is not about how you feel about something, but what the truth is!
Just as your children want to do whatever they want and resent you correcting them at first. If you love them you will correct them and if they are intelligent, they will value that correction as they grow….our stand is not because we want to create conflict but instead because we love and we want people to have less pain in the long run.
John 15:22-25
They would not be guilty if I had not come and spoken to them. But now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 Anyone who hates me also hates my Father. 24 If I hadn’t done such miraculous signs among them that no one else could do, they would not be guilty. But as it is, they have seen everything I did, yet they still hate me and my Father. 25 This fulfills what is written in their Scriptures: ‘They hated me without cause.’ (this reference is from Psalm 35:19; 69:4)
God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit were all at work here. We will find out more clearly shortly but in and through Jesus, the Father was revealed, the Holy Spirit through his on going work of conviction and verification has shown Jesus to the world as the real Messiah, Son of God and because of that witness, just like it will be on the day they die, everyone is accountable for what they know, have been told, and have seen.
Family we must realize, so are we, and everyone with whom we have shared our faith!
But the Holy Spirit never gives up. He is always working through us to bring hope.
John 15:26,27
“But I will send you the Advocate—the Spirit of truth. He will come to you from the Father and will testify all about me. 27 And you must also testify about me because you have been with me from the beginning of my ministry.
Despite the rejection of the people and their being guilty of rejecting Jesus and the Father. Part of the role of the Holy Spirit is he will keep working with us and through us to reach out to every man, woman, and child. He will do this as he strengthens and encourages us to be who he has called us to be and through us as his power strengthens us and we share with others.
John 16: 1-4
I have told you these things so that you won’t abandon your faith. 2 For you will be expelled from the synagogues, and the time is coming when those who kill you will think they are doing a holy service for God. 3 This is because they have never known the Father or me. 4 Yes, I’m telling you these things now, so that when they happen, you will remember my warning. I didn’t tell you earlier because I was going to be with you for a while longer.
Wow, sign me up!!!!!
You’re going to get rejected in every way by your social groups, family, businesses in fact the rejection will be so bad they will want to destroy even your life….what a sales pitch to get people to join the faith!!!!
We need to always remember the world system is in such opposition to the truth that they will do whatever they can to continue enjoying their sin, their rejection of God…..it happened to Joseph, David, Daniel and so many others but remember, we always win…realize you are laying down your life and your comfort so others will get to have the future you will have. This life is but a whisp of breath, eternity is forever.
You are not without help and power to overcome in all these situations
John 16:5-11
But now I am going away to the one who sent me, and not one of you is asking where I am going. 6 Instead, you grieve because of what I’ve told you. 7 But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you. 8 And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment. 9 The world’s sin is that it refuses to believe in me. 10 Righteousness is available because I go to the Father, and you will see me no more. 11 Judgment will come because the ruler of this world has already been judged.
Jesus is saying that, yes, people will reject you and want to do harm to you, but you are not alone in this. The Holy Spirit will be living through you, and as you speak with people, walk with people, share your heart with them, The Holy Spirit will pour through you, and people will feel conviction. This will cause some to want to be free and want to come to know Jesus, and others will reject the conviction and, in the process, reject Jesus and the Father.
God’s righteousness is in direct contradiction to their sin and their demanding of their own way. So is the righteousness we walk in, not that we are show-offs, but when Jesus is living in you, there is a natural holiness about you. That righteousness will put some on their knees, and others will fight back wanting to justify their sin.
As Jesus is going to the cross, Satan is being judged and completely condemned. While he is still the prince of the power of the air for the world. He has been judged by God and is defeated for Christians, and his kingdom is coming to an end. The Holy Spirit will give us the strength to understand that, we will overcome Satan as we surrender to Christ daily!
John 16:12
There is so much more I want to tell you, but you can’t bear it now.
Jesus tried to prepare them and share with them everything that was going to happen but they were still stuck in the mentality of taking over the world and their positions in it. They couldn’t grasp any more, but Jesus assures them that one is coming who will help them understand it all
How often do we get trapped in a line of thinking that we believe is God but is not really, and because of that, we get stuck not being able to hear the truth from the Lord? Jesus encourages us that he will make a way to get through for us.
John 16: 13-15
13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. 14 He will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine; this is why I said, ‘The Spirit will tell you whatever he receives from me.’
There were so many preconceived ideas they had about Jesus and their individual callings. Jesus is saying while they may be their friend, they still don’t get who he really is. The Holy Spirit will teach them everything from the Father about the Son. They will not fully understand until they grow in relationship with the Holy Spirit. They will never need to worry or be confused as the Holy Spirit who will soon be in them and is in us will reveal the future to them.
Jesus begins trying to help them understand all that is about to happen
John 16: 16-28
“In a little while you won’t see me anymore. But a little while after that, you will see me again.”
17 Some of the disciples asked each other, “What does he mean when he says, ‘In a little while you won’t see me, but then you will see me,’ and ‘I am going to the Father’? 18 And what does he mean by ‘a little while’? We don’t understand.”
19 Jesus realized they wanted to ask him about it, so he said, “Are you asking yourselves what I meant? I said in a little while you won’t see me, but a little while after that you will see me again. 20 I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn over what is going to happen to me, but the world will rejoice. You will grieve, but your grief will suddenly turn to wonderful joy. 21 It will be like a woman suffering the pains of labor. When her child is born, her anguish gives way to joy because she has brought a new baby into the world. 22 So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again; then you will rejoice, and no one can rob you of that joy. 23 At that time you won’t need to ask me for anything. I tell you the truth, you will ask the Father directly, and he will grant your request because you use my name. 24 You haven’t done this before. Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy.
25 “I have spoken of these matters in figures of speech, but soon I will stop speaking figuratively and will tell you plainly all about the Father. 26 Then you will ask in my name. I’m not saying I will ask the Father on your behalf, 27 for the Father himself loves you dearly because you love me and believe that I came from God. 28 Yes, I came from the Father into the world, and now I will leave the world and return to the Father.”
He is speaking very plainly about how they are going to feel what is going to happen and they need to just be aware that it is all part of the plan!
God has your life planned out as well. He has a perfect amazing wonderful plan for you.
He is sharing with his disciples that they will get Him once they understand His plan. They will further grow in that intimate connection with He and the Father so they will be able to boldly ask the Father for anything and they will receive it. The Holy Spirit will be alive in them they will understand the Father’s heart and have his heart.
It is interesting that we have seen three specific times where Jesus said, “Ask anything!” he and the Father so long for an intimate relationship with us. He wants us to get the stuff of life out of the way and simply know we can trust Him and he will reveal his heart to us and we will know what he is up to and be able to see it happen even to the dreams and desires of our own lives. After all, he placed all of those dreams and desires in our hearts
John 16: 29-33
Then his disciples said, “At last you are speaking plainly and not figuratively. 30 Now we understand that you know everything, and there’s no need to question you. From this we believe that you came from God.”
31 Jesus asked, “Do you finally believe? 32 But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when you will be scattered, each one going his own way, leaving me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me. 33 I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
Yes, you may get it now, but circumstances will make you doubt and forget about God’s plan….Don’t give up. Lots of things will happen in this world that may seem as if God doesn’t care or doesn’t have a plan, but know that everything is in God’s control, and He is and always will overcome the world!
As he gave the disciples hope in what they were about to face. We know what they were about to face but they didn’t, he is still doing the same for us.
The Holy Spirit will still lead us into all truth, guide us and direct us. The Father is still drawing us into deeper relationship with Him so we can easily ask whatever we want and it will be granted. He still has an amazing perfect plan for your life and will fulfill it if you choose to trust Him and keep building that relationship with Him