March 7, 2010
Evening Service

St.Jn. 16:16-33

 

Review:

1.      This morning Jesus concerned about leaving His disciples, without them knowing what was going on. 

2.      Het told them that they would be kicked out of the synagogue, and be persecuted for being His followers. 

3.      He told them that He was about to leave them, but He would not leave them comfort less .  He was going to send them the Holy Ghost, and that He would lead them into all truths, and help them understand what had just happened.

4.      Listen to this;  Joh 16:14  He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you. 

5.      Hopefully we can see that this is why the ministry to the church points to Jesus as the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.  They should possess this Spirit that brings glory to the Lord, and they receive the truth from the Word, and should teach it to His followers.

6.      We closed this morning with Jesus saying this;  “all things that the Father has are Mine.  Therefore I said that He will take of Mine, and declare it to you.”

 

Let’s close out chapter 16 this evening, and see what is in store for us:

 

Joh 16:16-33  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. 

• The disciples believed that Jesus would set up His worldly kingdom at this time, so it was confusing to them on Him saying that He was going back to the Father.
• And we know the record of the events on how that after the resurrection He appeared unto them again, and taught them through the Holy Ghost for 40 days concerning the things of the Kingdom of God .

(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. 

• We see the picture of the sadness, and disbelief as the disciples went back to their homes after the crucifixion.  How they lamented for His death, and burial.
• Then we know the joy, and amazement they experienced upon knowing that He had come out of that tomb, and was alive. 
• The two on the road to Emmaus, “did not our hearts burn within us while He opened the Scriptures to us?”  Certainly our hearts still burn when He opens the Scriptures for us.
• Then the Lord gives an example of their situation:

(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. 

• I will see you again, and certainly He did.
• And their hearts did rejoice, and no man could remove their joy.  So many examples of persecution in the book of Acts.  But the joy remained.

(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.

 

·         Jesus has been explaining to His disciples that He is leaving, and that He won’t be around in the flesh to answer all their questions, or even to supply their fleshly needs.  So He tells them again that this is what the Holy Ghost Father will do for them.  Tell the Father what is bothering you and He will give you the answer, just ask in My name, and He will give it to you.

(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 show you plainly of the Father. 

·         The time comes, when I will no longer speak unto you in proverbs, but I will tell you plainly all the things that I have received from 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. 

·         When that time arrives I will no longer ask the Father for you, but you will ask Him what you will, and He will give you the answers.  For the Father loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed the message that I brought was from God Almighty, Jehovah.

·         You have also believed that I came forth from the Father, and that I return unto the Father.

·         But what a privilege an honor to be able to go directly to God with our petitions.  Remember Jesus said, “I no longer call you servants, but friends, for a servant does not know what the Master is doing, but I call you friends, and you will know what is going on in the family of God.

·         The Hebrew writer said, “let us come boldly before the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace in the time of need.”

(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:

• The shattering feeling that truth brings on occasion.  I’m sure these disciples were just feeling good about what they were understanding, and now Jesus tells them of their unfaithfulness to Him.  “you shall be scattered, everyman to his own, and shall leave Me alone.”
• In chapter 13 Jesus told of Peter’s denial.  In chapter 14 Jesus speaks of leaving and sending the Holy Spirit to help them.  Also in chapter 14 Jesus said this;  Joh 14:30  Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.
• So we can see that chapters 14-15-16 all happen before the Romans come and get Him.  Chapter 17 will also happen before His arrest in chapter 18.

 

But He tells them:

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.

• I am sure that Peter, and John felt the same way when they were cast into jail, God was with them.
• The same for Paul and Silas, God was with them.
• The world didn’t understand their peace.  They were in a very difficult situation, but they had the peace of God that Jesus told them they would have.  “Joh 14:27  Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

 

The same will be true for you and I, God is with us, in all that we do, and in every situation, He is there with us, to help, and deliver, whatever the need is, He will be there for us.  He gives us this same peace, and the ability to not be afraid.

 

Thank you Lord for Your presence of being with us.