Bible Study John 16
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John 16 · WEB

Sorrow Turned to Joy

Listen — WEB narration 0:00 / 0:00 Narration: World English Bible (David Williams), public domain — AudioTreasure.

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"I have said these things to you so that you wouldn't be caused to stumble.
2They will put you out of the synagogues. Yes, the time comes that whoever kills you will think that he offers service to God.
3They will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me.
4But I have told you these things, so that when the time comes, you may remember that I told you about them. I didn't tell you these things from the beginning, because I was with you.
5But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, 'Where are you going?'
6But because I have told you these things, sorrow has filled your heart.
7Nevertheless I tell you the truth: It is to your advantage that I go away, for if I don't go away, the Counselor won't come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.
8When he has come, he will convict the world about sin, about righteousness, and about judgment;
9about sin, because they don't believe in me;
10about righteousness, because I am going to my Father, and you won't see me any more;
11about judgment, because the prince of this world has been judged.
12I have yet many things to tell you, but you can't bear them now.
13However when he, the Spirit of truth, has come, he will guide you into all truth, for he will not speak from himself; but whatever he hears, he will speak. He will declare to you things that are coming.
14He will glorify me, for he will take from what is mine, and will declare it to you.
15All things whatever the Father has are mine; therefore I said that he takes of mine, and will declare it to you.
16A little while, and you will not see me. Again a little while, and you will see me."
17Some of his disciples therefore said to one another, "What is this that he says to us, 'A little while, and you won't see me, and again a little while, and you will see me;' and, 'Because I go to the Father?'"
18They said therefore, "What is this that he says, 'A little while?' We don't know what he is saying."
19Therefore Jesus perceived that they wanted to ask him, and he said to them, "Do you inquire among yourselves concerning this, that I said, 'A little while, and you won't see me, and again a little while, and you will see me?'
20Most certainly I tell you, that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy.
21A woman, when she gives birth, has sorrow, because her time has come. But when she has delivered the child, she doesn't remember the anguish any more, for the joy that a human being is born into the world.
22Therefore you now have sorrow, but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.
23In that day you will ask me no questions. Most certainly I tell you, whatever you may ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you.
24Until now, you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be made full.
25I have spoken these things to you in figures of speech. But the time comes when I will no more speak to you in figures of speech, but will tell you plainly about the Father.
26In that day you will ask in my name; and I don't say to you that I will pray to the Father for you,
27for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me, and have believed that I came from God.
28I came from the Father, and have come into the world. Again, I leave the world, and go to the Father."
29His disciples said to him, "Behold, now you are speaking plainly, and using no figures of speech.
30Now we know that you know all things, and don't need for anyone to question you. By this we believe that you came from God."
31Jesus answered them, "Do you now believe?
32Behold, the time is coming, yes, and has now come, that you will be scattered, everyone to his own place, and you will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.
33I have told you these things, that in me you may have peace. In the world you have trouble; but cheer up! I have overcome the world."
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Summary

Jesus warns his disciples that they will face expulsion and death from people who think they serve God by killing them, but he also says that his going away is for their benefit, because the Counselor will come and convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. He likens their coming sorrow to a woman in labor — real but temporary — that will give way to a joy no one can steal. He invites them into a new, direct relationship with the Father in prayer, and closes with one of the great promises of Scripture: in him they have peace, in the world they will have trouble, but he has overcome the world.

Themes

  • Persecution of disciples by religious authorities
  • The Spirit's convicting and guiding ministry
  • Sorrow as labor that produces joy
  • Direct access to the Father in Jesus' name
  • Christ's victory over the world

Key verses

  • John 16:13 — “When he, the Spirit of truth, has come, he will guide you into all truth.”
  • John 16:22 — “Your sorrow will be turned into joy... and no one will take your joy away from you.”
  • John 16:33 — “In the world you have trouble; but cheer up! I have overcome the world.”
  • John 16:7 — “It is to your advantage that I go away, for if I don't go away, the Counselor won't come to you.”

Context & background

Still part of the upper room / walking discourse in Jerusalem (modern Israel), Thursday night before Jesus' arrest, c. AD 30. Expulsion from the synagogue (v. 2) was a severe social and economic punishment for Jews — cutting one off from worship, community, and trade; this prophecy is documented historically when the Birkat ha-Minim (curse on heretics) was added to synagogue prayers c. AD 80-90, formalizing the split between Christians and the synagogue. Saul of Tarsus before his conversion is the textbook example of "killing you will think that he offers service to God" (v. 2; cf. Acts 26:9). The childbirth metaphor (v. 21) was a familiar Old Testament image for Israel's messianic suffering (Isaiah 26:17-19, 66:7-10). "I have overcome the world" (v. 33) is a perfect-tense victory cry — spoken before the cross because the outcome is already certain.

Cross-references

  • 1 John 5:4-5 — "This is the victory that has overcome the world: our faith" — John's epistle echo of v. 33.
  • Acts 8:1, 9:1-2 — Saul "consenting to his death" and persecuting the church — fulfillment of v. 2.
  • Hebrews 4:14-16 — Confident access to the throne of grace — the prayer privilege of vv. 23-27.
  • Isaiah 66:7-14 — Zion's labor that produces sudden joy — the prophetic backdrop of vv. 20-22.
  • Romans 8:26-27 — The Spirit who "intercedes for us" — extends the Counselor's ministry.

Check your reading

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  1. Observe

    Jesus says it is to the disciples' advantage that he goes away. What reason does he give?

  2. Observe

    What three things does Jesus say the Spirit will convict the world about?

  3. Interpret

    What is the significance of the childbirth metaphor Jesus uses to describe the disciples' coming sorrow?

  4. Interpret

    How is it possible that the Spirit's coming is more beneficial to the disciples than Jesus' continued physical presence?

  5. Apply

    Jesus closes with "I have overcome the world" (v. 33), spoken before his crucifixion. What does claiming this victory mean for how a believer faces hardship today?

  6. Apply

    Jesus tells the disciples they have asked nothing in his name "until now" (v. 24) and invites direct, confident asking. What might this suggest about common weaknesses in a believer's prayer life?

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