John 16:20-24 - Sorrow, Joy, and Answered Prayer

John 16:20-24

20 Truly, truly, I say to you, that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; you will grieve, but your grief will be turned into joy. 21 Whenever a woman is in labor she has pain, because her hour has come; but when she gives birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy that a child has been born into the world. 22 Therefore you too have grief now; but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.23 In that day you will not question Me about anything. Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask the Father for anything in My name, He will give it to you. 24 Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full.

Message: Sorrow, Joy, and Answered Prayer

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."  

What the Lord is Saying: Jesus knew His departure from the disciples would illicit grief and He addresses this today. He has already spoken of the persecution and the hatred by those in the world they would receive. I believe most of what Jesus has been speaking since the end of John 13 in this Farewell Discourse has actually been words of comfort and today's verses are consistent with this idea. 

In verse 20, He remarks that the disciples "will weep and lament." Departures of people that we love bring this about. It is a normal emotion. But after that weeping and lamenting often there is joy. I experienced this with my mom. I was definitely sad to see her pass, but then happy to know that she is with our Father in heaven and that she has escaped the hardship of this world. 

Jesus remarks that "the world will rejoice." The unbelieving Jews and others would be glad that Jesus had left. Perhaps at this moment Jesus did know that He would be dying or that He would at least be leaving this world. Jesus remarks that the world rejoices, not simply the Jews, but the World. The reality is many are happy to have Jesus out of the picture. I've always noticed that it seems easier to mention the name of God than the name of Jesus when sharing one's faith with those in the world. There is something penetrating about mentioning the name of Jesus. 

In verses 21 and 22 Jesus describes the difficulty that will occur and draws a comparison to a woman in labor. A woman goes through anguish and difficulty and pain in delivering a baby but afterwards there is rejoicing. And once the baby comes, the anguish that she did experience is remembered no more. I love this comparison. I think of this for a woman and labor and how they all go through it, maybe not looking forward to it, but they do it, to get to that baby. Impressive. Great reminder of the pain that people go through sometimes in life to get to something better. Verse 22 sort of wraps up the idea of verse 21 with Jesus confirming that they do have grief now, but He will see them again and then they will rejoice. 

Here now I look at a sermon by Alexander MacLaren (1826-1910) called, "In That Day." He remarks that there is nothing new in these verses but Jesus is taking ideas previously mentioned and tying them now all together. He states the 2 asking's are different Greek words. Our word for "ask" has two meanings - to question to get information or to request, in order to get gifts. In the passage today the first meaning "In that day you will not question Me" is the first ask, to get information. And then the next ask is in order to get something, "if you ask the Father for anything in My name." 

I. Note then, first, the end of questionings. Jesus has been telling the disciples that they gain something by losing him. Hard words for them to hear. Are we not always wishing that Jesus was beside us, walking with us? But it is better actually that He is not here beside us seems to be Jesus' point. "We gain by losing the visible Christ." With him gone we tease out issues among ourselves. Jesus has been getting a lot of questions by the disciples in the last several chapters and Jesus has been giving answers and the disciples have been slowly learning but not learning as well. We have the life of Jesus before us and 4 gospels testify him and so now, it is better for us that we can tease out and study and contemplate and make his truth our own. It is better that Jesus is not here with us. Jesus has been telling us 2 things we now have: a completed revelation and an inner teacher. We don't need to ask Jesus anything further because we have the words of Jesus recorded. In Jesus dying we have more than what He had told us while on the earth. He eluded to His death but by His death we now have a more fuller meaning to Him and His life. 

The death of Christ has told us things that Christ before His death could not tell. The resurrection of Christ has cast light upon all the darkest places of man’s destiny which Christ, before His resurrection, could not by any words so illuminate. The ascension of Christ has opened doors for thought, for faith, for hope, which were fast closed, notwithstanding all His teachings, until He had burst them asunder and passed to His throne. And the facts which are substituted for the bodily presence of Jesus with His disciples tell us a great deal more than they could ever have drawn from Him by questionings, however persistent and however wisely directed. 

And we have a divine Spirit. We implore this Spirit by our will to move us beyond the revelation into the apprehension and possession of His power in our lives, with the truth to mold our character and raise us to the likeness of Himself. No longer do we go to Him, but He now comes to us. No longer do we ask Him questions, but He rather meets us where we are at now. He is right where we are. Questions will remain though and we will struggle through understandings, but we press on. We don't give up. We continue to seek Him and press towards Him. 

II. Secondly, satisfied desires. "I say to you, if you ask the Father for anything in My name." Jesus has in this gospel now mentioned "Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do (John 14:13)" and now here asking the Father anything "in My name, He will give it to you (16:23)." With these alternating words, we have the conclusion of Jesus and the Father exacting the same outcomes as supported by, "whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner (John 5:19)." But does this mean all desires will be satisfied? Does simply invoking the words, "in My Name" produce any requests from our own self-will? Or rather does this represent asking with a request synonymous with the whole character of Christ? By asking according to Him, it is is according to His will, so that what I am asking is consistent with how Jesus would act on this earth. So it is not to ask anything that my will desires, but rather asking gathering that the character of Christ would do. "Only desires which are in harmony with the divine will are sure of being satisfied." "Now my will, but Thine be done. (Luke 22:42)"

III. Lastly, the perfect joy which follows upon these two. The conclusion of our asking is, "that your joy may be made full." When we bring our desires in harmony with God's, we will have complete satisfaction, and our joy will be utterly full. Let sorrow and sighing flee, so that we can encounter the fullness of joy in our lives. 

Summary: Jesus states that the best thing for us is Him leaving. While grief hits, the heart will rejoice and no one can take this joy. We will ask according to God's will and also receive a full joy. 

Promise: Approach the Father in prayer, in the full name of will of Jesus, and our joy will be full. 

Prayer: O God, I come to You as Your vessel and ambassador and continue to proclaim You. It is not easy. As I have conversations with people, those that do not get it, seem blinded by the truth of who You are. Thank you for the confirmation of this truth and the blessedness of knowing You and having all things I need by Your name. The richness and vastness of Your word is transforming my lives and others. Lord, I admit at times, questioning things as arguments are made and yet I see no other answer towards the meaning of life and continue to see the darkness that covers our earth and the results of not choosing you. Help me Lord to understand You more fully so that my prayers are according to Your will and my Joy will be made full. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.

John 16:16-19 - The Disciples' Confusion

John 16:16-19

16 “A little while, and you will no longer see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me.” 17 Some of His disciples then said to one another, “What is this thing He is telling us, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me’; and, ‘because I go to the Father’?” 18 So they were saying, “What is this that He says, ‘A little while’? We do not know what He is talking about.” 19 Jesus knew that they wished to question Him, and He said to them, “Are you deliberating together about this, that I said, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me, and again a little while, and you will see Me’?

Message: The Disciples' Confusion

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."  

What the Lord is Saying: If anything, it seems Jesus is speaking to the disciples in simple ways in hopes that they will understand him, but despite this they remain confused as he gives this final discourse to them. And yet Jesus is not telling them clearly where He is going. Simple describes his vocabulary, but clearly describes specifics. He said to them in John 13:14, "Little children, I am with you a little while longer....Where I am going, you cannot come." Here he is speaking of being glorified in which He knows He will be ascending to God in heaven after dying on the cross for all sins. He will bear the punishment of all sin, being our atonement. In 13:36 He says, "Where I go, you cannot follow Me now, but you shall follow later." He is going to heaven and at some point the disciples will be with Jesus in heaven as well and then He mentions His Father's house in 14:2. 

It is normal for the disciples to want to know all the specifics when Jesus makes these statements. I am the same way today. We are the same way today. We want to know it all. We aren't ready to behold only some of the details. God wants us to trust him, but many don't want to trust God because they expect to know everything, to get every question answered. We know a great deal and we know that when we have faith in Him and believe in Him he hears us and saves us. We know these things. 

When I look at today's passage, Jesus is either talking about His death and resurrection or maybe He is simply speaking about His crucifixion from the time He is captured to seeing Jesus on the cross. I am not sure. Jesus is going to change before their eyes. And what we need to do is trust Him. Most likely based upon the next verses He is talking about His coming death on the cross. Coming alongside the disciples I need to trust Him. 

Summary: Jesus is telling the disciples He is departing to a place they cannot see Him, but they will see Him again another time, another place. And we can trust Jesus without knowing all the details.

Promise: In times of uncertainty, I need to come to God and let him know I am confused and ask Him to comfort, not necessarily to get all the answers, but to place our faith in Him. 

Prayer: Lord, I trust You and I thank you for giving me clarity often with the details of my life, but if I don't understand it all, then let me still trust You and believe in You. You have not let me down and You have promised me eternity and so therefore I can trust You for that. I am your follower and am grateful for things that I do know yet still. Thank you for speaking to me and revealing things to me. I remain close to You. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.

John 16:12-15 - The Spirit's Guidance

John 16:12-15 

12 “I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose it to you.

Message: The Spirit's Guidance

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."  

What the Lord is Saying: Jesus continues to provide comfort to the disciples and encouragement and confirmation to their ears that while He is leaving to the cross, and eventually to be with the Father, the comforter, the Helper, our Holy Spirit will be with us. In the last passage, I learned the Holy Spirit will be with us and convict the world of sin, of Christ's innocence and of Christ being the victor over Satan. The Holy Spirit is there to convict sinners of their need for God. 

In verse 12 Jesus mentions He has more to say, but people are not ready to hear. Ecclesiastes 3:11 says, "He has made everything appropriate in its own time." Some things we are to understand but some things we are not, possibly never, or possibly at another time. While Jesus was not communicating to them now, it is possible the Holy Spirit would in the future communicate with them the things that He was not ready to tell them from verse 12. Perhaps the Holy Spirit's communication to them would be over a period of time, as a Christian can handle what needs to be said. Verse 13 says, "He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth." What a wonderful word of encouragement. I think of where I am in my walk with God and it seems that each day that goes by I because more understanding of the things of God. I hope that I am always going forward and not back. But I appreciate the understandings of truth. I think I am on a lifelong journey to understand the things of God. 

Jesus says, "He will not speak on His own initiative." The Holy Spirit is guided by the Father. The Spirit receives from what the Father illuminates Him to speak. He reminds people of truths from Jesus. And in this verse we hear that His truth is directly in line with the Father. Again, John, is making something clear to the Jewish audience who is of the mindset that only God is their Father and their is no one else. He is letting them know that Jesus and the Holy Spirit are in direct communication with God and so their are to both to be on the same plain or have the same level of significance regarding spiritual things.

Jesus has promised that despite Him leaving to be glorified, the Holy Spirit will be there and I think He lets them know here in the words, "He will disclose to you what is to come" that this means that the Holy Spirit will help give them understanding of the meaning of the days ahead when Jesus dies on the cross and then resurrects and then returns to the Father. Again, the Holy Spirit is speaking to us always and shedding light and truth into our lives.  

Verse 14 -- He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you. Verse - The work of the Holy Spirit is toward Jesus. "The whole design of the Spirit's office is to glorify Christ" (Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary). 

As a side note, I wonder if we pray to the Holy Spirit. It seems in my prayer life, it is most often to God which I know includes Jesus and the Holy Spirit, but I am also sometimes specific in my words to the Father, so am I also specific in my words to the Holy Spirit and Jesus. It seems it doesn't come natural, but it seems like I could and should at times. And maybe I should more because it is the Spirit that is speaking directly to me. But I think I pray like I do because of the words of Jesus in telling me how to pray through what we know of as the Lord's prayer. 

Verse 15 -- "All things that the Father has are Mine (Jesus Christ); therefore I (Jesus) said that He (Holy Spirit) takes of Mine and will disclose it to you." -- I've added those descriptors to denote who is speaking. This to me is a verse of conclusion for it confirms all that I have recorded previously. All the Father has are in Christ as well. Words of significance to the Jewish audience. And then to further multiple or carry out the work of the Father, the Holy Spirit takes of what is of Jesus and shares it with us. 

Summary: Jesus confirms that the Holy Spirit will speak of the truth of Jesus, glorifying Him, giving us more insight as days go by into the future, and the Holy Spirit is also from the Father. 

Promise: The Holy Spirit continues to guide the church into the understand that Jesus has provided us and even words Jesus was not ready to give to the Disciples, further comprehension of Jesus and His work. 

Prayer: Lord, it has taken me a few extra days to get through this lesson. I think some of it is my own doing and getting busy or distracted with things. My own brain I think has struggling concentrating, but also getting up on time, having time with my wife in the morning, getting on with other activities, these things have sidetracked me and yet as I return to this study and you, perhaps there is a new freshness and the ability of my now to concentrate. I am thankful for this morning and the rain that occurred last night and so the morning is wet and overcast, so that gives me rise as well to slow down and rest in You. I thank you for this. I am also hit hard this morning over a mistake I made yesterday with the car and feeling embarrassed and upset of that sort of freak accident. Yet, as I have been learning, these events, these tough situations of life, are to cause me to focus on my eternal home all the more. You are good, so good. And I do look forward to the day when I am no longer of this world. I thank you for these words today God you have sent me about the Holy Spirit speaking things of Jesus and also being sent by You to disclose truths to me. Lord, one thing that I am struggling with was words from Jesus in the last lesson about how the Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin, of Christ being the victor over Satan, of Christ's innocence or his perfect life for us in atoning for us - it feels like that message Lord is not resulting in changed lives in America. It seems like the words of truth are not as compelling to people and instead we have people moving from You rather than moving close to You and Your ways. People leaving churches more than new people being added to churches. And our land seems to be conforming more to the ways of the world. What does this mean God in relation to this verse? Are you giving these people over to their sinful wants as Paul speaks of in Romans 1? Are we a nation now wandering in a wilderness and now expecting a future time of being restored to You? There are pockets of revivals that we hear but overall it seems we are remaining in exile - waiting for truth to be at the forefront again. Lord, change our nation, our world to surrender themselves to You. Selfishly I want you to come quickly, but for the sake of others I pray that people would be awakened to the Gospel and turn their lives over to You. May you be an active agent again in people's lives, guiding them into all the truth of who you are. Don't let me give up though. Keep me faithful and doing what you lead me to do in Your power. Thank you for the continuous joy of knowing You and learning of You and fellowshipping with the saints. 

 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.

John 16:4b-11 - The Ministry of the Holy Spirit

John 16:4b-11

4b These things I did not say to you at 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 But 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 He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment; 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father and you no longer see Me; 11 and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.

Message: The Ministry of the Holy Spirit

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."  

What the Lord is Saying: The farewell discourse that Jesus gives in John 14-17 continues and for me I feel like he is giving comfort to the disciples - assuring them in him going away that this is the better outcome for everyone and also assuring them that everything will be okay for them, namely because the Holy Spirit, the Helper, will remain with them. 

The Helper or Holy Spirit's ministry purpose Jesus states, "convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment." John 15:26 said the Spirit would testify of Jesus. John 14:26 says the Helper will teach you all things and bring remembrance all that Jesus said. The Spirit will work in the Christian's life teaching all things and bringing to the forefront of people's minds all that Jesus said. What an amazing and well needed attribute and benefit the Christian receives. 

And then the Spirit will convict the world in their sin, righteousness and judgment. I know in my conversations with people in other parts of the world, especially the African countries, even parts of the Middle East, and Indian countries that people are coming to faith and eyes are being opened and the so the Holy Spirit is at work in convicting. At times in America though I don't see this happening currently at a great rate. I think we have Christians recommitting lives, but it seems we have a lot of people leaving the church or young people not starting church after leaving the homes in which they have been raised. For the world, I wonder at times if many God has given over or allowed them to pursue their sinful ways since they seem to love those ways so much - as this is talked about in Romans 1:24-31. I say this because the Gospel does not seem to be penetrating. Now I also think the church has diminished their evangelism as well. Granted, it is hard to continue in these efforts when the audience continues to ridicule, ignore, or be indifferent to the message. 

I think verses 9, 10, and 11 are interesting:

concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; 

concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father and you no longer see Me; 

concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.

Conviction for sin as people are not believing in Jesus so their sin needs to be exposed. That seems clear to me. Even more specifically it is rejecting the Lord Jesus. This is the chief sin people are guilty. People refuse to submit to him and instead choose to reign their own lives. This is the big regret that people will have as voiced by Zechariah 7:10, "And they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and mourn." 

Second, the conviction concerning righteousness of Christ. The world would be convicted and convinced that He was indeed innocent for any crimes people have said he committed. And people will be amazed. His resurrection and ascension will show everyone that He is not an imposter. By Jesus being raised from the dead he would be shown to be innocent, and thus confirmed that He was sent by God. And Jesus will no longer be seen by them until he returns to judgment. 

Third, the conviction concerting the judgment or that God is just and He will execute judgment. By Jesus dying, Satan is judged or condemned. Jesus is victorious. Judgment will be executed on all of the foes of Jesus. 

And thus we have in these words the confirmation of the work of the Holy Spirit in converting man and woman. 

I am convinced of my sin and that Christ is perfect, not an imposter but the Son of God and Satan will be judged while Jesus will be victorious.  

Summary: Jesus confirms it is better for him to leave to the Father, as the Holy Spirit will be with us and convict the world of sin, Christ's innocence and Christ the victor over Satan. 

Promise: Great words from Tabletalk, "The Holy Spirit was active in the world before the ascension of Jesus, but the outpouring of the Spirit as the result of Jesus’ ministry has meant a mightier work of the Spirit among the nations. People around the world have been streaming into the kingdom of God as the Spirit has given them new hearts to believe in Christ. Because of the Spirit’s work, we can be confident that He will use our proclamation of the gospel to grow the kingdom of God."

Prayer: O Lord God, you are iindeed the great one and have lived the perfect life to be the perfect substitute and save me forever. You are coming again. Satan is vanquished. You are indeed King. O Praise the Name of Jesus. O thank you Holy Spirit for your comfort and reminding me always of my condition, my need for a Savior. Lord, I pray you would continue to awaken souls, especially in this land of America. Help your servants like me to be faithful to preaching Jesus and His gospel truth and turn hearts around to you. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.

John 16:1-4a - The Persecution to Come

John 16:1-4a

1 “These things I have spoken to you so that you may be kept from stumbling. 2 They will make you outcasts from the synagogue, but an hour is coming for everyone who kills you to think that he is offering service to God. 3 These things they will do because they have not known the Father or Me. 4 But these things I have spoken to you, so that when their hour comes, you may remember that I told you of them.

Message: The Persecution to Come

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."  

What the Lord is Saying: Well, onto Chapter 16. I am still in the middle of Jesus' farewell discourse with Chapter 15 having more of a focus on the relationship of believers in Christ, to each other, and to the world and the promise of the Holy Spirit. Jesus continues to refer often to himself and then his position with His Father. Everything he says has a linkage to the Father to help us see that Jesus now is the Father's appointed sacrifice and from this point forward we must submit and surrender to Him, by faith. However, chapter 15 is specifically addressed to believers and so Jesus here in his message I think is speaking to believers in Christ. 

In Chapter 16 Jesus mentions that He is speaking these things in order that the disciple might be kept from stumbling. Stumbling is a reality. We hear things and we are not confident that they are always true, doubt creeps in and in the process we stumble. I think these things probably refers to the Holy Spirit and not necessarily the persecution words. 

In verse 2, Jesus says "they" in referring I think back to those who are persecuting and hating the disciples, again because of Jesus and believing in Him. Now Jesus seems to focus their minds more securely on the persecution that is coming. He mentions that those persecuting often believe they are doing God's work. The Pharisees are an example. It is tragic that much of the persecution that the church experiences is from other churches. I think there is a great tendency of competition between churches and even denominations. I think part of it simply how we are trained in society with the sports and even education and celebrating victors and not losers. In the process, people within the faith are competing against one another. I admit, at times it is an easier target and easier to think something we are better equipped in the Word of God than others. 

Now I don't think verse 3 necessarily applies to the attacks we often get within the church when it says, "These things they will do because they have not known the Father or Me." I do believe that many of these attacks are more of competition than asserting that people don't know Jesus or God as Father. But, there also attacks between faiths. 

Jesus concludes in verse 4 that the words He speaks are to be an encouragement, to provide comfort to them. But not necessarily today, but in the future, "when their hour comes." We need to tap into these promises that the Lord gives and let them remind us so that when these difficult times come we can remember He is there with us. 

Summary: Persecution is coming, within the church and outside of it; Jesus encourages us to not stumble and remember the words of comfort He continues to speak. 

Promise: We need to stand firm in God's word, remembering God's promises, so that as difficulties and persecutions happen, we will stand firm. 

Prayer: Lord, you are with us at all times and I pray we would remember better and tap into that comfort that you provide and not react to tough situations but respond appropriately, trusting You. Lord, open the eyes of the blind and even those persecuting so that they will see the evil of their ways. Mend us, your church and all of its different colors and systems. Teach us how to disagree. Teach us how to love one another in all situations. I pray that the world would not receive wrong messages about us in seeing us disagree with one another. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.

John 15:26-27 - The Witness of God’s Spirit and People

John 15:26-27
26 “When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, [that] is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me, 27 and you will testify also, because you have been with Me from the beginning.

Message: The Witness of God’s Spirit and People

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."  

What the Lord is Saying: I previously studied and looked at the promise of the Helper Jesus mentioned to the disciples upon his departure, providing them that comfort they would have now that Jesus was physically gone from their preference. This is something the world does not offer. The Helper or Holy Spirit, "whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you." 

Jesus repeats this idea in verse 26 of today's passage. Jesus adds another purpose of the Holy Spirit - to testify about Jesus. The Holy Spirit will be sent to us ("I will send to you") and in the midst of the inevitable persecution and hatred that the disciples will receive from the World. that Holy Spirit will reside in us as believers and followers in Christ. Again, on one hand the disciples have this confidence and assurance of the comfort they will have, to have the Holy Spirit walking with them throughout all of life. The Holy Spirit is there to help us continue to hold fast to the gospel. 

But with God in us, the world won't like this or us. And we see this in our world today - that Jesus remains offensive and the Christian remains offensive. But, again, we can hold fast with the Spirit of truth with us. 

In verse 27, Jesus says, "and you will testify also, because you have been with Me from the beginning." The disciples had been with Jesus for 3 years at the start of His public ministry (Matthew 4:17-22), seeing his works and so they can testify about Jesus as well, of his character and doctrines. Like them, we as Christ's followers bear witness of what God has done in our lives and we also testify of Him. So it is the Helper testifying of Jesus and His followers, here the disciples, testifying of Jesus. And in that process though not stated here we have community with one another. We can encourage one another for we are living together in this path. 

Summary: Jesus sends the helper to testify of Jesus and His followers, the disciples, testify of Jesus as well, having been with him since beginning of His ministry. 

Promise: From Tabletalk, "Christ is with His people in the power of the Spirit in order to guard us and make us effective witnesses to Him." 

Prayer: O God, you were right, the world knocks us down and you knew this would happen as we have trusted You and know that Your way is the only way. You have sealed me for eternity with You in heaven, clearing me of all charges against me by God of the sin that entangled my life. The world often does not understand, but I do testify of You. But I am not alone and I thank you for sending me the holy spirit to walk with me through all of life's challenges and joys, providing me the comfort of Christ. Thank you God for the truth that pervades our lives and speaks to us. Keep me on the straight and narrow. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.

John 15:22-25 - Inexcusable Sin

John 15:22-25

22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 He who hates Me hates My Father also. 24 If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would not have sin; but now they have both seen and hated Me and My Father as well. 25 But [they have done this] to fulfill the word that is written in their Law, ‘THEY HATED ME WITHOUT A CAUSE.'

Message: Inexcusable Sin

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."  

What the Lord is Saying: Interesting, at first glance Jesus seems to sort of washing his hands at the inevitable outcome of the world. He is giving the outcome it would seem of the world. Again, I think of this man I have been speaking with. He says he believes and prays to God, but Jesus was only a good person, not the Son of God. Jesus is saying however that if you reject Him you are also rejecting the Father. I can see that this is quite a claim. I have shared the gospel multiple times with this man, in many different ways, but he has been firm in stating He does believe in God and prays to God, but he does not believe in Jesus and only thinks he is a good person. Overall he thinks his good deeds is enough. But Jesus and John in this gospel is making the strong statement over and over - and speaking to primarily a Jewish audience - stating that when a person rejects Jesus that person is also rejecting the Father. In other words, once God has sent His son on the earth, things change. 

Jesus continues his worlds toward the world that he mentioned in verse 18. Verse 22 begins with another "if" statement. The verse makes me think that since Jesus showed up and was resurrected in AD 33, everyone is now accountable to him. This verse has some funny language - "If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin.'  The sin that Jesus was referring to here was hate (v. 18) and persecution (v. 20). I think the idea is if Jesus had not come and they had not seen his miracles and heard His words, they would not be accountable to Him. But Jesus did come and He did testify and they were given an opportunity to hear of Him, "but now they have no excuse for their sin." Jesus did come to this earth and so people are accountable. I think that's a key idea I have been sort of searching for or wondering. Now that Jesus has come and died and been resurrected and shed his blood, all are accountable to Him. There is no other gospel. We can't simply say I believe in God only. 

Therefore, "He who hates Me hates My Father also."  A person has to accept Jesus. A person can't just hang on the Father now and the Father only. He repeats these same ideas and closed in verse 25 with a quote from the Old Testament. In this quote, Jesus is mirroring a situation that happened to David (Psalm 35:19). Albert Barnes (1798-1870) comments, "David was conscious that he had done them no wrong, or that he had given no occasion for their conduct toward him, and hence, his prayer is simply a request that justice might be done." And Jesus says, ‘THEY HATED ME WITHOUT A CAUSE.' They have had the opportunity. Jesus has given people the opportunity. Like David, there is no cause for them to hate him as He has been true to himself. 

Summary: Jesus remarks that no one has a reason to curse Him by hatred or persecution because He has presented Himself as the Son of Man who is equal to the Father. 

Promise: From Tabletalk, " As we meet people who claim to love God without serving Christ, we must be clear that they cannot love God unless they are servants of Jesus the Savior."

Prayer: Jesus you are true. You have been sent by God. Lord, I believe now and understand that when people hear you and hear you preached they are accountable to You. There are no other options. Thank you for these truths and help me be a faithful witness of You always, helping people rightly understand You. 

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