208. The Farewell Discourse: Promises. Jn. 16:1–33

These things I have told you so that you will not fall away. They will put you out of the synagogues; indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think that he is offering service to God. Thus they will act, because they have not known either the Father or Me. But I have told you these things so that when the hour comes, you may remember that I told you of them; I did not tell you these things from the beginning, because I was with you.

But now I am going to the One who sent Me, and none of you asks Me: Where are you going? But because I have said these things to you, grief has filled your hearts. Yet I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Comforter will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. And when He comes, He will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment. Concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; concerning righteousness, because I go to My Father and you will see Me no longer; concerning judgment, because the prince of this world is condemned.

I have yet many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but will speak what He hears, and will announce to you the things that are to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will announce it to you. All that the Father has is Mine; therefore I said that He will take of Mine and will announce it to you. Soon you will not see Me, and again soon you will see Me, because I am going to the Father.

Then some of His disciples said to one another: What is this that He says to us: Soon you will not see Me, and again soon you will see Me, and: I am going to the Father? Therefore, they said: What is this that He says: ‘Soon’? We do not understand what He is saying.

The Lord Jesus, perceiving that they wanted to ask Him, said to them: Are you asking yourselves about what I said: Soon you will not see Me, and again soon you will see Me? Truly, truly I say to you: you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but when she has borne the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a child has been born into the world. So also you have sorrow now; but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.

And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Truly, truly I say to you: Whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give it to you. Until now you have asked nothing in My name; ask, and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.

I have spoken to you in figures of speech; but the hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures, but will tell you plainly about the Father. In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf: for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed that I came forth from God. I came forth from the Father and have come into the world; and again I am leaving the world and going to the Father.

His disciples said to Him: Behold, now You are speaking plainly, and using no figure of speech. Now we see that You know all things and have no need for anyone to question You. By this we believe that You came forth from God.

The Lord Jesus answered them: Do you now believe? Behold, an hour is coming, and has already come, when you will be scattered, each to his own place, and will leave Me alone; but I am not alone, because the Father is with Me.

These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good courage: I have overcome the world.