IT IS FOR YOUR GOOD

Passage: John 16:1-7

Key verse: 7

NIV

16 “All this(A) I have told you so that you will not fall away.(B) 2 They will put you out of the synagogue;(C) in fact, the time is coming when anyone who kills you will think they are offering a service to God.(D) 3 They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me.(E) 4 I have told you this, so that when their time comes you will remember(F) that I warned you about them. I did not tell you this from the beginning because I was with you,(G) 5 but now I am going to him who sent me.(H) None of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’(I) 6 Rather, you are filled with grief(J) because I have said these things. 7 But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate(K) will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.(L)

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

16 “I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away. 2 (A)They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, (B)the hour is coming when (C)whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. 3 And they will do these things (D)because they have not known the Father, nor me. 4 But (E)I have said these things to you, that when (F)their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you.

The Work of the Holy Spirit

“I did not say these things to you from the beginning, (G)because I was with you. 5 But now (H)I am going to him who sent me, and (I)none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6 But because I have said these things to you, (J)sorrow has filled your heart. 7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for (K)if I do not go away, (L)the Helper will not come to you. But (M)if (N)I go, (O)I will send him to you.

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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. So that you will not go astray (1-4)

Jesus told his disciples the surprising news that though they lived sacrificial lives for the sake of truth, they would be misunderstood and persecuted--not by atheists, but by religious people who do not know Jesus--and do not know God.

2. I am going to him who sent me (5-7)

When Jesus speaks of his going away, it is another way of speaking of his death on the cross for our sins, his resurrection and his ascension. Jesus' disciples were sorrowful, for they did not know that it was necessary for Jesus to die. Because he died, our sins are washed away. The Holy Spirit can come and dwell with men. So Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit to them. Jesus' disciples must become independent of their human shepherd and dependent on God. They must become spiritual men.

Prayer: Lord, help me not to be discouraged when so-called Christians persecute God's flock. Help me to depend on Jesus who died for my sins and sent his Holy Spirit.

One Word: Jesus died for me