John 16

1I have told you all this so that you will not stumble and fall away. 2They will expel you from the synagogue. In fact, an hour is coming when anyone who kills you will think they are doing God a sacred service. 3They will do these things because they have never known the Father or me. 4But I have said these things to you so that when the hour for them comes, you will remember that I told you of them. I did not tell you these things at the start, because I was with you. 5But now I am going to the one who sent me, and not one of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6Instead, sorrow has filled your hearts because I have said these things to you. 7But I am telling you the truth: my going away is to your advantage. For if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you at all; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8When he comes, he will show the world to be in the wrong about sin, about righteousness and about judgment: 9about sin, because they do not believe in me; 10about righteousness, because I go to the Father and you will see me no longer; 11and about judgment, because the ruler of this world stands judged.

12There is much more I have to tell you, but it is more than you can bear right now. 13But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you in all the truth. What he says will not come from himself; he will speak what he hears, and he will make known to you what is yet to come. 14He will glorify me, because he will receive from what is mine and make it known to you. 15Everything the Father has is mine. That is why I said that he will receive from what is mine and make it known to you.

16In a little while you will no longer see me, and then after another little while you will see me. 17Then some of his disciples said to one another, “What does he mean by telling us, ‘In a little while you will no longer see me, and then after another little while you will see me’? And what about ‘because I am going to the Father’?” 18So they kept saying, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We do not understand what he is talking about.” 19Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him about it, so he said to them, “Are you discussing with one another what I meant when I said, ‘In a little while you will no longer see me, and then after another little while you will see me’? 20Truly, truly, I tell you, you will weep and mourn aloud, but the world will rejoice. You will be full of sorrow, but your sorrow will become joy. 21When a woman is giving birth she has sorrow, because her hour has come. But once her child is born, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. 22So it is with you: now you have sorrow, but I will see you again. Then your hearts will rejoice, and no one takes your joy away from you. 23On that day you will not ask me any questions. Truly, truly, I tell you, if you ask the Father for anything, he will give it to you in my name. 24So far you have asked for nothing in my name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy will be complete.

25“I have used figures of speech in telling you these things. An hour is coming when I will no longer use them with you; I will tell you about the Father in plain words. 26On that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say that I will ask the Father on your behalf. 27For the Father himself loves you, since you have loved me and believed that I came out from God. 28I came out from the Father and have come into the world. Now, in turn, I am leaving the world and going to the Father.”

29His disciples said, “Look, now you are speaking in plain words and not using any figure of speech! 30Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to put questions to you. This is why we believe that you came out from God.” 31Jesus answered them, “Do you believe now? 32Look, an hour is coming, and in fact has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. 33I have said these things to you so that you may have peace in me. In the world you have affliction. But have courage: I have overcome the world.”