21 Day Bible Reading Challenge
Day 16: John 16 - 21 Day Bible Reading Challenge
It's been close to 2,000 years since Jesus spoke the words in John 16 to the disciples gathered with Him in the Upper Room just hours before His death. And so we take it for granted that, of course, the disciples would go on to be Apostles, and spread the Good News to the surrounding nations. That the Apostle Paul would travel the known world preaching Jesus. For us, the formation and the spreading of the Church is ancient history.
But imagine being one of the disciples in that room on that night. The way Jesus has been talking makes it clear that something is about to happen, and now He's talking about going away, and coming back? How were the disciples supposed to carry on the work that the Son of God Himself had begun? Talk about big shoes to fill! Keep those fears and concerns in mind as you read today's chapter.
PRAYER
Dear heavenly father, thank you for these words of Jesus and the encouragement they provide. Help us to remember in our dark days that you are present, and grant us the peace you promise.
John 16 English Standard Version (ESV)
16 “I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away. 2 They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. 3 And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me. 4 But I have said these things to you, that when 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, 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 Nevertheless, 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 when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; 11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.
12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15 All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
Your Sorrow Will Turn into Joy
16 “A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see me.” 17 So some of his disciples said to one another, “What is this that he says to us, ‘A little while, and you will not see me, and again a little while, and you will see me’; and, ‘because I am going to the Father’?” 18 So they were saying, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We do not know what he is talking about.” 19 Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, “Is this what you are asking yourselves, what I meant by saying, ‘A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me’? 20 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. 21 When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. 22 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. 23 In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. 24 Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.
I Have Overcome the World
25 “I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father. 26 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; 27 for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.[a] 28 I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.”
29 His disciples said, “Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech! 30 Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that you came from God.” 31 Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? 32 Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it 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. 33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
REFLECTION & APPLICATION
In the first verses of this chapter, Jesus talks about how the disciples will be driven from the synagogues and even killed. But in the last verse, Jesus reminds them, "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world."
Have you ever experienced this supernatural peace?
What trials have you faced? What helped you keep your focus on Jesus?
And let us know what you think by leaving a comment below.
We look forward to your comments and questions below!
But imagine being one of the disciples in that room on that night. The way Jesus has been talking makes it clear that something is about to happen, and now He's talking about going away, and coming back? How were the disciples supposed to carry on the work that the Son of God Himself had begun? Talk about big shoes to fill! Keep those fears and concerns in mind as you read today's chapter.
PRAYER
Dear heavenly father, thank you for these words of Jesus and the encouragement they provide. Help us to remember in our dark days that you are present, and grant us the peace you promise.
John 16 English Standard Version (ESV)
16 “I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away. 2 They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. 3 And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me. 4 But I have said these things to you, that when 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, 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 Nevertheless, 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 when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; 11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.
12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15 All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
Your Sorrow Will Turn into Joy
16 “A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see me.” 17 So some of his disciples said to one another, “What is this that he says to us, ‘A little while, and you will not see me, and again a little while, and you will see me’; and, ‘because I am going to the Father’?” 18 So they were saying, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We do not know what he is talking about.” 19 Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, “Is this what you are asking yourselves, what I meant by saying, ‘A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me’? 20 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. 21 When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. 22 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. 23 In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. 24 Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.
I Have Overcome the World
25 “I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father. 26 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; 27 for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.[a] 28 I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.”
29 His disciples said, “Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech! 30 Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that you came from God.” 31 Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? 32 Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it 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. 33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
REFLECTION & APPLICATION
In the first verses of this chapter, Jesus talks about how the disciples will be driven from the synagogues and even killed. But in the last verse, Jesus reminds them, "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world."
Have you ever experienced this supernatural peace?
What trials have you faced? What helped you keep your focus on Jesus?
And let us know what you think by leaving a comment below.
We look forward to your comments and questions below!
If you found value in this post, please share your comments, questions, and prayers with us!
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Discipleship Tip: Sharing is discipleship. Invite a friend to join you each day for a morning coffee and conversation about God. Click the sharing button below to get the conversation started.
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I have faced my husband physically assaulting me more than once. The worse time was after he retired and did not pass his driver evaluation. He wanted the keys. I thought he wanted the car keys, but he apparently wanted the house keys.
Unknown to me was that his sister had became his POA. Since she became his POA she has him in a memory facility closer to where he lives in Illinois. I live in Indiana.
Since then I have been able to spend more time in the Bible growing closer to God than I was before.
Unknown to me was that his sister had became his POA. Since she became his POA she has him in a memory facility closer to where he lives in Illinois. I live in Indiana.
Since then I have been able to spend more time in the Bible growing closer to God than I was before.
Could you pray for me to trust God more you deepen my faith. I am going through a difficult time now and I know peace can only come from Jesus. He is the only way! I am struggling now.
When I was turning to God to change me to take out from the dark slimy pit I was in I went to sleep and woke up blind and i couldn't walk with out pain now i can see i still have painful days that i am not very movable , I am not complaining I am giving my testimony of where I was to where I am without Jesus i dont believe i would be here alive being loved ...i was lost now I was found ..thank you ,Lord without your presence in my life and the Holy Spirit guiding me I honestly believe I wouldn't be here enjoying life for what it is meant for ...thank you Lord My Savior
Good Morning, I have discovered this Bible challenge later in the year. I am so thankful that I did. I have experienced supernatural peace throughout my walk with Christ, mainly when I am reading the Bible. The words of Jesus are so comforting and his promises are “yes” and “amen”.
newtonlovesdonna
When you confess and repent and turn from our evil ways, Jesus' peace comes into our hearts and it is the peace that surpasses all understanding, there is no faking it, it is real, Praise The Lord! Now that is not the end of suffering though. Each trial I have gone thru God has brought me thru. There may be pain in the night, but JOY comes in the morning! Praise The Lord!
When you confess and repent and turn from our evil ways, Jesus' peace comes into our hearts and it is the peace that surpasses all understanding, there is no faking it, it is real, Praise The Lord! Now that is not the end of suffering though. Each trial I have gone thru God has brought me thru. There may be pain in the night, but JOY comes in the morning! Praise The Lord!