The Gospel of John, Chapter 16:1-15

¹ These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.

Jesus is preparing the disciples for what’s coming. The religious leaders of that day as well as the garden variety ungodly person were going to come for them to make their lives hard and persecute them, even to the point of killing them and celebrating their deaths. Jesus didn’t want this to be a point of stumbling for them, so he was telling them beforehand what to expect and the blessings of holding on to the faith even in the hard times.

² They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.

The synagogues were the places people would come to be educated on the things of God by listening to scholars in the Word. Jesus was telling them that the doctrines they will be sharing will lead to the religious leaders rejecting them and their teachings and even kill them thinking God would condone their actions. We’re talking about the leaders of the Jewish faith here, but it also applies to all religions that claims to know God, but rejects the true Jesus and his path to salvation which is the only path mankind can be saved by.
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Ephesians 2:8
Salvation comes through faith in the blood that Jesus shed to cover and pay for our sins in exchange for his righteousness. Religion and religious people stumble at placing their faith in Jesus…. (simplicity of the gospel) …they can’t relax and trust in the blood of Jesus… they feel as if there is more to it… they want control… so they form religions that allows them to work and earn salvation (false salvation). By working for their salvation, they can feel as if they’ve earned their way to heaven. What they don’t factor in is that their works for salvation undermines the gift that Jesus gave to us out of love… so the works for salvation is a rejection of the blood and love of Jesus… their actions are a statement that the righteousness of Jesus is something they can obtain by works. This godless self-sufficiency leads to hell because it rejects the salvation plan of Jesus. Often this is done by people who claim to be saved by Jesus. I think it might actually be one of the biggest battles we face as Christians, to abide in his grace and not pick up works to attempt to earn our salvation. You have people today who claim to know God and Jesus and who reject us as followers of Jesus (put us out of their synagogues) ….and these same people will call for us to be cancelled because we stood up and called sex outside of marriage, homosexuality, abortion, fabricated genders and the transitioning of children sinful. In their false religion, it’s more wrong to condemn sinful behavior than it is to engage in sinful behavior….so righteous judgment is sinful to these false religious people and way more offensive to them than actual sin.
Jesus warned us this would happen…and that it would get worse. People will do horrible things to avoid feeling shame.

³ And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.

Because they depend on something other than the blood of Jesus to be saved, they never connect to God and never get to know God or his nature….they never experience the new birth and the change of heart and motivation that brings. Because of this lack of connection to God, they don’t recognize actual Christians and because actual Christians reject works and notions like everyone is going to be saved because God is love, those who believe those things come out aggressively against Christians speaking the truth and rejecting those false ways of salvation. Their opposition of true Christians becomes their actions of faith to support their false beliefs. Like, the more they hate true Christians because their affirmation of faith…so when they start killing Christians….they feel as if they are doing so in service to God. Saul (Paul) was convinced he was righteous when he held everyone’s coats while they stoned Stephen to death.

⁴ But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you.

Jesus is preparing the disciples for a time when he will no longer be there with them. Jesus knew that these disciples were going to go forth and change the world with the Gospel… but he wanted them prepared for the opposition that was going to come from it, so then this opposition came, the disciples could stand in faith knowing Jesus had already warned them about it. It’s like when you know something is going to be hard before you start it… you prepare your resolve to keep going.

⁵ But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou?

⁶ But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart.

⁷ Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

The Holy Spirit is the Comforter. Jesus was preparing the disciples for the times when they would be rejected by the religious people and ejected from the synagogues… some even being killed. Jesus tells them he is going to be leaving and when he does, he will send them the Holy Spirit (Comforter). The Holy Spirit consoles us when we’re needing it, he leads us and reminds us of the words of Jesus…. the Holy Spirit intercedes for us and advocates for us. The Holy Spirit is more than just a friend sitting with their arm around you when things go badly…. the Holy Spirit is the power of God in your life to do his will. When Jesus left this earth, the Holy Spirit came. This is what blue letter states in the notes about the Comforter.

• one who pleads another’s cause before a judge, a pleader, counsel for defense, legal assistant, an advocate

• of Christ in his exaltation at God’s right hand, pleading with God the Father for the pardon of our sins

• one who pleads another’s cause with one, an intercessor ..in the widest sense, a helper, succourer, aider, assistant of the Holy Spirit destined to take the place of Christ with the apostles (after his ascension to the Father), to lead them to a deeper knowledge of the gospel truth, and give them divine strength needed to enable them to undergo trials and persecutions on behalf of the divine kingdom

The vines definition
Comfort, Comforter, Comfortless: lit., “called to one’s side,” i.e., to one’s aid is primarily a verbal adjective, and suggests the capability or adaptability for giving aid. It was used in a court of justice to denote a legal assistant, counsel for the defense, an advocate; then, generally, one who pleads another’s cause, an intercessor, advocate, as in 1Jo 2:1, of the Lord Jesus. In the widest sense, it signifies a “succorer, comforter.” Christ was this to His disciples, by the implication of His word “another (allos, “another of the same sort,” not heteros, “different”) Comforter,” when speaking of the Holy Spirit, Jhn 14:16. In Jhn 14:26; 15:26; 16:7 He calls Him “the Comforter.” “Comforter” or “Consoler” corresponds to the name “Menahem,” given by the Hebrews to the Messiah.

So Jesus is telling his disciples that after he dies on the cross and ascends into heaven back to the father God, he is going to send the disciples a comforter, the Holy Spirit who will comfort them, advocate for them as an intercessor, teach them the word and bring them into a deeper meaning of the Word.
The Holy Spirit is the difference. This morning during prayer this realization came to me that the difference between being able to quote a verse and being able to live inside of that same verse, is the Holy Spirit bringing it to life inside of our hearts. The Holy Spirit takes the words of Jesus and brings them to life inside of us so that we are filled with Jesus and take on his nature. Becoming a Christian is called the new birth…and it’s a perfect explanation for what happens when the Word of God is brought to life within us by the Holy Spirit. When we are truly born again we take on characteristics of our parents.
People can go through the exact motions as a true Child of God…. and they will look and seem like they are born again. They can do the same work for the kingdom…quote the same verses…recite the same lessons, but they do not have Jesus in the inside… he is only a costume they wear. This is why the word of God tells us to examine ourselves to make sure we are abiding in the vine. 2 Corinthians 13:5 ⁵ Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

⁸ And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

The Holy Spirit convicts us of our sins. Recently in passing I heard a teaching that the Holy Spirit doesn’t convict us of our sins. This is a lie, the Holy Spirit does convict us of sin…. the proof is in John 14:26  But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
So if the Holy Spirit brings all things that Jesus said to remembrance this mean the Holy Spirit will remind of the times when Jesus called out sin and condemned it. If you are lead by the Spirit and the Spirit is reminding you that something you are doing is sinful by bringing up the Word that condemns the behavior and you aren’t convicted of the sin, then you have a serious spiritual problem. We are saved by grace, but we are also called to crucify the fleshly, sinful nature…take up our cross and follow Jesus. If a person who is born again never feels lead to resist their sinful nature… this is a red flag. Romans 7:14-25 speaks of the spiritual battle that begins when we are born again… it’s a war waged against our fleshly nature by our alignment with the Holy Spirit. Paul lays it out perfectly and if this doesn’t become a reality at the new birth, you might want to check your conversion with the Word to make sure you are truly born again. We aren’t saved by works… but none-the-less…. we are compelled by our alignment with the Holy Spirit to stop practicing sin.

⁹ Of sin, because they believe not on me;

¹⁰ Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;

¹¹ Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

¹² I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.

Sometimes we can’t even grasp the lessons until we grow spiritually. One of the lessons like this that come to mind is the one where we need to count it a joy when we are put through a trial. As a baby Christian we want to avoid all the hardships possible…and you know… babies can’t grow from trials… to a baby it’s incomprehensible when things are hard to endure… but when growth comes and maturity begins to shape strength inside of a person, then trials are bearable and the maturity allows us to grow from them.

¹³ Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

¹⁴ He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

¹⁵ All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

Jesus is sending the Holy Spirit to lead his followers. The Holy Spirit is called the comforter, advocate, intercessor….he teaches us and leads us into all truth. Our part is to read the word so the Holy Spirit can teach us the meanings of the word. John 1 tells us that Jesus is the word… so when we read the word, we are taking in Jesus…and when the Holy Spirit opens up our understanding… Jesus becomes alive in us… rēma!

• From Vines: The significance of rhema (as distinct from logos) is exemplified in the injunction to take “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,” Eph 6:17; here the reference is not to the whole Bible as such, but to the individual scripture which the Spirit brings to our remembrance for use in time of need, a prerequisite being the regular storing of the mind with Scripture.