John 15,16 and 17

"Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. but take heart, because I have overcome the world." John 16:33 NLT


John 15,16, and 17 set the stage for what Jesus' disciples will undergo after he leaves them. The disciples' teacher, their mentor and source of guidance is leaving. However, Jesus doesn't leave his disciples without some last words of wisdom.


Jesus tells his disciples the reality of the situation. He eludes to his death and resurrection, although at the time, his disciples dont understand. He tells them that the world will hate them, he says they will grieve and that they will be kicked out of the synagogues. He tells them this as a fair warning. In fact, the first verse of John 16 says, "I have told you these things so that you won't abandon your faith." Jesus is saying that his disciples will go through so many harships, so many trials, so much sorrow that he has to tell them not to abandon their faith.



Although the journey will be tough, Jesus promises his team serveral things to take heart in. In John 15, Jesus says that he is the true vine and that in order to produce fruit, one must remain in him and he in them. He follows this by saying "But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask anything you want, and it will be granted!" (John 15:7 NLT) What a promise! The Mesiah and savior of the world telling us that whatever we want, we can ask and recieve. Also, notice the exclamation mark at the end of Jesus' sentence. He tells the disciples this so they know that just as Jesus provided for them while they were together, he will do this also when he leaves. Jesus continues to encourage his disciples when he tells them, "Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me." ( John 15:15 NLT) The Mesiah, the savior, the one who was with God in the beginning, the one who healed the sick and gave sight to the blind; he is calling his disciples friends. Not only is he calling them friends, but he is telling them that everything God shared with him, he shared with his disciples. The third of his several promises is that he will send the Holy Spirit. Jesus said that in order for him to send the Holy Spirit, he had to go away, back to his father. Jesus says the Holy Spirit will make righteousness with God available.


Jesus implies several things about movement in these chapters. He says at the end of John 16, "But the time is coming-indeed it’s here now—when you will be scattered, each one going his own way." Jesus, being fully God and fully man could only be in one place at a time. Jesus promises his disciples the Holy Spirit, which will be with them at all times, even when Jesus is not with them.