Bible Commentaries
John 16

Verses 1-4

Fourth Scripture Filled: Hatred from the World In John 15:18 to John 16:4 John the apostle records the fourth Old Testament prophecy fulfilled during Jesus’ Passion. Jesus prepares the disciples for His departure by telling them about the hatred of the world being a fulfillment of prophecy. This hatred will be experienced by His disciples when they learn how to abide in the vine (John 15:1-17). As we abide in Him and go forth to produce fruit, we face certain persecutions from the world. As we testify the name of Jesus, the world will certainly hate us.

John 15:18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.

John 15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

John 15:19 “I have chosen you out of the world” - Scripture References -

1 Corinthians 10:6, “Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.”

2 Timothy 2:4, “No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.”

James 1:27, “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world .”

John 15:20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.

John 15:20 “Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord” Scripture References -

Matthew 10:24, “The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.”

Luke 6:40, “The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.”

John 13:16, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.”

John 15:20 “If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also” - Comments - This phrase is an example of poetic Hebrew parallelism, found throughout the Gospel of John, especially in the first chapter.

John 15:21 But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.

John 15:22 If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin.

John 15:22 Comments - The word “sin” in John 15:22 is singular in the Greek text, referring to the sinful nature of mankind. Thus, Jesus said that the one who believes not in Him is already judged for his sinful nature (John 3:18). Once Jesus came and manifested God’s love and holiness to mankind, they were no longer without excuse. All people can know the general revelation about God through His creation; but special revelation of God’s plan of redemption came through Jesus Christ. We find Paul saying the same thing in his speech to the Athenians on Mar’s Hill (Acts 17:30).

John 3:18, “He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

Acts 17:30, “And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:”

John 15:23 He that hateth me hateth my Father also.

John 15:24 If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.

John 15:24 Comments - Jesus offered them good works, works that no Old Testament prophet had ever preformed, such as opening the eyes of the blind (John 9:32).

John 9:32, “Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind.”

John 15:25 But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.

John 15:25 Old Testament Quotes in the New Testament John 15:25 quotes from either Psalms 35:19 or Psalms 69:4.

Psalms 35:19, “Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause .”

Psalms 69:4, “ They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of mine head: they that would destroy me, being mine enemies wrongfully, are mighty: then I restored that which I took not away.”

John 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

John 15:26 “But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth” Comments - The Comforter will be sent from the Father because of Jesus’ request on the day of Pentecost.

John 15:26 “he shall testify of me” Comments - Jesus tells His disciples that the Holy Spirit’s primary office will by to testify of Him. We look back in the Old Testament and see how the Father testified of Himself. We then see in the Gospels of how Jesus testified of the Father. Now, in the book of Acts and New Testament Epistles we see the Holy Spirit testifying of Jesus Christ.

John 15:27 And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.

John 16:1 These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.

John 16:1 Comments - Within the context of John 15:18 to John 16:4 Jesus is explaining how the world will hate us and persecute us because of our testimony of Jesus Christ.

John 16:2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.

John 16:2 “the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service” Comments - The Jews began persecuting and killing the Christians in the name of religious duty as early as the book of Acts. Saul of Tarsus oversaw the death of Stephen and many other early Christians.

Galatians 1:13-14, “For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.”

After Jerusalem was destroyed in A.D. 70 by the Romans, their emperors began to persecute and kill all Christians in the Roman Empire in the name of their gods. These persecutions lasted until Constantine declared Christianity the official state religion.

This prophecy has certainly come true in the beliefs of the Muslim religion. This religion builds its doctrine around the fact that all non-Muslims should be killed. They kill Christians in the name of their god. Listen to these verses from the Koran: [248]

[248] E. H. Palmer, The Qur’ân part 1, in The Sacred Books of the East, ed. F. Max Müller (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1880), 102, 170, 173, 176-177.

“The reward of those who make war against God and His Apostle, and strive after violence in the earth, is only that they shall be slaughtered or crucified, or their hands cut off and their feet on alternate sides, or that they shall be banished from the land.” (Surah 5.36)

“Prepare ye against them what force and companies of horse ye can, to make - the enemies of God, and your enemies, and others beside them, in dread thereof.” (Surah 8.60)

“But when the sacred months are passed away, kill the idolaters wherever ye may find them; and take them, and besiege them, and lie in wait for them in every place of observation.” (Surah 9.5)

“Fight those who believe not in God and in the last day, and who forbid not what God and His Apostle have forbidden, and who do not practice the religion of truth from amongst those to whom the Book has been brought, until they pay the tribute by their hands and be as little ones.” (Surah 9.29)

The Muslim religion has a history of war and persecutions against Jews, Christians and all non-Muslims societies. They have spread their faith by force, and not by the will of their victims, but rather by fear of terror, and not by faith in God.

This is a description of the spirit of antichrist. It is the powers of darkness at war against God’s people, both Jews and Christians alike. The New Testament refers to different types of spirits, such as unclean spirit, spirits of infirmity, spirits of divination, deaf and dumb spirits, seducing spirits, etc. However, the spirit of antichrist is a particular spirit that will focus on making war against the children of God. 1 John 4:3 tells us that this spirit is already in the world and has been making war with God’s children since his day. Jesus describes the antichrist when He told His disciples, “that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.”

John 16:2, “They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.”

Jesus also refers to this spirit in Matthew 24-25.

Matthew 24:9, “Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.”

John 16:2 Scripture Reference - Note a similar verse:

John 9:22, “These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue.”

Note:

John 15:13-14, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.”

John 16:1-2 “These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended. They shall put you out of the synagogues” - Comments - Robert Gundry says that the Jews during the last part of the first century, when John wrote his Gospel, incorporated a Benediction against Heretics into the liturgy of their services in an effort to ostracize all Jewish Christians from synagogues. Since it was possible that many Jewish converts were expelled from these synagogues, he suggests that John may have included the story of the healing of the blind man and the response from the Pharisees (John 9:1-34) as a source of encouragement to these persecuted Jewish Christians. [249]

[249] The benediction reads, “For the excommunicate let there be no hope, and the kingdom of pride do Thou quickly root out in our days. And let the Christians and the heretics perish as in a moment. Let them be blotted out of the book of life, and with the righteous let them not be written. Blessed art Thou, O Lord, who subdueth the proud.” See Robert H. Gundry, A Survey of the New Testament, revised edition (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House), 104.

John 16:1-2 Comments The Institution of the Church - Jesus’ words in John 16:1-2 are the first indications that the institution of the Church will not be associated with the Jewish nation. This is because the Church is to be born largely out of the Gentile nations. The Jewish nation will reject these believes and persecute them.

John 16:4 “But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them” - Comments - Jesus was able to speak to them face to face for the final time. After His resurrection and ascension, He will speak to them by the Spirit of God.

“And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you” Comments - Jesus could have spoken to them from the beginning, meaning He knew all of these things about His passion and resurrection from the beginning.

Verses 1-33

The Holy Spirit: The Comforter In John 14:1 to John 16:33 Jesus teaches on the role of the Holy Spirit in the life of the New Testament Church. He will come (John 14:1-31), abide in us (John 15:1 to John 16:4), and work through us to offer redemption to the world (John 16:5-33).

Outline Here is a proposed outline:

1. The Coming of the Holy Spirit John 14:1-31

2. Abiding in the Holy Spirit John 15:1 to John 16:4

3. The Work of the Holy Spirit John 16:5-33

Verses 5-33

The Work of the Spirit - After Jesus has taught His disciples about servanthood (John 13:1-38), and the need to receive the Holy Spirit when He comes (John 14:1-31), and how to abide in the Spirit (John 15:1 to John 16:4). If they will be obedient to His teachings thus far, they will be ready to do the works that Jesus did. This is the theme of John 16:5-33.

Outline Here is a proposed outline:

1. Convicting the World of Sin John 16:5-15

2. The Authority of the Believer John 16:16-33

John 16:5-15 Convicting the World of Sin In order to do the works that Jesus did, the disciples must preach the Gospel. In preaching the Gospel, the Holy Spirit must come and empower them to do this great work. As they preach, the Spirit will convict the world of sin, and perform signs and wonders to testify of the truth of the Gospel.

John 16:6 Comments - Jesus has just comforted them with an exhortation not to let their hearts be troubled (John 14:1; John 14:27) because He knew that the news of Him departing would bring sorrow.

John 14:1, “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.”

John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

John 16:7 Comments - When the Holy Spirit comes to dwell inside of us, this fellowship and life with the Spirit will become more real than the temporal things that we see on the earth. It was necessary for Jesus to depart so that we, too, could taste of the life of God here on earth. It is the only way that we can have the power to overcome.

John 16:8 Comments The role of the Holy Spirit in God’s plan of redemption for mankind is to convict the sinner of three aspects of his relationship to God. He will convict man that he is a sinner in rebellion against God, and that Jesus Christ demonstrated God’s standard of righteousness, and that he is destined for hell. The Holy Spirit will not convict the sinner of his need to go to church, to tithe, to read his Bible, etc. These are aspects of sanctification that a new believer conforms to during his Christian growth.

John 16:9 Comments The Holy Spirit will convict men of their sin, which I singular. This sin is that of rejecting Jesus Christ as His Saviour. The atonement of Jesus Christ paid for all of man’s sins. The offense that cannot be forgiven is the rejection of Jesus Christ as one’s Savour. The Holy Spirit will testify to unbelievers that Jesus Christ is Lord (Romans 10:9, 1 Corinthians 12:3), God revealed in the flesh, the only way to salvation (John 15:26). The Holy Spirit will convict men to believe on Him. Our job is to tell others that only through Jesus can forgiveness of sins be found. The Holy Spirit will convict the man’s heart of sin and of the truth of our Gospel witness. We cannot convict a man’s heart. This is the work of the Holy Spirit. In light of this truth, Andrew Wommack says that sinners are not going to Hell because of their individual sins, thus the Holy Spirit does not convict the sinner of all of his individual sins. He convicts the unbeliever of one sin, singular, that of not believing on Jesus. The unbeliever is essentially going to Hell for rejecting Jesus Christ. [250] Jesus Christ has paid for their sins on Calvary, and they go to Hell for rejecting His payment.

[250] Andrew Wommack, “Sermon,” Andrew Wommack Leadership Conference, Kampala, Uganda, 18 July 2009.

Romans 10:9, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”

1 Corinthians 12:3, “Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.”

John 15:26, “But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me :”

Illustration - Note how conviction came upon Peter in Luke 5:8 because of his unbelief in the words of Jesus to launch out into the deep and cast his nets to catch fish, “When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.”

Illustration - In the early 1980's, Jack Emerson was in a Sunday School class in which a visitor was attending. The visitor was not saved, but has been invited to church. Jack began to witness to this visitor, and became very aggressive in his words. Then, in the middle of this witnessing, the Holy Spirit spoke to Jack and said, “Now you have entered into My office.” Jack, in his zeal, had tried to bring conviction upon this lost person. That is not the office of the believer. The Holy Spirit will do the convicting, if we will simply speak His Word.

Scripture References - Note:

John 15:22, “If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin.”

John 16:10 Comments The Holy Spirit will reveal to the sinner God’s standard of righteousness, which every man has failed to achieve. Through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, mankind is able to see God’s standard of righteousness. Jesus lived a sinless life, and He was crucified by sinful men. His resurrection demonstrated to the world that true righteousness is seen in Him and Him alone.

How does the Holy Spirit convict the world of the righteousness that is found in Jesus Christ? John 15:26 says, “But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me :”

Illustration - If Calvary convicted the centurion of Jesus’ righteousness, how much more his resurrection and ascension will convict a man.

Luke 23:47, “Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.

Note how Noah’s righteous acts condemned the world:

Hebrews 11:7, “By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.”

Also, the repentance of Nineveh will condemn the world:

Matthew 12:41-42, “The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here. The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.”

John 16:11 Comments The Holy Spirit will convict men of eternal judgment because of their sinful behaviour. God will reveal to a person that he is going to hell.

Illustration Jack Emerson was a man who was unchurched before he was saved. He lived a sinful life without the knowledge of the Holy Bible. One day he fell under a deep conviction and sought advice from several pastors as to what he needed to do to get right with God. During this time, he dreamed that he was going to hell. The Holy Spirit was revealing to Jack the reality of his depraved soul and his need to look to God for help. He soon found a pastor that took the time to explain to him God’s plan of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. He later came to know the Scriptures and to learn about hell. However, the Holy Spirit revealed this reality to him before he was saved.

Scripture References - Note:

John 12:31, “Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.”

John 16:12 Comments - John 16:12 tells us that the message of the Gospel that Jesus Christ taught His disciples was incomplete. Therefore, Jesus will speak to them later by His Spirit. We find the full message of the Gospel in the New Testament epistles, and it is the Pauline epistles that lay down the doctrines of the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Also, when we receive revelations, it can overwhelm our flesh, so that we cannot bear it. I remember an experience as a Seminary student where the Scriptures seemed to overwhelm me. I was reading in the book of Isaiah. As I read, every word seemed to leap out at me with life and meaning. I found myself shutting the Scriptures and walking away with the feeling of being overwhelmed with revelation. Also, Jesus Christ taught His disciples divine insight and revelation a little at a time, so that they could digest and mediate upon these truths a little at a time and not be overwhelmed.

John 16:13 “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come” Comments - The Greek word πνευ ̂ μα normally takes a neuter subject because it is a neuter noun. However, in John 16:13 the Greek text uses the masculine word “ ἐκει ̂ νος ” for “he” rather than the neuter “ ἐκει ̂ νον ” (it). Thus, Jesus is revealing to His disciples that the Holy Spirit is person, and not a thing, or simply a power.

John 16:13 “he will guide you into all truth” Comments - Note that the office and ministry of the Holy Spirit is to be out teacher and guide:

John 17:17, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”

1 Corinthians 2:12-13, “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.”

John 16:13 “and he will shew you things to come” Comments - Kenneth Hagin makes a wise comment about this verse in John 16:13. The Lord has spoken to him many times and in many ways during the course of his long ministry. Hagin says that the Lord will show us things to come in our future. [251] Because we are to walk by faith and lean on Him daily, the Lord is not going to show us the beginning to the end. When the Lord knows we need supernatural guidance, He will certainly show us things that are coming to pass in the future.

[251] Kenneth Hagin, How You Can Know the Will of God (Tulsa, Oklahoma: Faith Library Publications, c1983, 1985), 6-7.

John 16:13 Comments - A child of God must learn to be led, or taught, by the Holy Spirit in all things, or else he will stumble and be deceived (John 16:1).

John 10:27, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:”

Romans 8:14, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.”

The Holy Spirit works in our lives to enable us to do those things that are impossible in the natural. Even the natural man can encourage himself to some great feats, but the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives is to enable us to do that which the natural man cannot do. We, as believers, can walk in love when others cannot. We can be strong when others become weak from the trials of live. We can walk in health, when others are sick. We are to walk in victory every day, and not defeat with this world.

John 16:13-14 Comments - Testing the Holy Spirit’s Words:

1. He will speak what He hears. (from above, from Jesus and the Father)

2. He will proclaim (report) things coming (i.e., it will come to pass). The Greek word αναγγελεϊ means that the Holy Spirit is bearing a message. See Deuteronomy 18:21-22.

3. He will glorify Jesus. Why? Because the Holy Spirit receives from Jesus and speaks to us. The Father has given things to Jesus. Jesus is heir. See John 12:32. It is Jesus speaking to us through the Holy Spirit.

4. John 14:26 - The Holy Spirit will teach us all things and bring to remembrance Jesus’ words.

5. John 15:26 - The Holy Spirit shall testify of Jesus.

Deuteronomy 18:21-22, “And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken? When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.”

John 12:32, “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.”

John 16:15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

John 16:16-33 The Authority of the Believer: Jesus Testifies of His Departure More Clearly - In John 16:16-33 Jesus tells His disciples more about His departure. This passage is important in that we have a record of the confession of disciples’ faith and understanding in the teachings of Jesus during the Lord’s Supper (John 16:29-30). Jesus acknowledges their faith and ends His teachings (John 16:31-33). As a result of their understanding, Jesus realizes that He has accomplished His purpose of having this last supper and He turns to the Father in prayer (John 17:1-26). Note Jesus’ acknowledge to the Father during His prayer of their faith and understanding in Him.

John 17:8, “For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.”

John 16:16 A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father.

John 16:16 Comments - In John 16:16 Jesus makes a reference to His death and resurrection, at which time He would come back for forty days prior to His ascension and appear to His disciples on a number of occasions. It is unlikely that this verse refers to the coming of the Holy Spirit or the Second Coming of Jesus (John 14:3) because the context of this passage clearly discusses Jesus’ Passion and Resurrection. Jesus makes an earlier reference to His death and return visit to the disciples in John 14:28, “Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.”

John 14:3, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”

John 16:20 Comments The weeping and lamenting mentioned in Johnb John 16:20 is a reference to the trial and crucifixion of Jesus Christ, while the sorrowing being turned to joy is a reference to His resurrection.

John 16:21 Comments - The illustration that Jesus uses in John 16:21 follows the line of thought that Jesus Christ is the “first-begotten” from the Father.

John 16:22 “And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice” Comments John 16:16; John 16:22 make a clear reference to the Passion and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, at which time the disciples will sorrow greatly at His suffering and death, but their sorrow will be turned to joy at His resurrection.

“and your joy no man taketh from you” Scripture Reference - See John 10:29, “My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.”

John 16:24 “that your joy may be full” Comments - This phrase means that God has made a way for us to live in all of the fullness of heaven’s joy while we are still hear on this earth. The very fullness of joy that we will have when we are living in heaven is ours today because Jesus has made the way for us into “full” fellowship with the Father and the Son.

John 16:23-24 Comments The Prayer of Authority - We find in John 16:23-25 that Jesus teaches us to pray and petition ( ε ̓ ρωτα ́ ω ) (G2065) the Heavenly Father. In contrast, Kenneth Hagin notes that the passage in John 14:12-14 is teaching us to use the name of Jesus Christ when taking authority over the works of darkness rather than praying to Jesus Christ to do something for us. [252] Jesus tells us when He departs we can ask anything in His name and it shall be done. He is talking about taking spiritual authority upon the earth within the context of this statement, so that the word “ask” ( αιτε ́ ω ) (G154) should carry the stronger translation of “demand.” The Greek text uses an entirely different word for “ask” in both passages.

[252] Kenneth Hagin, Bible Prayer Study Course (Tulsa, Oklahoma: Faith Library Publications, c1991, 1999), 158-9.

Thus, Hagin translates this passage in John 14:13-14 as “whatever you demand as your rights and privileges…” For example, when Peter and John entered the Temple in Acts 3:1-11, the apostle did not pray for the lame man to be healed, but rather, he demanded that the lame man stand up and walk by the authority of the name of Jesus Christ. Jesus will later teach us to ask the Father in Jesus’ name for our requests in John 16:23-24.

John 14:12-14, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.”

John 16:31 Comments - In John 16:31 Jesus does not ask His disciples if they understood, but rather, if they believed His words. This final discourse (John 13:1 to John 16:33) could not fully be understood until after His resurrection and the revelation of Church doctrine that was given to Paul the apostle. Thus, all that Jesus now required of them was that they believe His words.

John 16:32 Comments Jesus refers to His Passion in John 16:32.

John 16:29-33 Comments - The Disciples Acknowledge Their Understand Jesus’ Teachings - John’s Gospel gives us a lengthy record of the Lord’s Supper as Jesus prepares the disciples for His departure. He washes the disciples’ feet, then testifying to them of His deity using figurative language (John 16:25), such as the Way, the Truth, the Life and as the True Vine. Jesus also discusses His betrayal, His departure and glorification and gives testimony of the coming of the Holy Spirit. He tells them that He has spoken these things in order that they continue in His joy and not stumble (John 13:17; John 14:25; John 15:11; John 15:17; John 15:21; John 16:1; John 16:4; John 16:6; John 16:25; John 16:33; John 17:13). John 16:29-33 is important in that we have a record of the confession of disciples’ faith and understanding in the teachings of Jesus during the Lord’s Supper (John 16:29-30). Jesus acknowledges their faith and ends His teachings (John 16:31-33). As a result of their understanding, Jesus realizes that He has accomplished His purpose of having this last supper and He turns to the Father in prayer (John 17:1-26). Note Jesus’ acknowledge to the Father during His prayer of their faith and understanding in Him (John 17:8).

John 17:8, “For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.”