In His Name (John 16)

Were Christians kicked out of synagogues? Does the Holy Spirit guide us? What does it mean asking the Father in Jesus’ name? Let’s look at John 16.

If Christians were banned from synagogues, would some also be expelled from churches for putting Christ before vain traditions?

I have told you these things to keep you from stumbling. They will ban you from the synagogues. In fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering service to God. They will do these things because they haven’t known the Father or Me. But I have told you these things so that when their time comes you may remember I told them to you. I didn’t tell you these things from the beginning, because I was with you. (John 16:1-4 HCSB)

What three things will the Holy Spirit convict the world of?

But now I am going to the one who sent me. Yet none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ But because I have told you this, sorrow has filled your hearts. However, I’m telling you the truth. It’s for your advantage that I’m going away, because if I don’t go away, the Helper won’t come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment— of sin, because they don’t believe in me; of righteousness, because I’m going to the Father and you will no longer see me; and of judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged. (John 15:5-11 ISV)

Would the Holy Spirit guide the disciples after Jesus departed? Who would the Holy Spirit speak of and glorify, Himself or Christ?

I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. 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. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you. 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 16:12-16 KJV)

Did the disciples immediately understand Jesus? Does it take time for us to understand Jesus?

Some of His disciples then said to one another, “What is this He is telling us, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me’; and, ‘because I go to the Father’?” So they were saying, “What is this that He says, ‘A little while’? We do not know what He is talking about.” (John 16:17-18 LSB)

Did Jesus explain what He meant a little more? Would they later rejoice?

Jesus knew that they wanted to question Him, and He said to them, “Are you deliberating together about this, that I said, ‘A little while, and you are not going to see Me, and again a little while, and you will see Me’? Truly, truly I say to you that you will weep and mourn, but the world will rejoice; you will grieve, but your grief will be turned into joy! Whenever a woman is in labor she has pain, because her hour has come; but when she gives birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy that a child has been born into the world. Therefore you too have grief now; but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one is going to take your joy away from you.” (John 16:19-22 NASB)

What did Jesus mean by praying in His name? Does it remind us that Jesus is the only way to the Father?

“In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete. Though I have been speaking figuratively, a time is coming when I will no longer use this kind of language but will tell you plainly about my Father. In that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.” (John 16:23-28 NIV)