Your Sorrow Will Turn into Joy

16 (A)“A little while, and you will see me no longer; and (B)again a little while, and you will see me.” 17 So (C)some of his disciples said to one another, “What is this that he says to us, (D)‘A little while, and you will not see me, and again a little while, and you will see me’; and, (E)‘because I am going to the Father’?” 18 So they were saying, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? (F)We do not know what he is talking about.” 19 (G)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, (H)you will weep and lament, but (I)the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but (J)your sorrow will turn into joy. 21 (K)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 (L)So also you have sorrow now, but (M)I will see you again, and (N)your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. 23 (O)In that day you will (P)ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, (Q)whatever you ask of the Father in my name, (R)he will give it to you. 24 Until now you have asked nothing in my name. (S)Ask, and you will receive, (T)that your joy may be full.

I Have Overcome the World

25 “I have said these things to you in figures of speech. (U)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 (V)for the Father himself loves you, because (W)you have loved me and (X)have believed that I came from God.[a] 28 (Y)I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now (Z)I am leaving the world and going to the Father.”

29 His disciples said, “Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not (AA)using figurative speech! 30 Now we know that (AB)you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that (AC)you came from God.” 31 Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? 32 Behold, (AD)the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when (AE)you will be scattered, each to his own home, and (AF)will leave me alone. (AG)Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. 33 I have said these things to you, that (AH)in me you may have peace. (AI)In the world you will have (AJ)tribulation. But (AK)take heart; (AL)I have overcome the world.”

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Footnotes

  1. John 16:27 Some manuscripts from the Father

The Disciples’ Grief Will Turn to Joy

16 Jesus went on to say, “In a little while(A) you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me.”(B)

17 At this, some of his disciples said to one another, “What does he mean by saying, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me,’(C) and ‘Because I am going to the Father’?”(D) 18 They kept asking, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We don’t understand what he is saying.”

19 Jesus saw that they wanted to ask him about this, so he said to them, “Are you asking one another what I meant when I said, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me’? 20 Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn(E) while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.(F) 21 A woman giving birth to a child has pain(G) because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. 22 So with you: Now is your time of grief,(H) but I will see you again(I) and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.(J) 23 In that day(K) you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.(L) 24 Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive,(M) and your joy will be complete.(N)

25 “Though I have been speaking figuratively,(O) a time is coming(P) when I will no longer use this kind of language but will tell you plainly about my Father. 26 In that day you will ask in my name.(Q) I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. 27 No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me(R) and have believed that I came from God.(S) 28 I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.”(T)

29 Then Jesus’ disciples said, “Now you are speaking clearly and without figures of speech.(U) 30 Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe(V) that you came from God.”(W)

31 “Do you now believe?” Jesus replied. 32 “A time is coming(X) and in fact has come when you will be scattered,(Y) each to your own home. You will leave me all alone.(Z) Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me.(AA)

33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.(AB) In this world you will have trouble.(AC) But take heart! I have overcome(AD) the world.”

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