John 16:1-15

New Testament for Everyone

The spirit and the world

16 “I’ve said these things to you,” Jesus went on, “to stop you from being tripped up. ² They will put you out of the synagogues. In fact, the time is coming when anyone who kills you will suppose that they are thereby offering worship to God. ³ They will do these things because they haven’t known the father, or me. ⁴ But I have been talking to you about these things so that, when their time comes, you will remember that I told you about them.

“I didn’t say these things to you from the start, because I was with you. ⁵ But now I’m going to the one who sent me. None of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ ⁶ But because I’ve said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. ⁷ However, it’s the truth that I’m telling you: it’s better for you that I should go away. If I don’t go away, you see, the helper won’t come to you. But if I go away, I will send him to you.

⁸ “When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong on three counts: sin, justice and judgment. ⁹ In relation to sin—because they don’t believe in me. ¹⁰ In relation to justice—because I’m going to the father, and you won’t see me anymore. ¹¹ In relation to judgment—because the ruler of this world is judged.”

Your hearts will rejoice

¹² “There are many things I still have to say to you,” Jesus continued, “but you’re not yet strong enough to take them. ¹³ When the spirit of truth comes, though, he will guide you in all the truth. He won’t speak on his own account, you see, but he will speak whatever he hears. He will announce to you what’s to come. ¹⁴ He will glorify me, because he will take what belongs to me and will announce it to you. ¹⁵ Everything that the father has is mine. That’s why I said that he would take what is mine and announce it to you.