John 16:16-33

Living Bible

¹⁶ “In just a little while I will be gone, and you will see me no more; but just a little while after that, and you will see me again!”

^17-18 “Whatever is he saying?” some of his disciples asked. “What is this about ‘going to the Father’? We don’t know what he means.”

¹⁹ Jesus realized they wanted to ask him so he said, “Are you asking yourselves what I mean? ²⁰ The world will greatly rejoice over what is going to happen to me, and you will weep. But your weeping shall suddenly be turned to wonderful joy when you see me again.^{[a] 21} It will be the same joy as that of a woman in labor when her child is born—her anguish gives place to rapturous joy and the pain is forgotten. ²² You have sorrow now, but I will see you again and then you will rejoice; and no one can rob you of that joy. ²³ At that time you won’t need to ask me for anything, for you can go directly to the Father and ask him, and he will give you what you ask for because you use my name. ²⁴ You haven’t tried this before, but begin now.^[b] Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and your cup of joy will overflow.

²⁵ “I have spoken of these matters very guardedly, but the time will come when this will not be necessary and I will tell you plainly all about the Father. ²⁶ Then you will present your petitions over my signature!^[c] And I won’t need to ask the Father to grant you these requests, ²⁷ for the Father himself loves you dearly because you love me and believe that I came from the Father. ²⁸ Yes, I came from the Father into the world and will leave the world and return to the Father.”

²⁹ “At last you are speaking plainly,” his disciples said, “and not in riddles. ³⁰ Now we understand that you know everything and don’t need anyone to tell you anything.^[d] From this we believe that you came from God.”

³¹ “Do you finally believe this?” Jesus asked. ³² “But the time is coming—in fact, it is here—when you will be scattered, each one returning to his own home, leaving me alone. Yet I will not be alone, for the Father is with me. ³³ I have told you all this so that you will have peace of heart and mind. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows; but cheer up, for I have overcome the world.”