John 16
The Voice
As Jesus warns of the mistreatment His followers can expect, He disarms fears by noting the most important things. If the Spirit is within, there is no reason to fear. In fact, the church will thrive under persecution. Yet humans are obsessed with power and political prominence as a means to influence the culture. Christian citizens have an obligation to strive for justice and freedom through the transforming power of the Spirit in people’s lives. Rather than exerting temporal power, the real work of the Kingdom often thrives under fierce attack and opposition. Jesus announces this coming persecution to His followers, believing this will lead to their finest hour.
16 Jesus: I am telling you all of this so that you may avoid the offenses that are coming. 2 The time will come when they will kick you out of the synagogue because some believe God desires them to execute you as an act of faithful service. 3 They will do this because they don’t know the Father, or else they would know Me. 4 I’m telling you all this so that when it comes to pass you will remember what you have heard. It was not important for Me to give you this information in the beginning when I was with you. 5 But now, I am going to the One who has sent Me, and none of you ask Me, “Where are You going?”
6 I know that hearing news like this is overwhelming and sad. 7 But the truth is that My departure will be a gift that will serve you well, because if I don’t leave, the great Helper will not come to your aid. When I leave, I will send Him to you. 8-9 When He arrives, He will uncover the sins of the world, expose unbelief as sin, and allow all to see their sins in the light of righteousness for the first time. 10 This new awareness of righteousness is important because I am going to the Father and will no longer be present with you. 11 The Spirit will also carry My judgment because the one who rules in this world has already been defeated.
12 I have so much more to say, but you cannot absorb it right now. 13-15 The Spirit of truth will come and guide you in all truth. He will not speak His own words to you; He will speak what He hears, revealing to you the things to come and bringing glory to Me. The Spirit has unlimited access to Me, to all that I possess and know, just as everything the Father has is Mine. That is the reason I am confident He will care for My own and reveal the path to you. 16 For a little while you will not see Me; but after that, a time will come when you will see Me again.
Some of His Disciples: 17 What does He mean? “I’ll be here, and then I won’t be here, because I’ll be with the Father”?
Other Disciples: 18 What is He saying? “A little while”? We don’t understand.
The promise of eternity is a reminder that God’s children are made for a renewed world. There is great comfort amid fear, knowing believers will be reunited with Jesus and joined with the Father. As believers labor together in this world—enduring pain, loss, and unfulfilled desires—they should be encouraged that in eternity all needs will be fulfilled in the presence of God.
19 Jesus knew they had questions to ask of Him, so He approached them.
Jesus: Are you trying to figure out what I mean when I say you will see Me in a little while? 20 I tell you the truth, a time is approaching when you will weep and mourn while the world is celebrating. You will grieve, but that grief will give birth to great joy. 21-22 In the same way that a woman labors in great pain during childbirth only to forget the intensity of the pain when she holds her child, when I return, your labored grief will also change into a joy that cannot be stolen.
23 When all this transpires, you will finally have the answers you have been seeking. I tell you the truth, anything you ask of the Father in My name, He will give to you. 24 Until this moment, you have not sought after anything in My name. Ask and you will receive so that you will be filled with joy.
25 I have been teaching you all of these truths through stories and metaphors, but the time is coming for Me to speak openly and directly of the Father.
26 The day is coming when you will make a request in My name, but I will not represent you before the Father. 27 You will be heard directly by the Father. The Father loves you because you love Me and know that I come from the Father. 28 I came from the Father into the cosmos, but soon I will leave it and return to the Father.
All His disciples mourn Jesus’ refusal to take His rightful place as a king and lead a revolution. Jesus knows political might, brute force, and earthly governments are not helpful tools in a battle for hearts. Spiritual revolutions are subversive. They are led by defiant acts of love (for example, healing, foot washing, and martyrdom). Laws do not change hearts, and violence induces hatred and fear. But a sincere community of faith in which love and hope are demonstrated even in the darkest hours will lead a spiritual revolution. It is time to go forward with open eyes and continue to labor as Christian citizens, placing hope only in the redemptive work of the gospel.
Disciples: 29 We hear You speaking clearly and not in metaphors. How could we misunderstand? 30 We see now that You are aware of everything and You reveal things at the proper time. So we do not need to question You, because we believe You have come from God.
Jesus: 31 So you believe now? 32 Be aware that a time is coming when you will be scattered like seeds. You will return to your own way, and I will be left alone. But I will not be alone, because the Father will be with Me. 33 I have told you these things so that you will be whole and at peace. In this world, you will be plagued with times of trouble, but you need not fear; I have triumphed over this corrupt world order.
John 16
New King James Version
Jesus Warns and Comforts His Disciples
16 “These things I have spoken to you, that you (A)should not be made to stumble. 2 (B)They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming (C)that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service. 3 And (D)these things they will do [a]to you because they have not known the Father nor Me. 4 But these things I have told you, that when [b]the time comes, you may remember that I told you of them.
“And these things I did not say to you at the beginning, because I was with you.
The Work of the Holy Spirit
5 “But now I (E)go away to Him who sent Me, and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’ 6 But because I have said these things to you, (F)sorrow has filled your heart. 7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but (G)if I depart, I will send Him to you. 8 And when He has (H)come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 (I)of sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 (J)of righteousness, (K)because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; 11 (L)of judgment, because (M)the ruler of this world is judged.
12 “I still have many things to say to you, (N)but you cannot bear them now. 13 However, when He, (O)the Spirit of truth, has come, (P)He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 (Q)He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. 15 (R)All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He [c]will take of Mine and declare it to you.
Sorrow Will Turn to Joy
16 “A (S)little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me, (T)because I go to the Father.”
17 Then some of His disciples said among themselves, “What is this that He says to 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’?” 18 They said therefore, “What is this that He says, ‘A little while’? We do not [d]know what He is saying.”
19 Now Jesus knew that they desired to ask Him, and He said to them, “Are you inquiring among yourselves about what I said, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me’? 20 Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and (U)lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into (V)joy. 21 (W)A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. 22 Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and (X)your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you.
23 “And in that day you will ask Me nothing. (Y)Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. 24 Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, (Z)that your joy may be (AA)full.
Jesus Christ Has Overcome the World
25 “These things I have spoken to you in figurative language; but the time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language, but I will tell you (AB)plainly about the Father. 26 In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you; 27 (AC)for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and (AD)have believed that I came forth from God. 28 (AE)I came forth from the Father and have come into the world. Again, I leave the world and go to the Father.”
29 His disciples said to Him, “See, now You are speaking plainly, and using no figure of speech! 30 Now we are sure that (AF)You know all things, and have no need that anyone should question You. By this (AG)we believe that You came forth from God.”
31 Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? 32 (AH)Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, (AI)each to his [e]own, and will leave Me alone. And (AJ)yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. 33 These things I have spoken to you, that (AK)in Me you may have peace. (AL)In the world you [f]will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, (AM)I have overcome the world.”
Footnotes
- John 16:3 NU, M omit to you
- John 16:4 NU their
- John 16:15 NU, M takes of Mine and will declare
- John 16:18 understand
- John 16:32 own things or place
- John 16:33 NU, M omit will
Juan 16
Ang Salita ng Dios (Tagalog Contemporary Bible)
16 “Sinasabi ko na sa inyo ang mga bagay na ito para hindi manghina ang inyong pananampalataya pagdating ng pag-uusig. 2 Hindi na kayo tatanggapin ng mga kapwa nʼyo Judio sa mga sambahan nila. Sa katunayan, darating ang panahon na ang sinumang papatay sa inyo ay mag-aakalang naglilingkod siya sa Dios. 3 Gagawin nila ang mga bagay na ito dahil hindi nila kilala ang Ama o ako. 4 Pero sinasabi ko sa inyo ang mga ito para pagdating ng pag-uusig, maaalala nʼyong sinabi ko na ito sa inyo.
Ang Gawain ng Banal na Espiritu
“Hindi ko sinabi sa inyo ang mga bagay na ito noong una, dahil kasama nʼyo pa ako. 5 Pero ngayon ay babalik na ako sa nagsugo sa akin, at wala ni isa man sa inyo ang nagtatanong kung saan ako pupunta. 6 At ngayong sinabi ko na sa inyo, nalulungkot kayo. 7 Pero ang totoo, para sa ikabubuti nʼyo ang pag-alis ko, dahil hindi paparito sa inyo ang Tagatulong kung hindi ako aalis. Pero kapag umalis na ako, ipapadala ko siya sa inyo. 8 Pagdating niya, ipapakita niya sa mga taong makamundo na makasalanan sila at ako namaʼy matuwid. At ipapakita rin niya na hahatulan sila ng Dios. 9 Ipapakita niya sa mga tao na makasalanan sila dahil hindi sila sumampalataya sa akin. 10 Ipapakita niya na ako ay matuwid dahil pupunta ako sa Ama at hindi nʼyo na makikita. 11 Ipapakita rin niya sa kanila na hahatulan sila ng Dios dahil hinatulan na si Satanas na siyang naghahari sa mga taong makamundo.
12 “Marami pa sana akong sasabihin sa inyo, pero hindi nʼyo pa kayang intindihin sa ngayon. 13 Pero pagdating ng Banal na Espiritu na siyang tagapagturo ng katotohanan, tutulungan niya kayo para maintindihan nʼyo ang lahat ng katotohanan. Ang ituturo niya ay hindi galing sa kanya; sasabihin niya kung ano lang ang narinig niya at ipapahayag din niya sa inyo ang tungkol sa mga bagay na darating. 14 Pararangalan niya ako dahil sa akin manggagaling ang lahat ng ipapahayag niya sa inyo. 15 Ang lahat ng nasa Ama ay nasa akin, kaya sinabi kong sa akin manggagaling ang lahat ng ipapahayag niya sa inyo.
Mapapalitan ng Galak ang Kalungkutan
16 “Sandaling panahon na lang at hindi nʼyo na ako makikita, at pagkatapos ng kaunti pang panahon ay makikita nʼyo akong muli.” 17 Nagtanungan ang ilan sa mga tagasunod niya, “Ano kaya ang ibig niyang sabihin? Bakit niya sinabing sandaling panahon na lang at hindi na natin siya makikita, at pagkatapos ng kaunti pang panahon ay makikita natin siyang muli? Sinabi pa niya na ang dahilan kung bakit hindi na natin siya makikita ay dahil babalik na siya sa kanyang Ama. 18 Ano kaya ang ibig niyang sabihin sa ‘sandaling panahon’? Hindi natin alam kung ano ang ibig niyang sabihin.” 19 Alam ni Jesus na gusto sana nilang magtanong, kaya sinabi niya sa kanila, “Nagtatanungan ba kayo tungkol sa sinabi ko na sandaling panahon na lang at hindi nʼyo na ako makikita, at pagkatapos ng kaunti pang panahon ay makikita nʼyo akong muli? 20 Sinasabi ko sa inyo ang totoo, iiyak kayoʼt magdadalamhati sa mangyayari sa akin, pero sasaya ang mga taong makamundo. Malulungkot kayo, pero ang kalungkutan ninyo ay mapapalitan ng kagalakan. 21 Katulad ito ng isang babaeng naghihirap dahil malapit nang manganak. Pero pagkasilang ng sanggol, nakakalimutan na niya ang lahat ng hirap dahil sa kagalakan sapagkat naisilang na niya ang sanggol dito sa mundo. 22 Ganyan din kayo. Nalulungkot kayo ngayon, pero magagalak kayo sa araw na magkita tayong muli. At walang sinumang makakaagaw ng inyong kagalakan.
23 “Sa araw na iyon, hindi nʼyo na kailangang humingi sa akin[a] ng kahit ano. Sinasabi ko sa inyo ang totoo, anumang hingin ninyo sa Ama sa aking pangalan ay ibibigay niya sa inyo. 24 Hanggang ngayon ay wala pa kayong hinihingi sa kanya sa aking pangalan. Humingi kayo at makakatanggap kayo, para malubos ang inyong kagalakan.
Napagtagumpayan ni Jesus ang Kapangyarihan ng Mundo
25 “Sinasabi ko sa inyo ang mga ito sa pamamagitan ng mga talinghaga, pero darating ang panahon na hindi na ako magsasalita sa inyo nang ganito. Sa halip, tuwiran ko nang sasabihin sa inyo ang tungkol sa Ama. 26 Sa araw ding iyon, kayo na mismo ang hihingi sa Ama sa pamamagitan ng aking pangalan. Hindi na kailangang ako pa ang humingi sa Ama para sa inyo. 27 Sapagkat kayo mismo ay minamahal ng Ama, dahil minamahal nʼyo ako at naniniwala kayo na nagmula ako sa Dios. 28 Galing ako sa Ama at naparito ako sa mundo. Pero ngayon ay aalis na ako at babalik na sa Ama.”
29 Sinabi ng mga tagasunod niya, “Ngayon poʼy nagsasalita na kayo sa amin nang malinaw at hindi sa pamamagitan ng talinghaga. 30 Ngayon alam na namin na alam nʼyo ang lahat ng bagay, dahil kahit hindi namin kayo tinatanong, alam nʼyo kung ano ang itatanong namin. Kaya naniniwala kami na galing kayo sa Dios.” 31 Sumagot si Jesus sa kanila, “Kung ganoon, sumasampalataya na ba kayo ngayon sa akin? 32 Pero darating ang oras, at dumating na nga, na magkakawatak-watak kayo at magkakanya-kanya, at iiwan nʼyo akong nag-iisa. Ngunit kahit iwan nʼyo ako, hindi ako nag-iisa dahil kasama ko ang Ama. 33 Sinabi ko sa inyo ang mga bagay na ito para magkaroon kayo ng kapayapaan sa akin.[b] Daranas kayo ng paghihirap dito sa mundo,[c] pero magpakatatag kayo dahil nagtagumpay na ako laban sa kapangyarihan ng mundo.”
The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Ang Salita ng Dios (Tagalog Contemporary Bible) Copyright © 2009, 2011, 2014, 2015 by Biblica, Inc. ®