John 16:1-33
16:1 It is for our benefit that Jesus came to earth and taught: His guidance is given to us to keep us from becoming entangled in the chaos of the world. With God's help, we remain focused, determined, passionate and productive.
16:2 This verse is eerily similar to our current times: there are groups of hatred in the world who believe they are doing God's work by killing, oppressing and persecuting those in opposition to them. Scripture is informative; it prepares us for what takes place (and will take place) in the world. God does not want you to fear or stumble because no person, group or idea has power over your loving God.
16:3 Evil has and will be done in the world by the souls who have rejected the compassionate philosophy of life the true creator has declared.
16:4 Jesus prepares us, specifically for what we can expect to unfold in the world. He is not speaking of the beginning of times... He speaks of our time. He instructs us on what will happen, how to endure and smother it and reminds us that He is always with us and that we are inevitably with Him.
16:5 Even though they wanted to continue to ask Jesus where He was going, they began to understand that they needed to listen to His words to understand the answer.
16:6 They were upset at the thought of Him leaving -- and that is rather understandable. But Jesus wants us to be so strong of faith that we understand, believe and are comforted by that truth that all of God's children go to Him. He does not want us to be sad, He wants us to celebrate that truth for to be with God is the best place to ever be.
16:7 God always does what is best for us. To fill in Jesus' place on earth after He returns with God, we are sent God's spirit. It's a complex concept, I know -- but the more you develop your faith, the more you will understand how tangibly and vivaciously God remains with us, leading and protecting. He appoints protectors over our lives... in order to receive these gifts, we must believe in them.
16:8-10 Acts of compassion on earth will always have a helper, a protector, the spirit of God paving the way against those who do not believe in kindness. Evil does not have the wisdom you are supplied with, it does not have the purposeful guidance and perceptive-agility you are given by God.
16:11 The ruler of this world is greed. Call greed what you like: Satan, the devil, evil... it is all and each of those things. Evil will receive its death by the hand of compassion.
16:12 Jesus teaches to them (and us) only when we are able to perceive. He has more to teach them but first they must develop their understanding and their faith in order to understand the more complex messages He has to teach. When we read the Bible, we each get different messages out of it at different times -- it's an expertly written book. There are many instances in which I've needed an answer to something and the book just opened right up to the page that held the answer. It's a perceptive book and it teaches many things all at once.
16:13 God's spirit in the world will and does provide the world with truth. Observe our brilliant, self-sustaining world, floating in the cold universe yet thriving with life. God's wisdom, His creation is a spirit in the world guiding all and each who listen for it.
16:14-15 By bringing the philosophy of God to us, Jesus has offered us all of God's love and creation. Jesus' humility, purposefulness, compassion, and faith awarded Him access to all that God has to offer -- our own humility, purposefulness, compassion and faith awards us the same. Jesus' teachings provided us a path on which to walk directly, firmly toward God.
16:16 Jesus reiterates that His return is only a goodbye for now. He returns to God but we follow. Additionally, we receive His animate spirit to guide us through our lives without His physical presence.
16:17-19 The disciples remind us of the reason why Jesus needed to die on earth. Humanity needed assurance of this spiritual universe of God Jesus spoke up. They did not yet understand the concept of life beyond death on earth. Although many said they believed in it, the concept was foreign to them. For them, and for many living today, they still believed death was final. Jesus taught us that death is merely sleeping and that we are continually alive with God. John 11:11.
16:20 Jesus knows that after His "death" on earth the world will lament. He also knows that their sadness will be followed by immeasurable joy because He will reappear more alive and well than they have ever seen Him. He will prove to them that Life with God is not subject or vulnerable to death or enemies.
16:21-22 We learn through our tribulations. We survive our challenges wiser and stronger. We are reborn, recreated. There are growth pains in the process of growing our spiritual selves... but we are all the better and stronger for them. When we achieve a deep and fulfilling relationship with God, the troubles of the past are diminished. Certainly no person, organization or idea can take from you what has become your foundation. You remain strong for life eternal.
16:23-24 You will be so filled with the spirit of God you will not need or want for anything. As for now, here on earth while we are all developing our faith and creating our character, ask. Ask God for the tools, abilities and opportunities to create light in the places of darkness. Ask God to entrust you with great purpose -- to bring, create, foster, protect, defend, restore health and happiness for your fellow humans. No greater joy exists than to have accomplished with God.
16:25 Jesus taught figuratively, through metaphor and simile. He taught simply for our benefit. As we grow in understanding and faith, we are able to grasp complex concepts without issue. Jesus will begin to speak with us with depth of concept when we are ready and able. As we grow closer to God, the more we readily, perceptively we understand His language.
16:26-27 As you develop your faith with God through Jesus' message, you will be able to directly understand the spiritual way in which He communicates with His children. Your personal relationship with God will enable you to easily perceive His complexity.
16:28 Jesus reiterates His, and our, interconnection with God. By Him we were created, from Him we came and to Him we all return. He is the breathe of life within us... He gave us thought and animation. Soul and body we are made up of His creations. We are made up of the elements of Life that could not exist without Him.
16:29-31 The disciples have been through so much instruction by this time. At the precise moment God decides that one is ready, He will burst open their mind to absorb and understand wisdom and perception. Although they struggled with metaphor, the disciples are sure of one thing: they love and believe Jesus. They don't always understand but they always trust. When Jesus makes plain His love of God, they wholeheartedly confess their own.
16:32 This verse works for the disciples' situation and for ours. Indeed we are scattered: there is not enough compassion in the world; greed drives wedges between people and nation. For the disciples, they will be split up after Jesus is taken captive -- and each of them (and us) will and do have to personally build and secure our faith against adversity.
God, Jesus, will lead but it is our work, our responsibility to follow.
16:33 One of my favorite verses in the Bible! Derive peace from God's promises: In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.
There is no enemy you will ever face that cannot be defeated by God. God diminishes them easily. Trust Him to give you the courage, wisdom and ability to do the same.
