16
I am telling you this to keep you from being afraid. 2 You will be chased
out of the Jewish meeting places. The time will come when people will kill you
and think they are doing God a favour. 3 They will do all these things because
they don't know either the Father or me. 4 I am saying this to you now, so that
when the time comes, you will remember what I said.
The Work of the Holy Spirit
I was with you at the first, and so I didn't tell you these things. 5 But
now I am going back to the Father who sent me, and none of you asks me where I
am going. 6 You are very sad from hearing all of this. 7 But I tell you that I
am going to do what is best for you. That is why I am going away. The Holy
Spirit cannot come to help(x) you until I leave. But after I am gone I will send
the Spirit to you.
8 The Spirit will come and show the people of this world the truth about
sin and God's justice and the judgement. 9 The Spirit will show them that they
are wrong about sin, because they didn't have faith in me. 10 They are wrong
about God's justice, because I am going to the Father, and you won't see me
again. 11 And they are wrong about judgement, because God has already judged the
ruler of this world.
12 I have much more to say to you, but right now it would be more than you
could understand. 13 The Spirit shows what is true and will come and guide you
into the full truth. The Spirit does not speak on his own. He will tell you only
what he had heard from me, and he will let you know what is going to happen. 14
The Spirit will bring glory to me by taking my message and telling it to you. 15
Everything that the father has Is mine. That is why I have said that the Spirit
takes my message and tells it to you.
(x) help: See the note at 14. 16
Sorrow Will Turn into Joy
16 Jesus told his disciples, "you will see me for a little while, and
then for a little while you won't see me."
17 They said to each other, "What does Jesus mean by saying that we
will see him for a little while, and then we won't see him for a little while?
What does he mean by saying that he is going to the Father? 18 What is this
'little while' that he is talking about? We don't know what he means."
10 Jesus knew that they had some questions, so he said: You are wondering
what I meant when I said that you will see me for a little while, and then in a
little while you won't see me. 20 I tell you for certain that you will cry and
be sad, but the world will be happy. You will be sad but later you will be
happy.
21 When the woman is about to give birth, she is in great pain. But after
it is all over , she forgets the pain and is happy, because she has brought a
child into the world. 22 You are now very sad. But later I will see you, and you
will be so happy that no one will be able to change the way you feel. 23 When
the time comes, you won't have to ask me about anything. I tell you for certain
that the Father will give you whatever you ask for in my name. 24 You have not
asked for anything in this way before, but now you must ask in my name.(y) Then
it will be given to you, so that you will be completely happy.
25 I have used examples to explain to you what I have been talking about.
But the time will come when I will speak to you plainly about the Father and
will no longer use examples like these. 26 You will ask the Father in my
name,(z) and I won't have to ask him for you. 27 God the Father loves you
because you love me, and you believe that I have come from him. 28 I came from
the Father into the world, bit I am leaving the world and returning to the
Father.
29 The disciples said, "Now you are speaking plainly to us! You are
not using examples. 30 At last we know that you understand everything, and we
don't have anymore questions. Now we believe you truly came from God."
31 Jesus replied: Do you really believe me? 32 The time will come and is
already here when all of you will be scattered. Each of you will go back home
and leave me by myself. But the Father will be with me, and I won't be alone. 33
I have told you this, so that you might have peace in your hearts because of me.
While you are in the world, you will have to suffer. But cheer up! I have
defeated the world.(a)
(y) in my name...in my name: Or "as my disciples... as my disciples."
(z) in my name: Or "because you are my followers." (a) world: See the
note at 12. 31.
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