John 16

1I have told you all this so that you will not give up your faith.

2They will put you out of the synagogues. In fact, the time is coming when anyone who kills you will think that person is serving God.

3They will do this because they have not known the Father or me.

4But I have told you, so that when the time comes, you will remember I warned you. I did not tell you this at the beginning, because I was with you.

5Now I am going to the One who sent me, and none of you asks me: Where are you going?

6Instead, your hearts are full of sadness because I have told you these things.

7But I tell you the truth: it is better for you that I go away. If I do not go, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send the Helper to you.

8When the Helper comes, the Helper will show the world the truth about sin, about being right with God, and about judgment.

9The Helper will show them about sin, because they do not believe in me.

10The Helper will show them about being right with God, because I am going to the Father, where you will not see me anymore.

11And the Helper will show them about judgment, because the ruler of this world has already been judged.

12I still have much more to tell you, but it is too much for you now.

13But when the Spirit of truth comes, the Spirit will lead you into all truth. The Spirit will not speak on the Spirit's own initiative; the Spirit will speak only what the Spirit hears, and the Spirit will tell you what is coming.

14The Spirit will honor me, because the Spirit will take what is mine and make it known to you.

15Everything the Father has is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take what is mine and make it known to you.

16In a little while you will not see me. Then a little while later you will see me.

17Some of Jesus' disciples said to one another: What does Jesus mean? Jesus says, In a little while you will not see me, and then a little while later you will see me. And Jesus says, Because I am going to the Father.

18They kept asking: What does Jesus mean by, A little while? We don't understand what he is saying.

19Jesus knew they wanted to ask him about it, so Jesus said to them: Are you asking each other what I meant when I said, In a little while you will not see me, and then a little while later you will see me?

20I tell you the truth: you will cry and be sad, but the world will be glad. You will grieve, but your sadness will turn into joy.

21When a woman is giving birth, she has pain because her time has come. But when her baby is born, she forgets the pain, because she is so happy that a child has come into the world.

22It is the same with you. Now you are sad, but I will see you again. Then your hearts will be glad, and no one can take away your joy.

23On that day you will not need to ask me anything. I tell you the truth: my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.

24Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask, and you will receive, so that your joy will be full.

25I have been speaking to you in word-pictures. But the time is coming when I will not speak that way anymore. Instead, I will tell you plainly about the Father.

26On that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father for you.

27The Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.

28I came from the Father into the world. Now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.

29Then Jesus' disciples said: Now you are speaking plainly, not in word-pictures.

30Now we can see that you know everything, and that you do not even need anyone to ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God.

31Jesus answered: Do you believe now?

32Listen, the time is coming, and is already here, when you will all be scattered to your own homes. You will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.

33I have told you these things so that you can have peace in me. In this world you will have trouble. But be brave! I have defeated the world.