John 16:6-10
 
John 16:6 (KJB)
But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart.
 
Sorrow - Sadness or grief
 
At this point the disciples were looking at the human aspect of what was going to happen because their spiritual eyes had not yet been opened as to what the significance of the upcoming events were. All they knew was that Jesus kept speaking about His death and this had probably kept the disciples wondering if they would follow with their deaths. They were looking at these events with the eyes of emotion and that caused them to sorrow because if Jesus died, they would not see Him again, even though He stated they would. Sometimes overwhelming grief can overshadow the truth of a matter.
 
John 16:7 (KJB)
Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
 
It is expedient - It is good, advantageous, or profitable
 
Here Jesus is telling them that it is for their profit that He goes away, that is, that He goes to the cross to secure their salvation and then return to Heaven. When He returns to Heaven, He will then send the Holy Spirit to indwell them and here He is called the “Comforter.” When He indwells them, they will be able to remember all that the Lord taught them plus when they go through times of persecution they will be able to maintain their testimony as true children of God. (Rom 8:26 KJV) Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. The Holy Spirit will also filter our prayer life because if we do not know what to pray nor even how to pray in a situation, the Holy Spirit will take those prayers and then bring them into line with God’s will. Since He is eternal God, He will be able to interpret our real feelings during these times and make them much clearer so the prayers to God are really what we wanted to pray but didn’t know how.
 
John 16:8 (KJB)
And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
 
Reprove - Convict or expose but with a view to restoration.
 
The Holy Spirit will have a three fold ministry concerning the world. He will begin this ministry at Jerusalem and then it will go to the entire world. First, He will convict the elect of sin and having their eyes spiritually opened, they will become saved and then indwelled by the Holy Spirit. He will also testify to the fact that the world system is evil and is against God. He will also reprove them in such a way that they will not be able to stand before the Lord justified in their own religions or philosophies. Secondly, He will convict the world of its own righteousness and that it is not able to make a person saved. The world has its own brand of righteousness but God’s requirements are much higher and only able to be filled by Christ who imputes His righteousness to the believers. Then the Holy Spirit will impress upon the world the fact of the coming judgment of God. Since this world has rebelled against God, it is destined to be judged by God.
 
John 16:9 (KJB)
Of sin, because they believe not on me;
 
Unbelief is the catalyst of all sin and that is because if a person does not believe there is a God and that there is no accountability, they believe they can sin with impunity because after all, everyone else is doing it. If a person is not saved through the Lord Jesus Christ, then they will have to give account for all their sins at the Great White Judgment Throne on the last day. When a person becomes truly saved, all their sins have been removed and their soul is as clean as if they never sinned one sin. (Psa 103:12 KJV) As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
 
John 16:10 (KJB)
Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;
 
Jesus had lived a sinless, exemplary life on this earth and was the standard of righteousness. His life on earth was accepted by the Father and that meant He went to Heaven to be with His Father. The Jews had painted Him, as a sinner and one under the authority of Satan which meant they blasphemed Him and the Holy Spirit. Here Jesus is pointing out to His disciples that He is going to Heaven and one can only go to Heaven if they are of God and since Jesus is God the Son, He will take His rightful place beside His Father. The world will not see Jesus anymore because they are dead in their sins but the disciples will not only see Him again but will love eternally with Him, and when they do it will not be in the human body which they see Him now but in His glorified body on the Throne. The Holy Spirit will disabuse the world of the notion that Jesus was evil based on the accusations of the unsaved, and in His time the Jews. The Holy Spirit will bring the true picture and character of the Lord Jesus Christ to the world.

Back