John 16:25-33 “I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father. 26 In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; 27 for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. 28 I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.”
29 His disciples said, “Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech! 30 Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that you came from God.” 31 Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? 32 Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. 33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
INTRODUCTION
For the past several months we’ve been able to listen in on Jesus’ final words to His disciples. Since chapter 13, Jesus and His closest followers have been sequestered so that Jesus could tell them more plainly than ever before what was to come for Him (His betrayal, suffering, death, resurrection, and ascension) and them (carrying on Jesus’ ministry, persecution, and the coming of the Holy Spirit).
The events recorded in chapters 13-16 all take place on the Thursday evening of Jesus’ betrayal and before the day of His crucifixion. Chapter 17 takes place on Thursday evening as well, but in a different context. Instead of talking to His disciples, Jesus talks to His Father in one of the most moving prayers of all time.
The upshot of all of this is that we’ve come to the end of a significant section of John’s Gospel. Jesus will exchange a few more words with the disciples prior to His crucifixion, but nothing at all like we’ve been seeing. In these last few sentences (of chapter 16), we find three main ideas (the three main sections of the sermon): (1) The growing clarity of Jesus’ teaching, (2) Concerning His relationship with the Father, and (3) The results for those who believe Him.
Combined, the big idea of this passage is that Jesus was newly clear about the facts that He had come from, was going to, and was always with the Father and that all who believe Him concerning these things will know persecution, the love of the Father, and peace that surpasses understanding; and all of that because Jesus overcame the world! The main takeaways, therefore, are to seek out all of Jesus’ teaching, believe it, and live in light of it no matter the cost.
GROWING CLARITY (25, 29)
In the previous passage in John’s Gospel (16:16-24), we saw another example of the disciples being confused by Jesus’ teaching. In that sermon I mentioned that the two main reasons for their confusion then, and ours today, was our finitude and fallenness. In our passage for this morning, Jesus adds another reason for the disciples’ confusion, “I have said these things to you in figures of speech” (25).
That is an echo of John’s words back in chapter 10(:6), “This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.”
“These things” (in v.25) refers specifically to the whole of things Jesus said to the disciples on Thursday evening.
Acknowledging that He’d been speaking in figures of speech is not to say that Jesus had previously tried to mislead the disciples or keep good things from them. Rather, it is to say that for His good purposes, as a part of the gradual revelation of the will of God, He had been less plain than He would be.
Jesus did this as a means of bringing two essential things together. First, it allowed Jesus to put certain things in front of the disciples so that they would eventually know the extent of His power and wisdom. This would encourage and instruct them when things got hard after His departure. And second, it enabled Jesus to accomplish the first purpose, while also not giving the disciples more than they could handle at the time.
All of this is like moving a baby from milk, to soft food, to solid food. It is like gradually explaining to your kids the ways of the world. And it is like starting a new Christian off with the basics of Bible study before introducing them to matters of textual criticism and exegesis. For people to properly mature physically, intellectually, and spiritually, eventually you must move them to solid food, to fuller explanations of the world, and to the finer points of Bible study. But too much, too soon is harmful.
For the good of these men, Jesus spoke to them in simpler ways in the past. Now, however, that was about to change. They’d matured and could digest more significant truths of God. Therefore, He said to them…
25 “… The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father.
There are three ways in which this promise of Jesus would be fulfilled. In the first and most immediate sense, as we’ll see in the disciples’ response just a few verses later, even in His present teaching Jesus was fulfilling this promise. In light of the things Jesus was saying to the disciples in that moment, they said to Jesus, “29 Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech!”
The second way, which would take place in a matter of a few days, in the time between His resurrection and ascension, Jesus would speak more plainly still. That’s probably the specific meaning of “the hour is coming.”
And third, in the most significant sense, Jesus would fulfill this promise when the Counselor, the Helper, came at Pentecost. At that point, the fullness of the disciples understanding would come through the plainest teaching of Jesus. As 16:13 says, “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.”
Let us seek this growing clarity, Grace. Once again, let us do so in the manner given to us by God. Let us give ourselves to being people of the Word of God. Let us meditate on it day and night. Let us treasure it for what it is. Let us be prayerful and thoughtful in our reading. Let us read it and study it and obey it and celebrate it together. Let us memorize it and hide it in our hearts. And all so that we might grow in clarity concerning its true meaning and implications, in order that we might grow to be thoroughly transformed by it in the Spirit’s power.
Again, the first and simple point for us to see from this passage is that Jesus had been speaking in figures of speech, but would soon—even in that moment—speak much more plainly.
JESUS’ RELATIONSHIP WITH THE FATHER (25, 27-30, 32)
But what, specifically, would Jesus speak more plainly about? Look at the very end of v.25.
25 …[I] will tell you plainly about the Father.
In this case, Jesus began speaking more clearly about the nature of His relationship with the Father—the central and a deeply divisive question for the Jews of the day. Virtually everything hinged on whether or not they believed that Jesus was acting on the Father’s behalf (as He claimed) or not.
But what, specifically, did Jesus make clearer concerning His relationship to the Father?
That Jesus Had Come from the Father
The first thing that Jesus plainly taught concerning His relationship with the Father is that He had come from the Father. The Father had sent Him to accomplish His purposes on earth. Jesus did not merely come from a woman the way other men do and He did not come to accomplish His own mission. He came from the Father and for the Father’s purposes.
27 You [The disciples] have believed that I came from God. 28 I came from the Father and have come into the world…
We see the same thing even more clearly in vs.29-30.
29 His disciples said, “Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech! 30 Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that you came from God.”
Even more foundationally to the meaning of Jesus coming from the Father (than having been sent and commissioned by the Father) is the fact that it is also a statement on Jesus’ very nature. As I’ve mentioned before, the heart of the meaning of Jesus’ claim here is that He is eternally begotten by the Father.
We see this in Paul’s speech in Acts 13:32-33.
And we bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers, 33 this he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus, as also it is written in the second Psalm,
“ ‘You are my Son,
today I have begotten you.’
We see the same thing twice in Hebrews (1:5 and again in 5:5).
And we see it in the Nicaean Creed. Indeed, articulating this clearly was one of the most significant reasons for the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD.
A controversy had arisen about the nature of Christ. … Arius…Understanding, quite rightly, that there is only one God, … reasoned, quite wrongly, that God the Father alone is eternal and uncreated. Everything other than the Father is created, including – said Arius – the Son, whom God made before anything else. Arius was keen to affirm that Christ was a perfect creature, but nevertheless he must be a creature – even though he was the creature through whom the Father created everything else.
In other words, Arius believed that Jesus was “from God” in the sense that God created Him. The Council of Nicaea, however, made sure to articulate the real meaning of Jesus’ words in crystal clear terms.
[We believe] in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the only-begotten Son of God,
begotten of his Father before all worlds,
God of God, Light of Light,
very God of very God,
begotten, not made,
being of one substance with the Father…
The idea of Jesus being eternally begotten of the Father was still not yet as plain as it would become to Jesus’ followers, but it would quickly become so. And this was the thing the Jews of Jesus’ day most denied. They claimed to believe in God and long for Him to send the Christ, but when the Christ came, they accused Him of being illegitimate and of the devil. They denied that He was from the Father. The fact that the disciples acknowledged this was no small thing. Indeed, it was the defining thing.
Jesus Was Going to the Father
Not only had Jesus come from the Father, but He was also going back to the Father.
28 I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.”
Just as important as Jesus’ origin was His destination. That He was going back to the Father was proof positive that He perfectly and entirely completed the work on earth the Father had given Him. This will be made even more explicit at the beginning of the next chapter (17:4-5).
4 I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.
It is a well-known fact that according to Roman law, had the soldiers sent to guard Jesus on the cross failed to certify His death, they would have been crucified themselves. They were sent from Rome, but they could not return to Rome without having accomplished their mission.
In a similar way, even if the Father had sent Jesus, had Jesus not been fully pleasing to God, He would not have been able to go back to God. Perfect obedience even to the point of death was the very mission Jesus had been sent to accomplish—and He did, which is why He was returning to the Father. This too, the disciples were coming to understand and believe as Jesus explained it more and more clearly.
The Father Was with Him Always
Jesus was from the Father, He was going back to the Father, and (the third and final aspect of Jesus’ relationship with the Father taught in these few verses is that) the Father was always with Jesus.
32 …I am not alone, for the Father is with me.
The Father’s loving, guiding presence never left Jesus. The incarnation and hypostatic union did nothing to sever the fellowship of the Father and Son. John 17, which we’ll begin next week, is one of the most vivid, powerful, and beautiful examples of this in the whole Bible. John 17 records what we call Jesus’ “high priestly prayer.” In it, Jesus spoke to the Father as one in the deepest fellowship and communion with the Father (because He was).
Keeping this in mind, Jesus’ words on the cross will take on fuller and proper significance.
Matthew 27:45-46 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. 46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
It is because the Father was always (eternally) with Jesus that this forsaking, as the ransom price for the sins of the world, was so steep! The Father had never left Jesus alone. Consistent with that, even after all the disciples abandoned Him, the Father would not leave Him alone according to v.32. Jesus is now, and eternally will be, with the Father. But on account of His love for the world, for a moment in time, the Father would forsake the Son. Let the significance and seriousness of that rest upon you, Grace.
Jesus had spoken in figures of speech. Now He was speaking more plainly than ever before, and would increasingly do so. The central thrust of His plainer speech concerned His relationship with the Father (from Him, returning to Him, and was always with Him). As a result, the disciples had come to believe these things more fully than ever.
One of the practical keys for us to grasp, Grace, is that we too have been sent by the Father (into the world to make disciples of all nations), we too will go to the Father eternally through faith in Jesus, and we too have the presence of God with us at all times (in the Spirit’s indwelling). What an awesome thing it is to grasp that the very things Jesus was speaking about with increasing clarity concerning Himself, are also true of all His people, even you and I.
The final question addressed by Jesus concerned the result of the disciples’ growing belief. What should they expect as they grew to understand and obey more and more?
THE RESULT OF GENUINE BELIEF (26-27, 31, 33)
The third and final section of this sermon is meant to answer that question. That is, it is meant to highlight Jesus’ teaching on the result of the genuine belief of the disciples.
Throughout John’s Gospel we’ve seen that there are many “results” of genuine belief. The most significant result is tied to the very purpose of the Gospel, “That you may believe…and by believing you may have life in [Jesus’] name” (20:31). In our passage, with growing clarity concerning Jesus’ relationship to the Father, and growing belief in it, Jesus promised three specific results: persecution, the love of the Father, and peace.
Persecution
The fact that the disciples would be persecuted has been the consistent theme for much of Jesus’ final words to His disciples. For that reason, I won’t spend too much time on the point, but we do need to see it clearly in the text. Having emphatically and corporately expressed their belief that Jesus was indeed from God…
31 Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? 32 Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone…
And again in v.33,
33 … In the world you will have tribulation.
The disciples would indeed soon be scattered (Mark 14:50), head to their own homes unsure of what to do (John 20:10), and they would all leave Jesus alone to go to where they couldn’t follow (John 13:36). What’s more, they would soon know tribulation beyond what most of us can even imagine (Acts 4, 5, 7:54-60; 2 Corinthians 11:24-26; Hebrews 11). And, as we’ve seen repeatedly, this is still true for all of Jesus’ followers today.
The disciples believed in Jesus and their belief was growing. One result of that would be scattered persecution.
Love
The second result is the best news of all. It is why we joyfully sing, “Once Your enemy, now seated at Your table. Jesus, thank you!” By believing that Jesus is who He said He is, we are united to Jesus. And by being united to Jesus, the Father’s love is ours. The Father’s love is upon those who believe in Jesus; who believe that Jesus is from the Father, to the Father, and with the Father.
26 In that day [post resurrection] you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; 27 for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.
The Father Himself loves you, Grace. The Father Himself loves you. The Father Himself loves you!
What do you think that means? Have you ever really slowed down to consider this?
It means that at all times, He is for you. It means that at all times, He is pleased with you in Jesus. It means that at all times, He is working for your greatest good. It means that at all times, you are acceptable to Him. It means that at all times, you belong to Him. It means that at all times, you are His child. And it means that, as this verse highlights, at all times, you have access to Him. You can approach Him with freedom and confidence, which is why we are here today in this worship service.
One of the great expressions of the Father’s love for us is granting to us the privilege of praying to Him in Jesus’ name. But it’s important to recognize Jesus’ point here. Praying to the Father in Jesus’ name does not mean that we must pray to Jesus and ask Him to take our requests before God (lacking access ourselves). Rather, because of Jesus’ work on our behalf and the Father’s love for us, we are invited to speak directly to the Father.
You must believe that, Grace Church, if you are to live in this world, in God’s world, as you ought. You simply cannot live as you were made to live if your living is not the product of a deep abiding in the love of God. You must actively experience God’s pleasure in you if you are to fend off the temptations of this world, forgive others as you have been forgiven, and be filled with Christian confidence, identity, and purpose.
But just as important as it is to know the nature of the love of God for His people, is the need to know what it means to be His people. Who does God love or what defines His people? Jesus tells us here (27) that God loves those who love Jesus and believe that He came from God. Love for Jesus is the source of God’s love for you.
That sounds fairly simple and straightforward, but it is exceedingly common for people in our culture to claim God’s love for themselves entirely apart from this idea. The primary dividing line between those who are telling the truth (in claiming God’s love for themselves) and those who are not, is love for Jesus.
Now one of the most important things I’ll say this morning is this: The second clause of v.27 (“and have believed that I came from God”) isn’t really a second thing. It’s a defining characteristic of the first. It’s a clarification of what Jesus meant when He spoke of their love for Him.
In other words, the love of the Father that comes to those who love Jesus, isn’t a self-defined, subjective love for Jesus. The modern-day notion of Jesus often has very little to do with the actual Jesus. He is (for the world) a Jesus who has been remade in the image of whoever happens to be claiming Him. He is (for the world) indifferent to sin. In fact, He is often (for the world) an advocate for sin.
To truly love Jesus, is to love the truth about Jesus. And again, one key truth about Jesus (which, as we’ve seen, was the single most important truth for the Jews at that time), is that He is from the Father.
The greatest zeal (), the most fervent passion, the greatest experience of something love-like for something other than Jesus as He really is, is useless. In fact, it is often worse than useless, because if you think you love Jesus (a fake version), you will never pursue genuine love for the genuine Jesus.
The second result of genuine belief in Jesus is the unwavering love of the Father for you!
Peace
Genuine belief in Jesus results in scattered persecution, the love of the Father, and, finally, peace.
33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace.
This kind of peace is a calm, a rest, a tranquility rooted in the promises of God’s favor in Christ. And since God has promised to work ALL THINGS together for good, even the harshest trial for those who love Him, Jesus promised persevering peace at all times for His followers. Things were about to get all kinds of chaotic, so this promise at this time was sweet indeed.
In the immediate sense, the peace promised by Jesus was for His disciples who would soon desert and deny Him. By plainly explaining in advance that He knew this, when it happened the disciples would know that His love was still upon them. Remember that, Grace. In the fuller sense, this promised peace is for all who hope in Jesus.
What is the greatest obstacle to that kind of peace? Often, it is the hardships that come from the world. That’s why Jesus said, “33…In the world you will have tribulation.”
But Jesus doesn’t promise things that He doesn’t intend to accomplish for us. Do you believe that, Grace? Do you believe that in every case, for those who are in Jesus, God provides for you what He requires of you. That’s the heart of the gospel. That doesn’t mean that we are passive. But it does mean that even our activity—our obedience to the commands of God—is a gift from God (Ephesians 2:10, Philippians 2:12).
The world will persecute us and that will always threaten to rob us of the peace that ought to be ours.
33 But take heart [, Jesus said. For]; I have overcome the world.
The rest of the Gospel of John explains what Jesus meant by that. We’ll see it in great detail in the coming chapters. In simplest terms, though, it means what the Apostle Paul wrote in Colossians 2:13-15.
13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.
It’s the height of irony that in the very thing that looked to all like the world had finally overcome Jesus, He had overcome the world. And from receiving and believing that comes a kind of peace that truly and thoroughly surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:6-7).
CONCLUSION
The big idea of this passage is that Jesus spoke more clearly about the facts that He had come from, was going to, and was always with the Father and that all who believe Him concerning these things will know persecution, the love of the Father, and peace that surpasses understanding; and all of that because Jesus overcame the world! Let us, therefore—in the power of the Spirit who dwells in us, in the Father’s love, and in the peace of Jesus—seek out all of Jesus’ teaching, believe it, and live in light of it no matter the cost.