Gospel of John [Joh 16:5]. Search for answers. Joh 13:36; 14:5; Heb 10:7-18.

Title: Gospel of John [JOH 16:5]. Search for answers. JOH 13:36; 14:5; HEB 10:7-18.

 

JOH 16:1 "These things I have spoken to you, that you may be kept from stumbling.

 

JOH 16:2 "They will make you outcasts from the synagogue, but an hour is coming for everyone who kills you to think that he is offering service to God.

 

JOH 16:3 "And these things they will do, because they have not known the Father, or Me.

 

JOH 16:4 "But these things I have spoken to you, that when their hour comes [when their persecution is directed right at the disciples], you may remember that I told you of them. And these things I did not say to you at the beginning, because I was with you.

 

JOH 16:5 "But now I am going to Him who sent Me; and none of you asks Me, 'Where are You going?'

 

Some see a contradiction here since Peter did ask Him where He was going.

 

JOH 13:33 "Little children, I am with you a little while longer. You shall seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, I now say to you also, 'Where I am going, you cannot come.'

 

JOH 13:34 "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.

 

JOH 13:35 "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."

 

JOH 13:36 Simon Peter said to Him, "Lord, where are You going?" Jesus answered, "Where I go, you cannot follow Me now; but you shall follow later."

 

Peter was given an answer, but only a partial one. Christ didn't say where, just that the where was a place that Peter couldn't follow. And so Peter quits on the question.

 

After telling them that He was going to prepared a dwelling place for them and that later He would receive them into it, then Thomas asks his question.

 

JOH 14:5 Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?"

 

JOH 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.

 

The sorrow in their hearts have made them completely self-absorbed and are thinking of themselves rather than Christ.

 

Self-absorption limits a believer's vision of the eternal things that have been given to him. We are not the center of the universe. We are not the center of the plan of God. We are a part of something and someone much larger and more important than ourselves. This understanding of genuine humility is a part of the divine virtues that God has graciously given us. Without it we are always looking for quick answers and quick solutions.

 

Self-absorption makes a person look for quick answers and quick results since they are shortsighted.

 

2PE 1:9

For he who lacks these qualities [divine virtue] is blind or short-sighted [sees only himself and worldly matters as they apply to him], having forgotten his purification from his former sins [lost identity].

 

Instead of the eyes of the heart being enlightened they have the cataracts of self and world. These do not keep seeking or keep knocking but only seek and knock for a little while and quickly turn back to the world system for the anesthesia that is of such a temporary nature.

 

JOH 16:5 "But now I am going to Him who sent Me; and none of you asks Me, 'Where are You going?'

 

The where is heaven but more specifically it is the right hand of God in victory in fulfillment of a prophecy that they all know.

 

PSA 110:1

The Lord says to my Lord:

"Sit at My right hand,

Until I make Thine enemies a footstool for Thy feet."

 

Their sorrow caused them to forget about the place where Jesus was going and to put their eyes completely on themselves. This is a danger for all of us since this subtle mind-set carries with it hurt to others and damage to ourselves.

 

Sorrow turned to self-absorption causes many sins that hurt others and quench any peace from the Spirit of God.

 

JOH 16:6 "But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart.

 

The things said should have given them tremendous joy, but they have sorrow because they do not understand the things that are said. Understanding takes time. Deep understanding takes more time. Change in our lives from ignorance to cognizance in areas important to the comprehension of the mystery should be slow. Knee jerk decisions or conclusions about extremely important things are usually never correct. It would take years and years for them to understand what Christ revealed to them in the depth that is required. Many who hear doctrine want to understand it immediately, and when they don't, they leave it for the more simple platitudes of Christianity.

 

Superficial knowledge comes quickly, but wisdom takes a lifetime.

 

Something heard and not understood concerning such an important subject makes for disturbance in the soul. I think all of us, at the start of our spiritual education, are somewhat disturbed by the word of God because it was not what we expected and much of it is not understood by us. Yet the glimmer seen of the eternal life given, even in the smallest amount of understanding seems to make some believers dig deeper and in patience they wait for the revelation of the mystery to themselves and they find it because they have searched for it with all of their hearts. The believer after the crash course or the quick fix usually does not remain a student of the word of God and they either quit on Christianity, though eternally saved, or they settle for a church teaching superficial Christianity that always conforms with the world's systems.

 

Years from this night, every one of the disciples in the Upper Room will say, "If I only knew then what I know now. The Upper Room would have been a time of such joy rather than a time of such confusion and sorrow."

 

Christ again begins to explain to them why it is to their advantage that He go away.

 

JOH 16:7 "But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper shall not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.

 

After the ascension of Christ, the Holy Spirit will be sent to all believers. Why is the HS more of an advantage to them than the presence of Christ?

 

There are at least four reasons.

 

1. They had to first see in the reality of His death, burial, resurrection, and ascension and then understand it through G/HS.

 

That by his departure, his death, and ascension-by having these great facts before their eyes they would be led by the Holy Spirit to see more fully the design of His coming than they would by His presence. While He was with them, notwithstanding the plainest teaching, their minds were filled with prejudice and error. They still adhered to the expectation of a temporal kingdom, and were unwilling to believe that He was to die. When He should have actually left them they could no longer doubt on this subject, and would be prepared to understand why He came. And this understanding was accomplished by God the Holy Spirit within each of them.

 

It is often needful that God should allow us to be visited with severe affliction before our pride will be humbled and we are willing to understand the plainest truths.

 

God will accomplish all His good pleasure. His word will not return to Him empty, but will accomplish what He desires. Not the smallest part of God's sovereign, directive will, will be compromised. And with it, will come the greatest blessings to creatures that has ever been imagined. Sometimes it is needful for us to abandon all the noise of our own desires through affliction so that our ears are clear to hear the plain truth of the word of God. He doesn't need sin from us or others against us to reveal His light. Blindness in us causes us to stumble. The reality of reaping what we sow causes us to see and feel the misery of stumbling. The reality of affliction brought upon us by others shows us the futility of this world system. What good will be accomplished within it that God did not cause? So then, our flesh and the world system are revealed for what and who they really are.

Gospel of John [JOH 16:5]. Search for answers. JOH 13:36; 14:5; HEB 10:7-18.