John 16:1-15 | What's happening (and who's involved)?

Jesus continues His teaching toward His disciples and prepares them for the future of persecution that will take place. He makes His intentions clear with sharing all of this. He does not want the disciples to stumble when it all comes. Jesus does not want the disciples to be like the seed that is scattered that takes root into rocky soil that is then scorched by the Sun. They are going to be kicked out of the synagogues. They won't have a place to belong. Even worse, those that are persecuting them will think they offer service to God!  Paul the Apostle admits to this very thing as he writes to Timothy. As a once persecutor of the church, he was aware of his mindset.

12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, 13 although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
-1 Timothy 1:12-13

At the time, Paul was thinking that he was being obedient but failed to realized it was his own unbelief that led him to that level of disobedience. Such is the type of individual Jesus is referring to. The reason they do it is because they do not truly know the Father nor the Son. Once Paul met the Son, he knew the Father and he repented.

The disciples are starting to pick up what Jesus is putting down and Jesus recognizes that they are losing heart. To uplift them He ensures them that it is better that Jesus go so that the Helper may come. He describes some of what the Helper will do. He will convict the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. The Spirit of Truth will guide the disciples into all truth. If they trust in Him, they will do well.

What observations are you making in this passage?