John 16:16-33 | What's happening (and who's involved)?
In this passage, the disciples are discussing amongst themselves concerning what Jesus says about His departing. Knowing they sought to ask Him about it, He gives way for them to discuss it with Him. He speaks into what will seem to be a moment of defeat for them but victory to the world. The world will be rejoicing and celebrating while the disciples will be mourning and weeping. But it will not be like that forever.
Like a woman who is in labor, they will suffer pain, but just as a woman who was in labor is elated with joy upon holding her now born child, so the disciples will yet rejoice. The pain will indeed be there, but it will only be for a moment. Their sorrow will be turned to rejoicing.
Notably, Jesus does not then ignore the sorrow they feel. He encourages them through it. They will indeed be reconciled with Him. From that they will rejoice and Jesus testifies that no one will take their joy from them. Jesus continuously promises fullness of joy to them. He recognizes their love and their faith. The disciples affirm their faith with thankfulness that Jesus spoke plainly to them.
In what has become a widely known verse, Jesus continues to build up their proclamation of faith by offering them peace. He recognizes how the world will oppose them, but that they should take heart. Jesus has overcome the world.
There are some amazing things in this section that I am very excited for us to get into. But first, let me ask, what observations are you making in this passage?
Like a woman who is in labor, they will suffer pain, but just as a woman who was in labor is elated with joy upon holding her now born child, so the disciples will yet rejoice. The pain will indeed be there, but it will only be for a moment. Their sorrow will be turned to rejoicing.
Notably, Jesus does not then ignore the sorrow they feel. He encourages them through it. They will indeed be reconciled with Him. From that they will rejoice and Jesus testifies that no one will take their joy from them. Jesus continuously promises fullness of joy to them. He recognizes their love and their faith. The disciples affirm their faith with thankfulness that Jesus spoke plainly to them.
In what has become a widely known verse, Jesus continues to build up their proclamation of faith by offering them peace. He recognizes how the world will oppose them, but that they should take heart. Jesus has overcome the world.
There are some amazing things in this section that I am very excited for us to get into. But first, let me ask, what observations are you making in this passage?
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2026
January
John 14:22-31 | What's the lesson for me today?John 14:22-31 | What am I going to do about it?John 14:22-31 | Prayer PromptsPassage of the Week: John 15:1-11John 15:1-11 | What's happening (and who's involved)?John 15:1-11 | What's the connection?John 15:1-11 | What's a lesson for the original audience?John 15:1-11 | What's the lesson for me today?John 15:1-11 | What am I going to do about it?John 15:1-11 | Prayer PromptsPassage of the Week: John 15:12-27John 15:12-27 | What's happening (and who's involved)?John 15:12-27 | What's the connection?John 15:12-27 | What's a lesson for the original audience?John 15:12-27 | What's the lesson for me today?John 15:12-27 | What am I going to do about it?John 15:12-27 | Prayer PromptsPassage of the Week: John 16:1-15John 16:1-15 | What's happening (and who's involved)?John 16:1-15 | What's the connection?John 16:1-15 | What’s a lesson for the original audience?John 16:1-15 | What's the lesson for me today?John 16:1-15 | What am I going to do about it?John 16:1-15 | Prayer PromptsPassage of the Week: John 16:16-33John 16:16-33 | What's happening (and who's involved)?John 16:16-33 | What's the connection?John 16:16-33 | What's a lesson for the original audience?John 16:16-33 | What's the lesson for me today?John 16:16-33 | What am I going to do about it?John 16:16-33 | Prayer Prompts
February
Passage of the Week: John 17John 17 | What's happening (and who's involved)?John 17 | What's the connection?John 17 | What's a lesson for the original audience?John 17 | What's the lesson for me today?John 17 | What am I going to do about it?John 17 | Prayer PromptsPassage of the Week: John 18:1-11John 18:1-11 | What's happening (and who's involved)?John 18:1-11 | What's the connection?John 18:1-11 | What's a lesson for the original audience?John 18:1-11 | What's the lesson for me today?John 18:1-11 | What am I going to do about it?John 18:1-11 | Prayer PromptsPassage of the Week: John 18:12-40John 18:12-40 | What's happening (and who's involved)?John 18:12-40 | What's the connection?John 18:12-40 | What's a lesson for the original audience?John 18:12-40 | What's the lesson for me today?John 18:12-40 | What am I going to do about it?John 18:12-40 | Prayer PromptsPassage of the Week: John 19John 19 | What's happening (and who's involved)?John 19 | What's the connection?John 19 | What's a lesson for the original audience?John 19 | What's the lesson for me today?John 19 | What am I going to do about it?John 19 | Prayer Prompts
March
Passage of the Week: John 20John 20 | What's happening (and who's involved)?John 20 | What's the connection?John 20 | What's a lesson for the original audience?John 20 | What's the lesson for me today?John 20 | What am I going to do about it?John 20 | Prayer PromptsJohn 21 | Prayer PromptsPassage of the Week: John 21John 21 | What's happening (and who's involved)?John 21 | What's the connection?John 21 | What's a lesson for the original audience?John 21 | What's the lesson for me today?
2025
January
Proverbs 27:5Proverbs 27:6Proverbs 27:7Proverbs 27:8Proverbs 27:9Proverbs 27:10Proverbs 27:11Proverbs 27:12Proverbs 27:13Proverbs 27:14Proverbs 27:15-16Proverbs 27:17Proverbs 27:18Proverbs 27:19Proverbs 27:20Proverbs 27:21Proverbs 27:22Proverbs 27:23Proverbs 27:24Proverbs 27:25-27Proverbs 28:1Proverbs 28:2Proverbs 28:3Proverbs 28:4Proverbs 28:5Proverbs 28:6Proverbs 28:7-8Proverbs 28:9
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