John 16:16-33 | What's the connection?
Hindsight is 20/20 and that is certainly the case for the disciples in this passage. It is made clear that the disciples really weren't sure what Jesus has been getting at with this departing language He has been using. They wanted to ask Him about it but held back. Yet still Jesus addresses these things. But the promises He offers is an explanation to what has been going on with the disciples since Jesus has left. I think of the words of Peter.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead
-1 Peter 1:3
The hope the disciples had was a living hope. Not only did they see Jesus die, they saw Him rise again. Not only did they see Him rise again, they saw Him ascend to heaven. Not only did they see Him ascend to heaven, they saw the Holy Spirit be poured out upon them. They saw these words of Jesus be fulfilled and truly they saw their joy be untouchable. Even in persecution they rejoiced that they were worthy to suffer the sufferings of Christ.
It does not take long in Scripture reading to see this all play out. When Jesus died, the disciples scattered and returned to their old ways of living. When they saw Him alive again, it set them on a trajectory that ultimately changed the course of this world. Reflect on the words of Paul here and consider them in light of what Jesus has said.
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written:
“For Your sake we are killed all day long;
We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”
37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
-Romans 8:35-39
--
What connection are you seeing?
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead
-1 Peter 1:3
The hope the disciples had was a living hope. Not only did they see Jesus die, they saw Him rise again. Not only did they see Him rise again, they saw Him ascend to heaven. Not only did they see Him ascend to heaven, they saw the Holy Spirit be poured out upon them. They saw these words of Jesus be fulfilled and truly they saw their joy be untouchable. Even in persecution they rejoiced that they were worthy to suffer the sufferings of Christ.
It does not take long in Scripture reading to see this all play out. When Jesus died, the disciples scattered and returned to their old ways of living. When they saw Him alive again, it set them on a trajectory that ultimately changed the course of this world. Reflect on the words of Paul here and consider them in light of what Jesus has said.
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written:
“For Your sake we are killed all day long;
We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”
37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
-Romans 8:35-39
--
What connection are you seeing?
Posted in John
Recent
John 16:16-33 | What's the connection?
January 27th, 2026
John 16:16-33 | What's happening (and who's involved)?
January 26th, 2026
Passage of the Week: John 16:16-33
January 25th, 2026
John 16:1-15 | Prayer Prompts
January 24th, 2026
John 16:1-15 | What am I going to do about it?
January 23rd, 2026
Archive
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?
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 28:9Proverbs 28:10Proverbs 28:11Proverbs 28:12
February
Proverbs 28:13Proverbs 28:14Proverbs 28:15Proverbs 28:16Proverbs 28:17Proverbs 28:18Proverbs 28:19Proverbs 28:20Proverbs 28:21Proverbs 28:22Proverbs 28:23Proverbs 28:24Proverbs 28:25Proverbs 28:26Proverbs 28:27Proverbs 28:28Proverbs 29:1Proverbs 29:2Proverbs 29:3Proverbs 29:4Proverbs 29:5Proverbs 29:6Proverbs 29:7Proverbs 29:8Proverbs 29:9Proverbs 29:10Proverbs 29:11Proverbs 29:12
No Comments