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
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What connection are you seeing?