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      "Prepared for Trouble"
      John 16:1-6
      Theme: In light of the world’s hostilities toward believers, we are to constantly remember God’s sovereign power.

        1. The Preview to Prevent Our Faltering – 16:1-3

          1. The Intention for the Preview – v. 1

            1. Having just oriented the disciples to the fact that their faithfulness to Christ would often be costly – even to the point of hatred by the world - "These things …"
            2. Upon astonishing them with this concept– he immediately explains why He has informed them about what they can expect: "These things I have spoken to you so that you may be kept from stumbling."
            3. He recognizes that His disciples were still being dominated by a dangerous idealism – as if common among believers when they first come to faith in Christ.
            4. Jesus recognizes that the great danger is that having come to understand the Gospel, believers might become tremendously disillusioned when they encounter these aforementioned hostilities.
            5. Thus, Jesus has informed His disciples that they cannot expect to be able to enjoy camaraderie with the world – and to the degree that the world sacrifices to enjoy such, it withers from fruitfulness that results in abiding in Christ – cp. John 15:6.
            6. Christ states that He wants to fortify His disciples against being "stumbled" (Lit. "scandalized") by the hostilities that they would face for His name’s sake.

          2. The Incentive for the Persecution – vv. 2-3

            1. He then reminds them of some of the ways by which those who do not know Him will respond to them.
            2. He begins by addressing something that had already happened – "They will make you outcasts from the synagogue …" – cp. John 9:22
            3. It is incredible that Jesus is stating that the harshest antagonisms will come from those who claim to be most devoutly religious
            4. He states that they will not be satisfied with ostracizing you, but will go so far as to want to kill you: "… but an hour is coming for everyone who kills you to think that he is offering service to God."
            5. This is exactly what resulted in the religious career of Saul of Tarsus – cp. Acts 8:1-3; 9:1-2
            6. Godliness has always had to endure hatred and hostility:
              1. Cane slaying Abel – 1 John 3:12
              2. Upright are and abomination to the wicked – Proverbs 29:27
            7. Jesus explains the reason for this – "These things they will do because they have not known the Father or Me."
              1. People will commonly created their own God – one who is a mere caricature of the true God.
              2. As a result there is another god being served other than the true God.
              3. Thus, when they see true godliness, they do not recognize it as such and resist it as "fraudulent."
            8. Thus, people exchange the true God for an manner of false God’s only to exert tremendous hostility to the one true God "… because they have not known" God or His Son, Christ Jesus.
            9. Jesus wants us to understand this and be braced for it "so that [we] may be kept from stumbling."

        2. The Plan to Prop up our Faith – 16:4

          1. The Reassurance from Fulfilled Prophecy

            1. He continues and states that not only does he want us to be fortified against losing faith, He wants us to respond to His warning with increased faith.
            2. He states: "But these things I have spoken to you, so that when their hour comes, you may remember that I told you of them."
            3. Now that Jesus has warned them of it, their very suffering will ultimately confirm their faith in Jesus – that He is indeed still sovereign despite their plight – cp. John 2:22.
          2. The Review of Former Protection
            1. Christ Jesus explains to them that what He is describing is something that they haven’t really had to deal with before – since Jesus has always shielded them – "These things I did not say to you at the beginning, because I was with you."
            2. However, once the world has tasted the blood of Jesus, they will turn on those washed by His blood – His disciples – cp. John 15:18
            3. Once He is gone, they will be His representatives and they will consequently suffer even as He did.

        3. The Plea that Prompts our Faithfulness – 16:5-6

          1. Christ’s Confronts the Self-interest of Men – v. 5

            1. Jesus returns to the theme of His triumph – that fact that He would accomplish what He came to do and return to the Father – "But now I am going to Him who sent Me;"
            2. In response to these things, the disciples were clearly shaken – concerned about what impact these matters would have on their lives.
            3. Remember, they had already expressed a bit of disillusionment that their grand hopes for the establishment of a worldwide, Messianic Kingdom were not going to materialize – cp. John 14:22
            4. Jesus provides a subtle rebuke that reminds each of us that our lives cannot be lived with the highest priority being our comfort or ease – "… and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going’?"
            5. Jesus subtly addresses the fact that our focus ought to be on Him, His accomplishment, and His glory – not on ourselves, our comfort, or even our safety.
            6. In not demonstrating and interest in Jesus’ victory, success, and glory that should have produced questions and adoration by the disciples, they were focused on themselves and their own well being.
            7. This is essentially our experience as well whenever we shrink back from the opportunity to share Christ out of a fear of personal rejection.

          2. Christ’s Concern for the Sorrow of Men – v. 6

            1. However, in the midst of His gentle rebuke of the disciples, He also demonstrates a glorious comprehension of the struggles that we face.
            2. In declaring that He is "going to Him who sent Me;" He is also stating the fact that by so going, He will be sending them the "Helper" – cp. v. 7
            3. Christ’s heart is tender to their struggle – "But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart."
            4. The disciples were struggling with their disappointments and fears when Jesus true message was that He was about to conquer death, ascend to the Father and provide them with the Holy Spirit who would enable them to do even greater things – cp. John 14:15-17.
            5. Thus, Jesus embarks on a discussion concerning the Holy Spirit who would empower the disciples to overcome.

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