Day 16
John 16:13-15
13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.”
Sometimes, on the journey to intimacy with God, we can feel so far away from him that it can seem like he’s abandoned us. Therefore, John 16 is written to remind you of your joy in Christ so that you won’t give up on your faith when it feels like Jesus is distant. Jesus is talking to the disciples in this chapter, but by extension, he’s also speaking to all of us who would choose to believe in him. At the end of the chapter, Jesus summarizes it by saying look, you’re going to have so many challenges in this world, but take heart! Be encouraged! I have overcome the world. Throughout the chapter, Jesus gives the disciples a holy pep talk to prepare them for his death. He assures them that although the pain may hurt for a while, it will only last for a little while. This phrase “a little while” appears four times between verses 12 and 24. John repeats it so often because he’s trying to make a point emphasized all throughout scripture. Weeping may endure for the night, but joy comes in the morning (Psalms 30:5). Whatever you’re going through– relational tension, job loss, anxiety, depression, death- anything that may be making God feel far away from you- cannot overcome the truth that God is with you, right here right now. He shines even in the darkest night. The spirit of truth (16:13) reminds you of this truth when everything points to the contrary. The disciples were about to lose their teacher, leader, and best friend, but by the mercy of God, he showed them that they had access to a joy that no one could take away. This joy does not ignore or suppress the pain. It coexists with it and allows you to feel it without losing hope. The paradox of our faith is that we can hold sorrow and joy together in the same hands, even in the same moment. One doesn’t cancel out the other. When we embrace the complexity of who we are, we can understand how the spirit can be near but feel far simultaneously. Understanding that before you ever endured a hard time, Jesus endured death on the cross for you and that even now, he is with you shifts your perspective. Before he ever asked you to take joy in him, Jesus took joy in you (Hebrew 12:2). Therefore, he may not be taking away whatever is painful in this season, but when he gets down in that dark place with you, and you discover that you’re never alone, your sorrow morphs into a joy that the world didn’t give and the world can’t take away (John 16:22-24). The Holy Spirit provides you peace and courage to know that compared to the glory that awaits you. The suffering will only last a little while. By His grace, you are with the one who conquered the world.
Next Steps
Read John chapter 16 and take notes, making observations and asking questions as you read.
Mediate on 1 or 2 verses that stood out to you. Focus on what they reveal about God and how the Spirit is inviting you to respond. Find a helpful guide to biblical meditation here.
Write down whatever the Holy Spirit puts on your heart.
Reflection Questions
Why does scripture refer to the Holy Spirit as the Spirit of Truth? What does “truth” mean here? (John 16:12)
Put yourself in the disciple's shoes; how do you think they felt hearing Jesus speak about leaving? Why did Jesus speak to them in figures of speech? (John 16:25-31)
Jesus doesn’t sugarcoat the cost of following him. Why does the suffering that comes with being a believer and just being human sometimes catch us off guard?
Prayer Points
Oh God, give me the grace and faith to have joy and perspective in my season without losing sight of the truth that you are with me
Lord, let the joy of knowing you fill me with unshakable strength to endure whatever challenges may come my way
Lord, fill me up with your Holy Spirit in a deeper dimension
