John 16:1-33, Religion will always be the Enemy to Godliness.

1.  I go my way to him that sent me.

About a little over 2000 years ago, God's church, that was called temple at that time, was fully active. Prophet Simon and prophetess Anna, and more godly people were in the temple. But, Chief priest, high priests, and other priests were ministers in the temple. Scribes were into the word of God, reciting them in every service. Pharisees were very zealous for God. Always the temple was very vibrant with sacrifices, and with the flow of people. All celebrations were very well kept. Jews called Abraham as their father and called themselves as the people of God. It was flourished exactly as our modern churches are. But, the message of God was sent to John the Baptist in the wilderness, but not to them. God became a man; he worked as a carpenter, but not as a priest. Jesus came from Nazareth; but they said, no good thing come out of Nazareth. there was a divide from the supposedly God's people, and the real people of God. A few disciples followed Jesus, and he taught them, about the divide from the supposedly God's people, from the Real ones. Let us see it. "John 16:1 These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended. 2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. 3 And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me." The same people of the temple of God, will throw the disciples out of synagogues, and even will kill them. Furthermore, they think that they were doing a service to God by doing so. It was the temple, and now it is the churches. Why they do it? Jesus Christ says it is because truthfully, they do not know who God is, and do not know who the real Jesus Christ is. Is it not strange that the very people of God, do not know who God is? But it is the reality, even now. Verse 2 says, "whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service." There is one difference. At that time, the culture and religion allowed the people to stone a person to death. But now, we are more civilized and so such things are not allowed. If it is not for that, godly people will be killed even today. Religious people will have no problem to expel godly people from their churches now. They neither know God; nor the real Jesus Christ, who is in Spirit, who turns his people away from sins.

2. Discern from the Religion and the Spirit

"4 But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you. 5 But now I go my way to him that sent me;" Please notice one thing here. The disciples were in the same situation as him, but they did not discern this. Jesus had to tell them for them to know. Even now, religiosity will hate godliness. It is very subtle and hard to discern. We think that they are parallels, as sister beliefs. But Jesus Christ tells us that they are subtle enemies. Jesus warns his disciples, as well as us, to be cautious. "5 But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou? 6 But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart." Jesus was telling them ahead of time, so that it may not be a surprise or shock to them. One other thing that Jesus reinforces is; God the Father did send him; now he goes back to God the Father.

3. Of sin, of righteousness, of judgment:

"7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you." God became a man, who was Jesus of Nazareth. He was fully a man, and was limited to the body of a man, but was approved of God. He was the master for his disciples. Yet he had the limitations of a man. If he could send the Spirit of God, who is the Holy Ghost, who has no limitations, it will be far better for them.So, he will go, he will send the Holy Ghost to be with his disciples, which will be better for them and for their ministry. That is what he was saying. "8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:" The Holy Ghost will be sent to his disciples. Please listen to this carefully. Holy Ghost is omnipotent Spirit; he can do all things; and he will reprove the world, a few with the disciples, and the rest without human assistance. In the temple world, there are two groups, one is the disciples and the other is the religion. Even the Jews; scribes, Pharisees, and all including even the high priest are included in the religion. If in today's language, all pastors, evangelists, even including the pope, are all in the religion. The Holy Ghost will minister to both groups through the disciples. In this setting the so-called church is irrelevant. The Holy Ghost is on the true disciples only. The Holy Ghost will reprove the world of three things. It is "of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:" Next three verses explain what it is. "9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;" Believing Jesus Christ is not believing many things about him. If we believe what he tells us, through the scriptures, then it is believing him. If we do not do what he tells us to do, then it is sin. Then, the Holy Ghost will reprove the world of sin, that is, he will tell them about the condemnation for sin. So, the disciples will preach about sin and eternal death to people that are sinners. "10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;" Righteousness and judgment are two different words, often mistaken for each other. This verse is about righteousness and the next verse is about judgment. Righteousness is Just, and it will be justly rewarded. It is to obey God and it is opposite to sin. The Holy Ghost will be teaching about the righteousness since Jesus of Nazareth was going back to God the Father. As a man, Jesus lived a righteous life, obeying whatever God the Father told him to do. Because of that, God raised him from his death, made him Lord and Christ, declared him as begotten Son, anointed him as God, and commanded all hell, earth, and heavens, to bow down to Jesus Christ. This is because of the righteousness of God, and for the righteous living of Jesus in the world as a man. People must not see Jesus Christ as a man anymore, because he is not a man anymore. The true Jesus Christ is God in the omnipotent Spirit. The Holy Ghost will preach these things through the true disciples of Jesus Christ to people. "11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged." Soon after the resurrection of Jesus, he cast Satan and his angels to the world, not to enter the premises of heaven anymore. He was given to be the prince of the world. However, Satan is judged by God already to be cast down, and the Holy Ghost will teach that. Not only he is already judged, he will be thrown into outer darkness in the pit for a thousand years, and then into the lake of fire for eternity. But there are many ignorant and foolish people preach and write books and make a lot of money. They make Satan as the ruler of hell and Jesus as the ruler of heaven. They make Satan equal to Jesus. It is nothing but stupidity. Christians believe this nonsense. But the Holy Ghost will teach the truth, through the true disciples of Jesus Christ. This is the teaching ministry of the Holy Ghost. They will explain how Satan and his people will be destroyed in the lake of fire. If anybody teach differently, they are not from God. If we know this, we can escape from a lot of deception. Please notice, the Holy Ghost can convict everybody in the world, through their conscience.

4. Spirit of Truth works before Jesus Christ

"12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. 13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come." Here, we see a few things that the Holy Ghost will do. One, he will teach the things from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, but not about himself. Two, he will not only preach, but guide us through our life. The Holy Ghost will give us the gift of holy spirit, to live in us, to guide us, and to teach us. He will give the gifts of the Holy Ghost for his ministry also. Three, he will show the things to come; it is the prophesy. It can be through the gift of the Holy Ghost, or he may even use a person as a prophet. "14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you. 15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall show it unto you." In short, the Holy Ghost will work as a kind of extension of Jesus Christ. And, God the Father has given all things to the Son.

5. I will go, but your sorrow will turn to joy.

"16 A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father." It is no big mystery here. He will be crucified, dead, and will be buried. So, for a little while they will not see him. Then he will be resurrected and will be seen by them for a few days. So, a little while they will see him. After that he will be accended to God the Father. "17 Then said some of his disciples among themselves, What is this that he saith unto us, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me: and, Because I go to the Father? 18 They said therefore, What is this that he saith, A little while? we cannot tell what he saith." They did not understand what Jesus has said, and so they were talking about it. "19 Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him, and said unto them, Do ye inquire among yourselves of that I said, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me? 20 Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy." In a way he tells them that he will be killed, but he will be resurrected and then they will be happy. He tells them, not to worry and their sorrow will be only for a short time. "21 A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. 22 And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you." Jesus compares their sorrow to the pain of the mother in childbirth, after it is said and done, everybody will be happy for the new baby, and so on. He says, "your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you." That is a good comfort. How much they have understood at this point, we don't know. But it came to pass.

6. I shall show you plainly of the Father.

"23 And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. 24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full." This verse is used to teach, to ask God in the name of Jesus and to receive things. But it reveals the true nature of his disciples. They have not asked him anything, and on that day also they will not ask anything. Christians look for to ask and to receive things from God, but disciples do not ask, even though they will get them if they ask for something. This was the mindset of the disciples. It is the emphasis here. "25 These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall show you plainly of the Father." The spiritual growth and maturity are a process. It will take some time. In this time Jesus had to reveal things about God the Father. But, if they abide in the Spirit of God, Jesus can show them the things of God plainly. "26 At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you: 27 For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God." In verse 26, I think that it is good to mention about the usage of language. It says, "I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you." It means: "I am not telling you this, but I pray to the Father for you, and even otherwise God the Father loves you since you have believed that I came from the Father." God appreciated that the disciples believed that Jesus came from the God the Father, and he has gone back to the Father. "28 I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father. 29 His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb. 30 Now are we sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou camest forth from God." It is Spiritual understanding. It is one thing that we are taught and understand it. But it is an entirely different thing to receive it directly from God.

7. I have spoken, that you might have peace

"31 Jesus answered them, Do ye now believe? 32 Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me." Now Jesus tells them about the horror of the situation of his capture and crucifixion. He also told them that God the Father will be with him, to help him to go through this ordeal. But ignorant foolish preachers say that God has poured his wrath upon Jesus, instead of pouring it upon us, and so many other nonsense. "33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace..." Jesus tells these ahead so that they may have peace and not be in despair, as it happens. "33 ... In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." Jesus Christ promised good cheer amid tribulation. This is hard to understand, if we are not spiritual. The secret is that he has overcome the world. It gives us also hope to overcome.