John 16:30 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that you came from God.”

NIV: Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God.'

NASB: Now we know that You know all things, and that You have no need for anyone to question You; this is why we believe that You came forth from God.'

CSB: Now we know that you know everything and don't need anyone to question you. By this we believe that you came from God."

NLT: Now we understand that you know everything, and there’s no need to question you. From this we believe that you came from God.'

KJV: 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.

NKJV: Now we are sure that You know all things, and have no need that anyone should question You. By this we believe that You came forth from God.”

Throughout Jesus' earthly ministry, He has taught using parables and stories (Matthew 13:10–13; Mark 4:33–34). One reason for that tactic is that those stories are more likely to be remembered, and passed along, than dry explanations of theology. They are also ways for His followers to retain teachings which they could not fully understand at that moment (John 2:22). Using statements that require explanation also helps to weed out those who aren't really interested in truth anyway (Matthew 13:13).

Much of what Jesus has said during this Last Supper (John 13:1–5) has been blunt. He has recently promised that He will communicate with the disciples in a more direct fashion (John 16:25–28). Their immediate reaction is to assume that the spiritual clarity promised by Jesus has already arrived (John 16:29). Here, they imply that what they now see and hear from Jesus fulfills that knowledge.

The disciples, in a sense, are telling Jesus they now understand all that He has been saying to them. His response, starting in the next verse, is like His reaction to Peter's overconfidence (John 13:36–38). Christ will ask rhetorically—almost sarcastically—if it's true that they now fully "believe" and understand these things (John 16:31). What these men have already forgotten is that they still have spiritual "birth pains" to experience before all is made clear (John 16:20–22, 32).

John 16:25–33 completes Christ's combination of encouragement and warning as He prepares the disciples for His impending arrest (John 18:1–3). This passage summarizes the general message of that discourse: that hardship and persecution will come, but believers should remain faithful, knowing this is all part of God's knowledge and His will. Rather than reacting in panic or doubt, followers of Christ should feel a sense of peace. This confidence is inspired by knowledge that nothing they experience catches God by surprise. The expression "take heart" implies courage: knowing Christ's victory overshadows all those troubles.

Throughout His teaching in the Last Supper (John 13:1–5), Jesus has often brought up the fact that He's giving His followers advance warnings (John 13:19; 14:25). His intent is to provide encouragement—persecution as a result of their faith is inevitable. In keeping with that reassurance, Jesus again promises the coming of the Holy Spirit. He explains that after a time of deep sorrow, His followers will experience great joy and clarity. This concludes with a beloved promise that Christ has "overcome the world."

This completes the teaching portion of Jesus' words during the Last Supper, begun in chapter 13. Christ echoes many of the themes of His earthly ministry. His focus is especially on encouragement: reminding the disciples that the hard times they will experience will end in victory. While they don't clearly understand, the Holy Spirit will lead them in the right direction. This ends with Christ's beloved declaration that He has "overcome the world." That introduces the record of Jesus' High Priestly Prayer in chapter 17, immediately before His arrest early in chapter 18.

The gospel of John was written by the disciple John, decades later than the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. The author assumes that a reader is already familiar with the content of these other works. So, John presents a different perspective, with a greater emphasis on meaning. John uses seven miracles—which he calls “signs”—in order to prove that Jesus is, in fact, God incarnate. Some of the most well-known verses in all of the Bible are found here. None is more famous than the one-sentence summary of the gospel found in John 3:16.