John 16:6 - Printer Friendly

ESV: But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart.

NIV: Rather, you are filled with grief because I have said these things.

NASB: But because I have said these things to you, grief has filled your heart.

CSB: Yet, because I have spoken these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart.

NLT: Instead, you grieve because of what I’ve told you.

KJV: But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart.

NKJV: But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart.

This partly clarifies what Jesus meant by His earlier statement: that the disciples have not asked "where are you going?" Those literal words, in fact, they have asked (John 13:36; 14:5). But their meaning, in both cases, was focused on their own needs. Those questions were focused on Jesus leaving, and their own fears, not any genuine concern over where Christ was headed. It's important for modern readers to remember that the disciples did not have our advantage of hindsight. We can read about these events knowing exactly what will happen (John 20:19). They will struggle to put these ideas together until after Jesus is resurrected (John 2:22).

There is no question that recent statements by Jesus have been alarming. He has predicted, again, His own departure (John 16:5), His betrayal by a friend (John 13:21), and the impending persecution these men will face (John 16:1–4). Despite His reassurances (John 14:1–4), they are afraid. Christ knows that grief will be their natural response. His words are not meant to shame them for those feelings, but to encourage them to maintain faith. What is about to happen is part of God's plan to transform the entire world (John 16:7–11).

John 16:5–15 resumes an explanation of the work of the Holy Spirit. Jesus began to discuss this topic in John 15:26–27, before returning to the subject of persecution (John 16:1–4). Christ must leave the world, so His followers will learn to depend on the influence of the Holy Spirit. That Spirit will guide, judge, and speak in order to bring glory to God.

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.