But It's Good For You (v.2)

John 16:4–7 “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; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou? 6 But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart. 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.”

The Disciples’ Curiosity

Destination

John 13:36 “36 Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards.”

Direction

John 14:5 “5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?”

John 14:6–8 “6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. 7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. 8 Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.”

Culmination

John 14:8 “8 Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.”

The Hope in Jesus’ Departure

A Permanent Presence

John 14:16 “16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;”

John 15:10 “10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.”

A Greater Dimension

John 14:12 “12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.”

John 15:7 “7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.”

John 15:16 “16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.”

A Fuller Maturity

John 14:23 “23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.”

John 15:11 “11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.”

This is a key verse: Jesus directly explains his purpose for sharing the things he has, which is that his joy would remain, and their joy would be full - exactly opposite to the effect the disciples were taking!

Why Did They Stop Asking?

Jesus had to go for the greater thing to come

John 14:2 “2 . . . I go to prepare a place for you.”

Jn 14.12 “12 . . . the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.”

None Were Asking Now

Jesus lamented that none were asking

John 16:5 “5 But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou?”

Yet this is exactly what Peter asked at the outset

John 13:36 “36 Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards.”

What happened?

I think what had happened is this: as Jesus began to discuss the changes that were about to take place, particularly his departure and the coming of the Comforter, their hearts became so clouded with the distress of Jesus’ departure as they knew him that they lost their interest and curiosity to their grief and despair.

The Distress Jesus Detected

John 14:26–28 “26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. 27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 28 Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.”

Troubled Hearts

Fear

Self-Centeredness

The Comforter

Loss is Necessary for Gain

John 16:7 “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.”

They were fixated on the loss of the transition, when Jesus was doing everything he could to show them that what was coming gets better than what they have now.

The Comforter as ‘Advocate’

‘Comforter’ is the same word as ‘Advocate’ in 1 Jn 2.2.

1 John 2:1 “1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:”

NICNT (John. Additional Note F: The Paraclete. Pg 587-590) suggests ‘advocate’ or ‘counselor’ as the best translations of the paraclete, which carries a legal connotation and suggests one representing to the adversaries proactively.

Goes on to suggest that perhaps the best English word is ‘representative’ or ‘Friend’, one who is constantly working for your best interests.

It is for your good

It’s good for you that I go away

John 16:7 “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.”

“It is expedient for you” is the same phrase used by Caiaphas in Jn 11.49-50 (NICNT Jn 16.7).

John 11:49–50 “49 And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all, 50 Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.”

The disciples thought Jesus’ departure was a disaster; in fact, it was for their best good.

God’s redemptive purposes were fulfilled.

The Holy Spirit would animate the power of God in a way that even exceeded the human presence of Jesus with them.

“I am with you now, but I shall be in you.”

God is able to effect his purposes through situations and circumstances that we interpret blandly or badly.

Romans 8:28 “28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

What is God bringing your way that you’re reluctant to embrace? Trust him. He will bring only what’s for your best good.

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