John 16:5-33

New International Version

⁵ but now I am going to him who sent me.^(A) None of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’^{(B) 6} Rather, you are filled with grief^(C) because I have said these things. ⁷ But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate^(D) will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.^{(E) 8} When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: ⁹ about sin,^(F) because people do not believe in me; ¹⁰ about righteousness,^(G) because I am going to the Father,^(H) where you can see me no longer; ¹¹ and about judgment, because the prince of this world^(I) now stands condemned.

¹² “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear.^{(J) 13} But when he, the Spirit of truth,^(K) comes, he will guide you into all the truth.^(L) 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.^(M) That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.”

The Disciples’ Grief Will Turn to Joy

¹⁶ Jesus went on to say, “In a little while^(N) you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me.”^(O)

¹⁷ At this, some of his disciples said to one another, “What does he mean by saying, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me,’^(P) and ‘Because I am going to the Father’?”^{(Q) 18} They kept asking, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We don’t understand what he is saying.”

¹⁹ Jesus saw that they wanted to ask him about this, so he said to them, “Are you asking one another what I meant when I said, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me’? ²⁰ Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn^(R) while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.^{(S) 21} A woman giving birth to a child has pain^(T) because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. ²² So with you: Now is your time of grief,^(U) but I will see you again^(V) and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.^{(W) 23} In that day^(X) you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.^{(Y) 24} Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive,^(Z) and your joy will be complete.^(AA)

²⁵ “Though I have been speaking figuratively,^(AB) a time is coming^(AC) when I will no longer use this kind of language but will tell you plainly about my Father. ²⁶ In that day you will ask in my name.^(AD) I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. ²⁷ No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me^(AE) and have believed that I came from God.^{(AF) 28} I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.”^(AG)

²⁹ Then Jesus’ disciples said, “Now you are speaking clearly and without figures of speech.^{(AH) 30} 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^(AI) that you came from God.”^(AJ)

³¹ “Do you now believe?” Jesus replied. ³² “A time is coming^(AK) and in fact has come when you will be scattered,^(AL) each to your own home. You will leave me all alone.^(AM) Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me.^(AN)

³³ “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.^(AO) In this world you will have trouble.^(AP) But take heart! I have overcome^(AQ) the world.”