John 16: The Spirit of Truth

John 16 continues Jesus' farewell discourse, offering His disciples both warnings and assurances as He prepares them for His departure. He begins by explaining the challenges they will face, including persecution and expulsion from synagogues, as a result of their allegiance to Him. Jesus emphasizes the necessity of His departure, as it will allow the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, to come and guide them into all truth. The Holy Spirit will convict the world concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment, and will glorify Jesus by revealing His teachings to the disciples. Jesus also speaks of His impending death and resurrection, using the metaphor of a woman in labor to illustrate the sorrow that will turn into joy. He assures them that, although they will experience grief, their joy will be complete when they see Him again. The chapter concludes with Jesus' promise of peace, encouraging His disciples to take heart because He has overcome the world, providing them with hope and courage in the face of tribulation.