A lovely woman in our church died not long ago. She knew for almost a year that, unless the Lord intervened, the cancer in her brain would kill her. That year gave her time of wonderful interaction with her husband and family. Her family had the opportunity to express their love for her, and the dying woman had the privilege of passing on her godly wisdom.
In John 16 Jesus knows that he will die in less than twenty-four hours. When his disciples are faced with that reality, Jesus responds to their concerns by talking about the coming Holy Spirit.
Warming Up to God
Think about the people in your life who are important to you. What would you want to tell them if you knew that you had only a short time to live? Ask God to make you ready to hear what Jesus had to say in his last days.Read John 16:5-33
Discovering the Word
- Jesus said that it was for the disciples' good that he go away and that the Counselor come. Why was the Spirit's presence more profitable to the disciples than Jesus' presence?
- What did Jesus say the Spirit's ministry would be toward the world (vv. 8-11)?
- The Spirit's ministry is one of communication. What specific things did Jesus say the Spirit would communicate to the disciples (vv. 13-15)?
- Jesus answers the questions the disciples ask in verses 17-18, not by giving them an explanation but by making them a promise (vv. 19-22). What was the promise?
- Why would Jesus' promise bring them joy in the midst of their grief and confusion?
- How would Jesus' assurance of the Father's love help the disciples in the days just ahead of them (vv. 25-33)?
Applying the Word
- How can this incident help us when our questions to the Lord seemingly go unanswered?
- How do you respond to the promise in verses 23-24?
