Knowledge of Opposition Ahead of Time (16:1-4) 

The Presence and Power of the Spirit of God (16:5-15)

1. A demonstration of sin. The coming of the Comforter is a demonstration of the sin of the world, “because they do not believe on me”. If the world had believed on Jesus, the Spirit would never have been sent, because Jesus would have remained on earth! The presence of the Spirit on earth is a witness of the sin of the world in rejecting the Son. But also, the coming of the Spirit to dwell selectively in believers (and not universally in the world, as will take place in the Millennium) is a pointed demonstration. When David returned from exile, he discretely rewarded those who had been faithful to him. Likewise the gift of the Spirit to those who believe on the Son is demonstration of the sin of the world, who cast out the Son of God.² It isn’t so much that the Spirit demonstrates the depravity of the world in this or that particular vice (like the law), but specifically the sin of refusing to believe on the Son. Not that other sins do not warrant judgment; but there is one all-surpassing issue now. As another has suggested, the Holy Spirit here is like the voice of God to Cain, asking not “Where is Abel thy brother?”, but “What have you done with my Son?”³ Because of this continual demonstration, the world can never rest while the Christian, and thereby the Holy Spirit, is in it.
2. A demonstration of righteousness. The coming of the Holy Spirit was also a public demonstration of God’s righteousness in bringing the Son to His own right hand, seated on the right hand of the Majesty on high; “of righteousness, because I go away to my Father, and ye behold me no longer”. The world awarded Jesus the cross; the ultimate display of unrighteousness. The Father awarded Him the throne; the ultimate display of righteousness. In fact, God’s righteousness was displayed in two ways: positively, in glorifying the Son (John 13:31-22), and negatively, in depriving the world if its only hope – the Messiah, Blesser of heaven and earth, the Desire of all Nations (Hag. 2:7). God’s righteousness is displayed in giving Jesus the highest place in heaven, and also in not letting the world have the One they rejected. But we have Him.⁴ In 2 Corinthians 5:21 we find that our blessing in Christ is also a display of God’s righteousness; an extension, in a certain sense, of what we have in John 16:10. But the sending of the Holy Spirit is proof that Jesus is at the right hand of God. If He were a mere man, and a dishonest or deluded religious fanatic, the Holy Spirit would not have been sent. But the Spirit was sent, and through Him Peter preached Jesus, “being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear” (Acts 2:33). The testimony of the Spirit was then confirmed by signs and wonders (Heb. 2:4). The Spirit then, in giving evidence that Jesus is exalted at God’s right hand, demonstrates the righteousness of God.
3. A demonstration of judgment. The coming of the Spirit is also a public demonstration of the judgment of the world, “because the ruler of this world is judged”. The one called here, the ruler or “prince” of this world, is Satan. There is a sense in which the judgment of Satan and his angels is still future, and will be accomplished at the appearing of Christ (Rev. 20:1; Isa. 24:21), but this “judgment” spoken of by the Lord was accomplished in the death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus. Satan, who is the political prince of this world, has been exposed for what he really is, and the world has been exposed in following her prince. A helpful passage regarding this is Colossians 2:15; “having spoiled principalities and authorities, he made a show of them publicly, leading them in triumph by it [the cross]”.  The “principalities and powers” are the spiritual beings that are allied with Satan. They originated from the heavenly host, but evidently followed Satan in his fall. They lurk in darkness, but when Christ came, they were drawn out into the open. We see the beginnings of this in the temptation, and further in the Lord’s discourse with Legion, etc. But at the cross, the full powers of darkness came out into the open, like an army mobilizing for battle. “But this is your hour, and the power of darkness” (Luke 22:53). On the cross, the powers of darkness were defeated. How so? “That through death he might destroy [annul] him that had the power of death, that is, the devil” (Heb. 2:14). The actual victory was accomplished on the cross, but the formal witness of its accomplishment is seen in the resurrection and ascension; “Wherefore he says, Having ascended up on high, he has led captivity captive, and has given gifts to men” (Eph. 4:8). Christ has annulled the forces of evil, and triumphed over them. Christ “made a show of them publicly” though His humility. By taking a lowly path, and being obedient unto death, the forces of evil were drawn into public, and there totally defeated by Christ, who rendered Satan powerless by going into death. Jesus defeated Satan in a way he never expected; by laying down His life in submission to the Father’s will (Luke 22:42; 23:46). What Satan thought to be a sure victory was actually the total opposite! But it was too late, Satan was fully exposed, and morally judged. And the world, composed of Jews and Gentiles, was exposed also, because they followed their prince, and were willingly led by him to cast out the Son of God. The Holy Spirit sent down is a demonstration that Christ has been victorious over Satan, and that therefore, the prince and his world are under the sentence of judgment, although the execution of the judgment is still future.⁵

1. Guides us into all the truth. The first thing the Spirit of truth would do is “guide” the saints into “all the truth”. This would involve several things, including revelation; “whatsoever he shall hear he shall speak”. Revelation is the process by which the Spirit of God directly reveals to men the Word of God. Inspiration is the process by which holy men of God, moved by the Holy Spirit, write down the revealed words, forming the written Word of God. Illumination is the process by which God’s people are taught by the Spirit of God, through the Word of God, to understand the mind of God. All three of these “steps of Divine communication” are through the power and guidance of the Spirit of Truth. Read more about this in 1 Corinthians 2. The Spirit of God does not act independently; “for he shall not speak from himself; but whatsoever he shall hear he shall speak”. This doesn’t mean the Spirit doesn’t speak about Himself, for surely there is much New Testament doctrine regarding the Person of the Spirit, and for an example we must look no further than the gospel of John, not to mention Romans 8, 1 Corinthians 12, etc. Nor does it mean the Spirit is in some way deficient in knowledge. Quite the opposite; “For who of men hath known the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? thus also the things of God knows no one except the Spirit of God” (1 Cor. 2:11). It simply means the Spirit would not speak independently, but would be here to serve the Son, and glorify Him. The Spirit of God does not make Himself the object of His teaching, but rather exalts Christ.
   1. Shows us future events. The Spirit would give the saints an understanding of future events; “and he will announce to you what is coming”. Prophecy is perhaps not the largest of the Spirit’s works, but it is an important one. These subjects would include the revelation of what the church is, and how it is to function, as well as the destiny of Christ, the church, Israel, and the nations. Think of all that we have concerning things to come in the New Testament: the revelation of the mystery of God’s will, the hope of the rapture, the details of the appearing of Christ, the beast and false prophet, the seal, trumpet, and bowl judgments, the details of the great harlot, the new Jerusalem, and the eternal state. These are “things to come” that we would be imperfect in our understanding of, or else completely ignorant of, if the Spirit of truth had not revealed them unto us.
2. Glorifies Christ by Announcing His Person and Place with the Father. The Son’s purpose in coming down was to glorify the Father. The Spirit’s purpose in coming down is to glorify the Son! To “glorify” is to cause the dignity or worth of a person or a thing to be magnified or acknowledged. The prime object of the Spirit of God here in this world is to exalt Christ; “He shall glorify me, for he shall receive of mine and shall announce it to you”. In fact, this forms a great test of all Christian ministry. If we are wondering if certain ministry is of the Spirit: first, is it consistent with scripture? and does it glorify Christ? The Spirit receives things concerning Christ, and shows them unto us. What things? “All things that the Father has are mine”. Specifically, the “things” the Spirit would announce are the glories of Christ with the Father. It isn’t so much the official glories of Christ, or even His moral glories seen in His earthly pathway below that are comprehended here. The Spirit of God would announce the personal glories of the Son; “And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was” (John 17:5). Remember that these words spoken by the Lord were intended to comfort the disciples concerning His departure out of the world. The Spirit of God announces to the believer the blessedness of Christ’s place at the Father’s right hand, and this comforts our hearts, and fills us with the hope of being with Him soon. 

Unassailable Joy and Definite Hope (16:16-22)

In Relationship with God as Father (16:23-28) 

Christ’s Victory over the World (16:29-33)

1. This, then, is the distinctive character of Christianity. It is not the kingdom, Christ reigning in Jehovah, power and glory, and the Spirit poured out upon all flesh, but Christ departing to be in heaven, and the Spirit as Paraclete sent and abiding with the saints on earth. – Kelly, William. Exposition of the Gospel of John.
2. Although it is a somewhat more negative example, we have a parallel to this in Exodus. In Egypt, after the first three plagues were accomplished, the Lord caused the remaining plagues to fall only on the Egyptians, and the children of Israel were spared. “I will put a separation between my people and thy people” (Exodus 8:22). This “separation” was a public demonstration of Pharaoh’s sin in refusing to let Israel go.
3. Darby, J.N. Synopsis of the Books of the Bible.
4. Having glorified God His Father, He was going to sit at His right hand, at the right hand of the Majesty on high, to be glorified in God Himself, to sit on the Father’s throne. To set Him there was divine righteousness (see John 13:31-32, and John 17:1-5). This same righteousness deprived the world, as it is, of Jesus for ever. Man saw Him no more. Righteousness in favour of men was in Christ at God’s right hand — in judgment as to the world, in that it had lost Him hopelessly and for ever. – Darby, J.N. Synopsis of the Books of the Bible.
5. He who has the power of death committed himself thoroughly. In his desire to ruin man he had to hazard everything in his enterprise against the Prince of Life. He was able to associate the whole world with himself in this, Jew and Gentile, priest and people, governor, soldier, and subject. The world was there, headed by its prince, on that solemn day. The enemy had everything at stake, and the world was with him. But Christ has risen, He has ascended to His Father, and has sent down the Holy Ghost. All the motives that govern the world, and the power by which Satan held men captive, are shown to be of him; he is judged. The power of the Holy Ghost is the testimony of this, and surmounts all the powers of the enemy. The world is not yet judged, that is, the judgment executed — it will be in another manner; but it is morally, its prince is judged. All its motives, religious and irreligious, have led it to reject Christ, placing it under Satan’s power. It is in that character that he has been judged; for he led the world against Him who is manifested to be the Son of God by the presence of the Holy Ghost consequent on His breaking the power of Satan in death. – Darby, J.N. Synopsis of the Books of the Bible.
6. Miss Burlingham, H.K. On His Father’s Throne Is Seated. Little Flock Hymnbook #39
7. As testimony, this took place when He showed Himself to them after His resurrection; it will be fully accomplished when He shall return to receive them unto Himself. But when they had seen Him again, they should understand the relationship in which He has placed them with His Father, they should enjoy it by the Holy Ghost. – Darby, J.N. Synopsis of the Books of the Bible.
8. This was surely true when He rose after His brief absence, as it will be fully verified when He comes for them never to part more… Even now His resurrection is a joy which none takes away. What will it be when He comes to receive us to Himself? – Kelly, W. Exposition of the Gospel of John.
9. Now this new state of man was familiarly manifested to the disciples, during the forty days that the Lord passed upon earth after His resurrection, before He ascended to heaven. The return of the Saviour, when He shall come back in His glory, will be the moment when His dominion will be established over all things, when God will put them all under His feet, with an authority and power that He will make use of to subject them to Himself. Now that of which we speak, whether with regard to the state of man, or relative to the glory, is evidently something more than the presence of the Holy Ghost, precious as that is, and it is that which now occupies the Lord. The Holy Ghost was to be given to the disciples, but more than this, He should see them again. No doubt they would see Him, when He will return in glory, but then it will be no longer a question of a testimony to render. Before that time they should see Him for a little while, for He would then go to His Father. This was the introduction of the disciples into the realisation of that new state which Christ inaugurated by His resurrection, Son of God in power. They should see the second Man beyond death, and be in living communication with Him. It was not the revelation of the glorious things of the new creation by the Holy Ghost; this revelation was going to be given to them: it was Christ Himself, the Christ they had known during the days of His flesh. “Handle me,” He said, “and see that it is I myself.” Touching and precious word! It was He whom they had known and accompanied every day and all day, who had borne with their infirmities, sustained their faith and encouraged their hearts; it was the same Jesus who shewed Himself as familiarly with them as before, though in quite another state. He shewed Himself, said Peter, “not to all the people, but to us, who did eat and drink with him, after that he was raised from the dead.” It was the same Christ, but what is of all importance, the basis of all for us, it was Christ beyond death, the power of Satan, the judgment of God, and sin; He who had been made sin for us, by whom our sins had been borne and put away, that God might remember them no more. We see here the link between Jesus, known in His humiliation in our midst in grace, and man in his new state, according to the counsels of God, a state in which He could no more be subjected to death, nor put to the proof. – Darby, J.N. On the Gospel of John.
10. These words then (ver. 16, etc.)… their full and entire accomplishment should only take place when Christ returns… – Darby, J.N. On the Gospel of John.
11. Deck, J.G. “A Little While”–The Lord Shall Come. Little Flock Hymnbook #173
12. His return to the Father was a parable still, though the Lord does not correct their error, as, indeed, it was useless: they would soon enough learn how little they knew. – Kelly, William. Exposition of the Gospel of John.