John 16:1-11: a reflection

1“I have said these things to you so that you wouldn’t be caused to stumble. 2They will put you out of the synagogues. Yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers service to God. 3They will do these things because they have not known the Father nor me. 4But I have told you these things so that when the time comes, you may remember that I told you about them. I didn’t tell you these things from the beginning, because I was with you. 5But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6But because I have told you these things, sorrow has filled your heart. 7Nevertheless I tell you the truth: It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I don’t go away, the Counselor won’t come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. 8When he has come, he will convict the world about sin, about righteousness, and about judgment; 9about sin, because they don’t believe in me; 10about righteousness, because I am going to my Father, and you won’t see me any more; 11about judgment, because the prince of this world has been judged.

Jesus prepares his disciples for hard days ahead. He warns them plainly that they will face rejection and even violence from those who imagine they are serving God, and he tells them this in advance so that when it comes, they will remember he foretold it and not be caught off guard or made to stumble. He does not promise them an easy road; he promises them the truth, so that trouble, when it comes, will not shake their faith.

Then Jesus says something that must have seemed impossible to his grieving disciples: it is to your advantage that I go away. How could losing Jesus be an advantage? Because, he explains, if he goes, he will send the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, to be with them. And the Spirit will do a profound work in the world, convicting it of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. The departure that filled their hearts with sorrow was actually opening the way for a greater gift.

There is comfort here for two kinds of moments. When you face rejection or hostility for your faith, remember that Jesus told you in advance; it is not a sign that something has gone wrong, and it need not make you stumble. And when a loss fills your heart with sorrow, remember that God can bring a greater gift through what feels like an ending. The disciples could not see, in their grief, that Christ's going would bring the Spirit. Trust that God is at work even in your losses, opening the way for good you cannot yet see.

Lord Jesus, you prepared your disciples for hardship and turned even your departure into a gift by sending your Spirit. When I face rejection for my faith, keep me from stumbling, remembering you foretold it. And when loss fills my heart with sorrow, help me to trust that you can bring a greater gift through what feels like an ending. Send your Spirit, and work your good even in my losses. Amen.