John 16:1-5
 
John 16:1 (KJB)
These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.
 
Offended - To cause to fall, away, shock, anger, or to put a stumbling block in the way
Jesus is telling the disciples of the events which will transpire over the next two days. When these things begin to happen, He wants them to be fully assured that these things must happen according to Scripture. He wants them to know these things ahead of time so the events will not cause anger or even shock them to the point that they might fall away. He wants them to know that even though the coming events make it look like Jesus has been defeated, that is definitely not the case because the cross was a point of victory. It was at the cross where Satan was defeated. Many today look at Good Friday and still do not understand what took place at Calvary. Many want to blame the Jews and many want to blame the Romans but the reality is that if there was no crucifixion, there would be no salvation. The Jews and Romans were the means by which God used for the crucifixion. It showed a melding of false religion and corrupt politics, something which is alive and well today.
 
John 16:2 (KJB)
They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.
 
Service - Ministry or worshipping God
 
In ancient Israel, the Synagogue was not only the center of religious activity, but was also the center for community social affairs. If a person was excommunicated from the Synagogue, it meant they were an outcast from all aspects of the affairs of the community, both religious and social. Jesus is warning the disciples that they will definitely be put out of the Synagogues and considered outcasts but the persecution will not stop there. The words “shall put” in the Greek is one word and it is in the future tense which means it will not be limited only to Israel at that time but will continue until the last day. Jesus goes on to warn them, and us, that His true followers will not only face excommunication but also they will be killed by those who think they are doing God’s work. Remember Saul when he held the robes of those who were stoning Stephen? Then we read about the persecutions by the Roman Empire that put many Christians to death for not declaring Caesar as their god. Then in the Middle Ages the Roman Catholic Institution murdered true Christians and they did it believing that they were serving God. Today Islam contains the belief that Christians are infidels and it is permissible by their laws to kill them. So the Christian today has the same death sentence pronounced on them as did those of times past. There is also another way of killing a Christian in a bloodless manner. When a true Christian brings the gospel to a church and they are rebuffed or cast out, the church is actually killing that Christian by removing them because no longer will their voice be heard in that church. To silence a Christian, is to kill their testimony.
 
John 16:3 (KJB)
And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.
 
Jesus states the reason why these things will happen to the believers. It is because they are unsaved, not having the Son nor the Father. False religions of this world are responsible for the anti-Christian pogroms which have been a part of this world’s history. One can see this in the murderous persecutions of the Roman Catholic Institution such as their tirade against the Waldensians in Southern France. Islam knows neither the Son nor the Father and that is why murder comes so easy to them. Basically what the Lord is teaching is that the
enemy of true Christianity is every false religion and true Christians must beware of them.
 
John 16:4 (KJB)
But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you.
 
First, Jesus is once again telling them that He is informing them of the coming events and that when they come to pass, that they should remember that He told them that these things would happen. He told them this because He wanted them to know He was in control of the entire situation and even though it was the time for the darkness to take over, it was to be noted that they were fully in compliance with the salvation program of God. (Luke 22:53 KJV) When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness. Jesus did not tell them of these events at the beginning of His ministry since He would be with them for the next 3 ˝ years, the words would have no impact as they would slowly fade behind all the upcoming miracles and ministry. Now Jesus is going to leave them for a short time but He will be back in two days to once again join them for 40 days. He wants them to realize that these events must take place because they are written in Scripture. Jesus tells them these things closer to the time of the crucifixion so it will be fresh in their minds and will not forget and lose heart.
 
John 16:5 (KJB)
But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou?
 
Whither - To what place
 
Jesus had been instructing the disciples concerning the coming events, the coming persecutions and the sending of the Holy Spirit to the disciples. Jesus had been really teaching them in these final hours of things to come and while He was explaining these things to them, none of them had asked Him to what place was He going to? Maybe they had been in a state of sorrow concerning what Jesus was telling them and that is why no one asked the question. Jesus was about to enter the crescendo of His earthly ministry and the disciples were probably still in a state of denial as to the impending death of Jesus. They may have thought that this was the end of their ministry too. Probably many things were going through their minds at this time which may have caused them much anxiety.

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