13 Howbeit, when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak and he will show you things to come. : "The Spirit of truth.' So called because he would teach them all needful truth. Will guide you into all truth.' All that pertained to the establishment of the christian system, which they were not then prepared to hear. We may remark that here is a full promise that they should be inspired and guided in founding the new church. And we may observe that the plan of the Saviour was replete with wisdom. Though they had been long with him, yet they were not prepared then to hear of the changes that were to occur. But his death would open their eyes, and the Holy Spirit, applying the striking and impressive scenes of his death and ascension, would carry forward with vast rapidity their views on the nature of the christian scheme. Perhaps in the few days that intervened, as recorded in the first and second chapters of the Acts of the Apostles, they learned more of the true nature of the christian plan than they would have done in months or years even under the teaching of Jesus himself. 'Not speak of himself." Not as prompted by himself. He shall declare what is communicated to him. Note, ch. vii. 18. 'Whatsoever he shall hear.' What he shall receive of the Father and the Son, represented by hearing, because in this way instruction is commonly received. See note, ch. v. 30. Things to come.' The apostles were inspired by the Holy Spirit to predict future events which would take place in the church and the world. See Acts xi. 28; xx. 29; xxi. 11. 1 Tim, iv. 1-3. 2 Tim. iii. 1–9. 2 Pet. i. 14; and the whole book of the Revelation. 14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you. 'Shall glorify me.' Shall honour me. The nature of his influence shall be such as to exalt my character and work in view of the mind. 'Shall receive of mine.' Literally, "shall take of, or from me." He shall receive his commission and instructions as an ambassador from me, to do my will and complete my work. 'Shall show it.' Shall announce or communicate it to you. This is always the work of the Spirit, 1 Cor. xii. 3. If we have been truly convinced of sin, and renewed by the Holy Ghost, the tendency of all his influences has been to lead us to the Saviour; to show us our need of him; to reveal to us the loveliness of his character, and the fitness of his work to our wants; and to incline us to cast our eternal interests on his almighty arm, and to commit all to his hands. 15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and show it unto you. All things,' &c. See Matt. xxviii. 18; xi. 27. No one could have said this who was not equal with the Father. See ch. xiv. 9. 16 A little while, and ye shall not see me : and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father. 17 Then said some of his disciples among themselves, What is this that he saith unto us, A little while, and ye shall not see me and again, a little while, and ye shall see me: and, Because I go to the Father? 18 They said therefore, What is this that he saith, A little while? we cannot tell what he saith. 19 Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him, and said unto them, Do ye inquire among yourselves of that I said, A little while, and ye shall not see me and again, a little while, and ye shall see me? 'A little while. His death took place the next day. See ch. xiv. 19. Ye shall not see me.' That is, he would die, and be concealed from their view in the grave. 'And again a little while. After three days he would rise again, and appear to their view. Because I go,' &c. Because it is a part of the plan that I should ascend to God, it is necessary that I should rise from the grave, and then you will see me, and have evidence that I am still your Friend. Compare ch. vii. 33. 20 Verily, verily, I say unto you, that ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. 21 A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. Ye shall weep,' &c. At my crucifixion, sufferings, and death. Compare Luke xxiii. 27. The world.' Wicked men. The term 'world' is frequently used in this sense. See ver. 8. 'Shall be turned into joy.' You will not only rejoice at my resurrection, but even at my death, the object of so much grief now to you, shall then be a source of unspeakable joy. It shall procure for you peace and pardon in this life, and eternal joy in the world to come. Thus their greatest apparent calamity would be to them finally the source of their highest comfort; and though now they could not see how it could be, yet if they had known the whole case they would have seen that they might rejoice. And thus in our afflictions if we could see the whole case, we should rejoice. We may also remark here that the apparent triumphs of the wicked, will be yet overruled for good. Their joy shall be turned into mourning, and the mourning of christians into joy. And the wicked may be doing the very thing-as they were in the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus-that shall eventually be made the means of promoting the glory of God, and the good of his people, Ps. lxxvi. 10. 22 And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you. 'I will see you again.' After my resurrection. Your joy no man taketh from you.' You shall be so firmly persuaded that I have risen, and that I am the Messiah, that neither the threats nor persecutions of men shall ever be able to shake your faith, and produce doubt or unbelief, and thus take away your joy. This prediction was remarkably fulfilled. 23 And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. In that day.' After my resurrection and ascension. After I have departed from you. 'Ye shall ask me nothing.' While he was with them, they had been accustomed to depend on him for the supply of their wants, and to state their trials to him, expecting his aid. See Matt. viii. 25. John xi. 3. They had not sought to God through him as the Mediator, but they had directly applied to him. He now tells them that henceforward their requests were to be made to God in his name, and that he, by the influences of his Spirit, would make known to them what Jesus would himself do, if bodily present. The emphasis in this verse is to be placed on the word "me." Their requests were not to be made to him, but to the Father. 'Whatsoever ye shall ask,' &c. See ch. xiv. 13. 24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. 'Hitherto.' During his ministry, and while he was with them. 'Ye have asked,' &c. This great truth that we must approach God in the name of the Mediator, was reserved as the last that the Saviour was to communicate to them. Then they were prepared in some degree to understand it. And then, amidst trials, and wants, and a sense of their weakness and unworthiness, they would see the preciousness of this great truth, and rejoice in the privilege of being thus permitted to draw near to God. Though he would be bodily absent, yet their blessings would still be Now given through the same unchanging Friend. Ask,' &c. they had the assurance that they might approach God in his name. That your joy,' &c. See ch. xv. 11. 25 These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall show you plainly of the Father. 'In proverbs. In a manner that appears obscure, enigmatical, and difficult to be understood. It is worthy of remark, that though his declarations in these chapters about his death, resurrection, &c., appear to us to be plain, yet to the apostles, filled with Jewish prejudices and unwilling to believe that he was about to die, they would appear exceedingly obscure and perplexed. The time cometh.' This refers doubtless to the time after his ascension to heaven, when he would send the Holy Spirit plainly to teach them the great truths of religion. I will show you plainly.' As Jesus said that he would send the Holy Spirit, ver. 7, and as he came to carry forward the work of Christ, so it may be said that the teachings of the Holy Spirit were the teachings of Christ himself. Of the Father." Concerning the will and plan of the Father. 26 At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you : "I say not that I will pray,' &c. In ch. xiv. 16, Jesus says that he would pray the Father, and that he would send the Comforter. In ch. xvii. 9, &c., he offered a memorable prayer for them. In Heb. vii. 25, it is said that Jesus ever liveth to make intercession for us. Compare Heb. ix. 24. This declaration of Jesus then does not mean that he would not intercede for them, but that there was no need then of his mentioning it to them again. They knew that; and in addition to that, he told them that God was ready and willing to confer on them all needful blessings. 27 For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God. See ch. xiv. 21, 23. 28 I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world again, I leave the world, and go to the Father. 'I came forth from the Father.' And am come into the world.' ix. 39. I came sent by the Father. 29 His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb. 'Now speakest thou plainly.' What he had said that perplexed them, was that which is contained in ver. 16. Compare ver. 17-19: "A little while and ye shall not see me," &c. This he had now explained, ver. 28. and they expressed themselves satisfied with his explanation. 30 Now are we sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou camest forth from God. It is evident that they had not mentioned their difficulty to Jesus, and that he had not even heard their conversation among themselves, ver. 19. When therefore by his answers to them, ver. 20-28, he showed that he clearly understood their doubts and inquiries, it satisfied them that he knew the heart, and that he assuredly came from God. They were convinced that there was no need that any man should ask him, or propose his difficulties to him, since he knew them all, and could answer them. 31 Jesus answered them, Do ye now believe? Do ye now believe? Do you truly and really believe? Though they supposed that they had unshaken faith, faith that would endure every trial, yet he told them that they were about to go through scenes that would try them, and require all their confidence in God. When we feel strong in the faith, we should examine ourselves. It may be that we are deceived; and it may be that God may even then be preparing trials for us that will shake our faith to its foundation. 32 Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. "The hour cometh. On the next day, when he was crucified. "Ye shall be scattered.' See Matt. xxvi. 31. Every man to his own.' That is, to his own home. After his death all the disciples retired into Galilee, and were engaged in their common employment of fishing, John xxi.1-14. Matt.xxviii. 7. 'Leave me alone.' Leave me to die without human sympathy or compassion. It is remarkable that his disciples did not come near the cross to witness his sufferings, except the apostle John, ch. xix, 25-27. Pain is alleviated, and suffering made more tolerable by the presence and sympathy of friends, and there is no doubt that Jesus as a man, felt as a man, and would have been in some degree comforted by the presence and sympathy of his friends. He died |