Don't Be Sad, Better Things Ahead : John 16:5-7 : What Jesus Did! : HEARTLIGHT®

Home > Devotionals > What Jesus Did! > October 14

Don't Be Sad, Better Things Ahead - John 16:5-7

"Now I am going back to the One who sent me. But none of you asks me, 'Where are you going?' You are filled with sadness because I have told you these things. But I tell you the truth. It is better for you that I go away. Why? Because when I go away I will send the Helper to you. But if I did not go away, then the Helper would not come." (ERV) Full Text

Key Thought

I can't imagine how the disciples felt or what they understood when Jesus talked about going away. Jesus did all he could to help his disciples be prepared for his departure even though he was facing rejection, torture, and death. Jesus loves his disciples to the end! Jesus' great assurance over and over again in his farewell visit and prayer with his disciples (John 13-17) is that when he goes away, they will not be left alone. The Holy Spirit, the Comforter/Counselor will come to them. Jesus will send the Spirit to them and they will do amazing things in Jesus' name. Jesus won't be gone, just present in a different way. That Holy Presence is also for us today as well!

Today's Prayer

Get WJD by EMAIL!

Enter your email address above to subscribe to the email edition of What Jesus Did! Follow along FREE every day as we go through John in a year.

More Info on Mailing Lists

Father, thank you for your abiding presence in my life through the Holy Spirit. I am so thankful that Jesus' presence wasn't just confined to his earthly ministry, but that he has come to live inside my heart through the Holy Spirit. Please know that the Spirit is welcome in my heart to mend, purify, convict, correct, empower, and motivate. In Jesus' name. Amen.

NEW: Get Phil's What Jesus Did devotional in a paperback book. Click here to find out more!

Today's Verses in Context

"I have told you these things so that people will not be able to destroy your faith. People will make you leave their synagogues. Yes, a time is coming when people will think that killing you would be doing service for God. People will do these things because they have not known the Father, and they have not known me. I have told you these things now. So when the time comes for these things to happen, you will remember that I warned you. "I did not tell you these things at the beginning, because I was with you then. Now I am going back to the One who sent me. But none of you asks me, 'Where are you going?' You are filled with sadness because I have told you these things. But I tell you the truth. It is better for you that I go away. Why? Because when I go away I will send the Helper to you. But if I did not go away, then the Helper would not come. When the Helper comes, he will prove to the people of the world the truth about these things: about sin, about being right with God, and about judgment. The Helper will prove that people have sin, because they don't believe in me. He will prove to them about {my} being right with God, because I am going to the Father. You will not see me then. And the Helper will prove to the world the truth about judgment, because the ruler of this world (the devil) is already judged. "I have many more things to say to you. But those things are too much for you to accept now. But when the Spirit of truth comes, he will lead you into all truth. The Spirit of truth will not speak his own words. He will speak only what he hears. He will tell you the things that will happen. The Spirit of truth will bring glory to me. How? He will get things from me and tell them to you. All the things that the Father has are mine. That is why I said that the Spirit will get things from me and tell them to you.

— John 16:1-15 (ERV)

Comments on "Don't Be Sad, Better Things Ahead":

Jesus said, "My children, I will be with you only a short time more. You will look for me. And what I told the Jewish leaders, I tell you now: Where I am going you cannot come. "I give you a new command: Love each other. You must love each other like I loved you. All people will know that you are my followers if you love each other."
John 13:33 - 35 (ERV)

Jesus said, "Don't be troubled. Trust in God. And trust in me. There are many rooms in my Father's house. I would not tell you this if it were not true. I am going there to prepare a place for you. After I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back. Then I will take you with me, so that you can be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going." Thomas said, "Lord, we don't know where you are going. So how can we know the way?" Jesus answered, "I am the way. I am the truth and the life. The only way to the Father is through me. If you really knew me, then you would know my Father too. But now you know the Father. You have seen him." Philip said to Jesus, "Lord, show us the Father. That is all we need." Jesus answered, "Philip, I have been with you for a long time. So you should know me. The person that has seen me has seen the Father too. So why do you say, 'Show us the Father'? Do you truly believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The things I have told you don't come from me. The Father lives in me, and he is doing his own work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or believe because of the miracles I have done. I tell you the truth. The person that believes in me will do the same things I have done. Yes! He will do even greater things than I have done. Why? Because I am going to the Father. And if you ask for anything in my name, I will do it for you. Then the Father's glory will be shown through the Son. If you ask me for anything in my name, I will do it.
John 14:1-14 (ERV)

You heard me say to you, 'I am leaving, but I will come back to you.' If you loved me, then you would be happy that I am going back to the Father. Why? Because the Father is greater than I am.
John 14:28 (ERV)

Share with Others

Print this Devotional

Send it to a Friend

Discuss