John 16:4-31

"Dear Faithful Follower, I spoke the words you will read in the verses below before I went to the cross. I planted them like seeds into the hearts of...."

"[Jesus continued,] "In a little while you won't see me anymore. But a little while after that, you will see me again." Some of the disciples asked..."

"[Jesus continued, "When you rejoice after your sorrow,] you won't need to ask me for anything. I tell you the truth, you will ask the Father directly,..."

"Dear Beloved, My ascension back to the Father was a wonderful blessing. I know that you would love to have My physical presence with you — to....."

"[Jesus continued,] "And when [the Advocate] comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God's righteousness, and of the coming judgment. The....."

"[Jesus continued,] "There is so much more I want to tell you, but you can't bear it now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all..."

"[Jesus continued,] "But now I am going away to the one who sent me, and not one of you is asking where I am going. Instead, you grieve because of what..."

"[Jesus said,] "I still have many things to tell you, but you can't handle them now. But when the Friend comes, the Spirit of the Truth, he will take you by the...."

"[Jesus continued,] "Yes, I came from the Father into the world, and now I will leave the world and return to the Father." Then his disciples said,..."

Anchored in the context of the Last Supper, Jesus promises greater things! Phil Ware reminds us that Jesus made great promises in the context of his Last Supper and one of them promised that we would do greater things than he did.

This is no throw away or empty phrase, but a reminder of the One in charge! Max Lucado reminds us of the great power of praying in Jesus' name.

"[Jesus said,] "So let me say it again, this truth: It's better for you that I leave. If I don't leave, the Friend won't come. But if I go, I'll send him to..."

"[Jesus said,] "When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell...."

"There are times when all the promises and doctrines of the Bible are of no avail, unless a gracious hand shall apply them to us. We are thirsty, but....."

"[Jesus said,] "All that belongs to the Father is mine; this is why I said, 'The Spirit will tell you whatever he receives from me.'""

"Dear Believer, Have you ever asked yourself questions like the following:Why is the Bible important?Is it really necessary?Do I have to read it?Do I...."

Do you feel too far from the shore, too long in the struggle, and too small against the waves, with Jesus is nowhere to be seen. Max Lucado reminds us that we are not alone in our storms, but Jesus comes to us in the storms before he stills the storms.

"Jesus asked [his disciples], "Do you finally believe? But the time is coming — indeed it's here now — when you will be scattered, each one going his....."

Can we really find a way of escape? Sin, a form of spiritual cancer, can be defeated like physical cancer and this victory leaves us feeling excited and on top of the world, but we must work hard for the victory and God will help us.

How can we move from contingent joy through courageous joy to contagious joy? Max Lucado reminds us that contagious joy is rooted in courageous joy and not contingent joy, and our courageous joy is rooted in Jesus and faith in what God did through Jesus.

It was in the middle of one of these nitty-gritty down-to-earth conversations between Jesus and His disciples that He fleshed out the secret. Melissa Troyer reminds us of Jesus' strange promise of going away being better for His disciples than staying with them.

"[Jesus continued,] "I have told you these things so that you won't abandon your faith. For you will be expelled from the synagogues, and the time is....."

"I remember when that knowledge really hit me for the first time... that to get the whole truth, you have to have the Holy Spirit.' Ron Rose reminds us that without the Holy Spirit alive in us, we have no guide to help us understand the Scriptures, much less God or Jesus or the holy plans and promises for us!

How do you deal with such losses? The plane crash in Lexington, Kentucky brought out all sorts of emotions in the hearts of people and reminds us how death touches us all and our need for the promises of Jesus.

As Jesus journeyed into Jerusalem that last time, he had reached the point where he was going to gamble everything on the cross. Phil Ware continues his series of insights on living the CRUCIFORMED life Jesus calls all disciples to live on his way to the cross.