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NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Joh_16:5-11
5"But now I am going to Him who sent Me; and none of you asks Me, 'Where are You going?' 6But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. 7But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. 8And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment; 9concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father and you no longer see Me; 11and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged."
Joh_16:5 "none of you asks Me, 'Where are You going'" It seems that Peter did ask this very question in chapter Joh_13:36, but immediately his mind was distracted to the agony of Jesus leaving them and then the question of what would happen to them (cf. Joh_16:6). Joh_14:1-3 addresses Jesus' ascension to heaven (cf. Act_1:9-11).
This is a good place to remind ourselves that the Gospels are not verbatim, word-for-word, transcripts of Jesus' conversations. They are summaries done years later for theological purposes. The Gospel writers, under inspiration, had the option of selecting, arranging, and adapting Jesus' words (see Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart, How To Read the Bible For All Its Worth). I do not believe they had the right to put words in Jesus' mouth. This theological structuring of Jesus' words, teachings, and actions for the evangelization of certain target audiences, probably explains many of the differences among the Gospel accounts!
Joh_16:6 "sorrow has filled your heart" This is a perfect active indicative. The Upper Room experience was one of sorrow (cf. Joh_14:1; Joh_16:6; Joh_16:22). The term "heart" is used in the Hebrew sense of the entire person-mind, feelings, and will. See Special Topic: Heart at Joh_12:40.
Joh_16:7 "it is to your advantage that I go away" Jesus' physical body could be in only one place at one time, which limited His ability to both teach and minister to all of His disciples. Also, during His earthly life He focused primarily on Israel (cf. Mat_10:6; Mat_15:24). The coming of the Holy Spirit would open up a new era that would issue in an expanded ministry (cf. Eph_2:11 to Eph_3:13).
The term "advantage" meant "expedient" and is also used in Joh_11:50; Joh_18:14 in connection with Jesus' death. The phrase "go away" could include all the events of Jesus' last week.
▣ "for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you" There are two third class conditional sentences in this verse which imply potential action. Jesus had to leave for the fullness of the Spirit to come! The term paraclçtos can be translated "advocate," "comforter," or "helper" (cf.JOHN 14:16, 26; Joh_15:26, see full note at Joh_14:16). This word appears only in John's writings. It was used in Greek literature for a defense lawyer called alongside to render aid. In Joh_16:8-11 the Spirit acted as a prosecutor to the world, however, in Joh_16:12-15 the Spirit's advocacy is seen on behalf of believers.
This same term paraclçtos, is used for the Son in 1Jn_2:1. The Greek root can be translated "comfort." In this sense it is used of the Father in 2Co_1:3-11.
▣ "I will send Him to you" The Spirit came from both the Father and the Son (cf. Joh_14:26).
Joh_16:8 "And He, when He comes, will convict the world" Notice that all three areas (sin, righteousness, judgment) of the Spirit's witness relate to the need of mankind and the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. The term "convict" was a legal term for a "cross-examination."
G. B. Caird, The Language and Imagery of the Bible, p. 159, has an interesting understanding of these three areas. Convince the world that
1. it has been wrong in bringing Jesus to trial and execution
2. it has been wrong about the meaning of sin
3. it has been wrong about the meaning of righteousness
4. it has been wrong about the meaning of judgment
If so, then the Spirit is fully revealing the gospel through the person of Jesus. Their religiosity cannot save them. Judgment awaits all who reject Jesus! "The sin" is unbelief! Jesus is the only way to life with God!
The term "world" refers to human, fallen society organized and functioning apart from God. See Special Topic at Joh_14:17.
Joh_16:9 "concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me" The gospel starts with a recognition of mankind's sinfulness and the need for God's righteousness (cf. Rom_3:9-18; Rom_3:23; Rom_6:23; Eph_2:1-3). Sin is not "the" major stumbling block to salvation this side of Calvary, but mankind's unbelief in the work and person of Jesus Christ (cf. Joh_3:6-21; Joh_8:24; Joh_8:26). The term "belief" has cognitive and emotional elements, but primarily it is volitional (see Special Topic at Joh_2:23). It focuses not on the believer's worthiness or performance, but on their repentant faith response to God's promises in Christ (cf. Rom_3:21-30).
Joh_16:10 "concerning righteousness" This may refer to
1. Christ's upcoming redemptive work on Calvary and the Resurrection seen as a unit (cf. Joh_16:10)
2. those who think they are right with God apart from Christ when in reality it is Christ only who is right with God, seen in the Ascension
Joh_16:11 "concerning judgement, because the ruler of this world has been judged" There is a day coming when both fallen angels and sinful mankind will stand before the righteous God (cf. Php_2:9-11). Satan, though still a great power in this world (cf. Joh_12:31; Joh_14:30; 2Co_4:4; Eph_2:2; 1Jn_5:19), is already a defeated foe (perfect passive indicative). His children (cf. Joh_8:44; Mat_13:38; 1Jn_3:8-10) reap the wrath of God!