The Upper Room Discourse - Why? Why? Why?

John 16:1-15

We are in a series on the wonderful teaching of Jesus in the Upper Room discourses on the night of His betrayal. We will spend about 5 hours of study time – approximately how long their evening was.

They had a meal together. There was the slow event of Jesus washing the disciples’ feet. There has been a roller-coaster of emotion for the disciples. One of them had been dismissed from the room and he is going to betray Jesus. Another one must have been deeply conscious that Jesus had told him that before the next day dawned, he would deny the Master, whom he believed with all his heart he deeply loved.

And then the words about the terrible opposition they will experience. And they should not be surprised by this opposition, for Jesus has forewarned them in order that they should be forearmed.

Now as we turn to chapter 16, Jesus adds something that must have been unbelievable for the disciples. He said to them, “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now” (16:12).

The disciples had to be thinking, surely there is no more to learn; I don’t think I can take anymore.

Yet Jesus is a wise teacher. What a marvelous model he is here for elders, and pastors, and leaders in the church. He knows how much his disciples can bear and knows not to try to tell them everything at once.

And did he then say to them, ‘there are some things you are not going to understand until my resurrection and the gift of the Holy Spirit.’? But “when the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth…” (13). Then you will understand.

We can imagine as he looks into their faces he must have seen questions in their eyes. And in our passage this week, John 16:1-15, it seems (as Sinclair Ferguson suggests) what Jesus is doing is answering their unspoken questions: 

“Why, Jesus, are you telling us this?”

“Why, Jesus, are you telling us now?” and  

“Why, Jesus, are you telling us that You are leaving now?”

Join us this week as these ‘unspoken questions’ help us understand how it is to our advantage that Jesus ascends to heaven and sends to us the Helper, His Spirit.

For His Glory,

Pastor Wayne