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Strengthening Words Weak Christians Need to Hear
John 16:1-33
When people are about to die, they say the things dearest and most important to their hearts. Picture the scene - loved ones next to his death bed; he urges them to do this or that and that he’ll see them again. We see it in the Patriarchs. Jacob blessed his sons and gave instructions about his burial. Moses blessed and warned the nation. Joshua warned her against serving idols, but to serve God. Samuel’s retirement speech called on Israel to fear God and serve him with all their hearts. And in their dying wishes, they repeated themselves. Why? To prepare God’s people. But just imagine if the people listened - they’d be a holy nation, a royal priesthood, a chosen generation that showed forth God’s praise!
And that was the same with the Lord Jesus. He spoke many things at the start of the Passover. He knew he’d be dead by the end of it. So he revealed himself as the ultimate sacrifice; he saves by his broken body and shed blood. When he washed their feet, he revealed their need for such cleansing. And he told them to love each other as he loved them. Why? Things were about to get really bad. One would betray him, another deny him. And he would die and leave them. Sobering words. But he assured them - “Don’t be afraid, God will send you the Holy Spirit.” And then he got up and led them to Gethsemane via the Kidron Valley. But en route, he repeated himself. John 15 - remain in me! Love one another. And here in John 16, again he said - things will be tough, but I’m sending the Spirit to help you, and there’s joy in the end. 3 crucial truths we must also hear until Christ comes. Firstly, the world hates faithful believers. Secondly, the Spirit empowers us to be faithful. Thirdly, the faithful believer waits for Jesus’ victory.
Firstly, the world hates faithful believers. On the way to Gethsemane, the Lord didn’t just say what would happen, he gave them the reason why. He began with brutal honesty. Verse 1 - “These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not [fall way]. They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he [is serving] God.” He told them bluntly; the world that crucified its Creator would also hate his followers. And that’s the reality. The Lord Jesus preached the gospel - those who see the poverty of their spirit, mourn for their sins and come meekly to Christ in repentance, hungering and thirsting after righteousness, making peace with God through Christ’s sacrifice, would be saved. But the religious leaders hated that message because it negated their supposed religious works. They wanted to kill him. This is the world’s hatred against Christ. Why? Very simply put - men love darkness rather than light, because their deeds are evil. Everyone practicing evil hates the light and doesn’t come to the light, lest his deeds are exposed.
And Christ himself experienced this. When he preached in Nazareth, speaking about deliverance through him, he was hated. His neighbors kicked him out of his home synagogue and tried to stone him. So Christ warned his disciples they’d also be kicked out of synagogues. People would want to kill them; thinking that such murder was pleasing to God. Stephen experienced this! He boldly preached in the synagogue, and Saul couldn’t take his logic of faith. In stoning him, Saul thought he was doing it for God. Why do this? Verse 3 - they didn’t know God. The Lord was most certainly at this time walking across the Kidron Valley, on a bridge that led him to the Mount of Olives. And on this evening, on the 14th day of Nisan, the Passover full moon would’ve shone on the sacrificial blood flowing from the temple into the Kidron Valley. He knew his fate; and he also knew the fate awaiting his disciples.
Beloved, faithful Christians will always face persecution. 2 Timothy 3:12 says that “all who live godly in Christ will suffer persecution.” If we boldly preach an exclusive Christ, we can’t truly survive and thrive in a multicultural and multi-religious society. That’s why we often become muted in our proclamation of Christ. And if we boldly opposed the promotion of a sinful sexuality today, we’d also open ourselves beyond scrutiny to hostility. And similarly, if we oppose social sins that have led to comfort and national prosperity - like abortion, gambling, and wanton consumption - we’d be lampooned. “Isn’t it good that more women are in the work force, less birth defects in society, and more trade and prosperity?!” But if we’re truly faithful, against the god of this world, there’d be great opposition.
But from his words, Christ fully expected his disciples to live a boldly revolutionized life that would result in persecution. That’s why he warned them about this coming persecution. And he had 2 reasons for doing so. First, verse 4, so they wouldn’t be surprised. He wanted to prepare them. “When the time comes, you’ll remember what I told you.” Persecution would be expected if they were living rightly. And second, in verse 1, he warned them so they wouldn’t lose their faith, nor fall away or trip up in following Christ. In the parable of the sower, some hear the gospel joyfully but never grow roots; when trials come they fall away, they trip up and give up Christ. Through these most poignant, earnest, important, and heartfelt words at this crucial time before he died, he wanted to warn them about the intense opposition and hatred from the world. Christ warns even us.
But folks, we’re not always in a good state in Christendom today. We want to have our cake and eat it too. Just enough church to get the gospel out, but not so much that the church is under threat. Some even love the prosperity gospel - give in to what the world seeks; prosperity not suffering should be our faith goal. Eat this fruit of the prosperity gospel and be wiser than God. No. The prosperity gospel teaches you to follow Satan, not God, because Christ promised suffering. He warned them they were walking into war; so that when it came, they wouldn’t be scandalized, but reminded - “Ah, Jesus told me about this.” But this warning was too sobering for them. In verse 6, what Jesus said brought much sorrow to their hearts. They were overwhelmed.
But the Lord didn’t leave them in sorrow. He pivoted and gave them an assurance and a promise - that in their future difficulties, they’d have help and comfort. That’s the second word to them and us - the Spirit empowers us to be faithful. Verse 7 - “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.” The moment Christ was arrested, his disciples fled. But how did they go from that to being kicked out of the synagogues? A man who’s afraid wouldn’t put himself under such scrutiny by preaching! So how did they go from fear to fearlessness? What would give them and us power to live out Christ and withstand persecution? How did Stephen do it? How did the Old Testament saints by faith subdue kingdoms, work righteousness, obtain promises, and stop the mouths of lions? How did those in Foxe’s Book of Martyrs do it? Or how did they by faith give themselves to the sword and die and not deny Christ? Because they had the Spirit - who comforted and encouraged them. In the Old Covenant, the Spirit fell upon prophets, priests, and kings so they could accomplish their work. Moses wished for a time when all of God’s people were filled with the Spirit. And how this would happen is that Christ would go to the cross to pay for sin, to the grave to conquer death, and to God’s right hand to be enthroned so from there, he can pour out the Spirit to all of his people.
Now when Jesus told them their future, they were sad. But he assured them they’d have the Spirit. So even if they were kicked out of synagogues, there would be fruit. He described the 3 works of the Spirit’s ministry. Firstly, the Spirit convicts the world. Verses 8-11 - he will reprove the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. People would hear the gospel and be confronted by their sins. The word “convict” means to expose. The Spirit would expose the sin in people. For some, it would lead to conversion; but in others, it will lead to anger. Those who have faith react to guilt by wanting it cleansed. Those who won’t believe react to guilt by wanting to “cleanse” those who expose the sin. The Spirit also convicts the world of righteousness. Meaning, people would know God and Christ are holy - they demand holiness. And furthermore, the Spirit would also convict the world on judgment. Those who hear the gospel would know about the eternal judgment awaiting them - like it awaits Satan. He’d be cast into the Lake of Fire. Now, how would the Spirit expose and convict them of these things? Through Christ’s Spirit-filled disciples. No wonder, they’d be kicked out of synagogues and no wonder people would want to kill them.
But beloved, many of us are weak, because we’re living after the flesh instead of after the Spirit. We’re drunk with wine - or if not, some of you indulge too much in the world - instead of being filled with the Spirit to do God’s work. You’re not fulfilling your calling as you should, perhaps. And that’s why we need the Spirit. His second work is to guide us into all truth. In verses 12-13, Christ said he had plenty more to say, but they couldn’t bear it. But when the Spirit came, he’d guide them into all truth and show them things to come. These disciples would remember - “If any man follow me, let him deny himself, take up the cross, and follow me. If you love me, keep my commandments. After you’ve suffered a while, the gracious God, who’s called us to eternal glory by Christ Jesus, will make you perfect, establish, strengthen, settle you.” And what was the result of knowing these truths? They preached it. On the day when Christ gave the Spirit, the disciples emerged boldly from the Upper Room preaching the gospel. They accused the same Jews who had crucified Christ of committing great sin; who were then convicted and repented. Each time the disciples taught, all they spoke of was Christ - how the Old Testament was fulfilled in the New. Like Stephen in the synagogue of the Libertines. He articulated the truth of Christ so magnificently, they sought to kill him. But he was on fire.
And that’s what thirdly, the Spirit does. Verses 14-15 - he glorifies Christ. The Spirit would reveal the glory of Christ to the disciples. And this was magnificent. During the early church age, why were the disciples so bold in living for the kingdom and proclaiming the gospel? Because they knew about Christ’s glory. In Peter’s Pentecost sermon, he quoted Joel 2 and spoke about that day of the Lord - that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. He talked about how Christ was delivered to death, but didn’t see corruption, quoting Psalm 16 but rose again, where he reigns from heaven on God’s right hand, quoting Psalm 2. And the people were so pricked in their heart, they asked - Men and brethren, what shall we do? We see here the work of the Spirit - to convict by teaching, and pointing to Christ. And that day 3000 bowed the knee to their Lord.
Beloved, these disciples were sorrowing because they heard about the persecution. But the Holy Spirit would strengthen their weakness and transform them from fearful to fearless ministers. Beloved, in the Old Testament, God came to dwell among his people, in the Temple, in the Holy of Holies, between the wings of the Cherubim on his Mercy Seat. And only the High Priest could enter once a year. But because of Jesus, God’s Spirit dwells in us. We never walk alone. We’re helped. Even in times of fear, we can be given boldness. In times of apathy, we can be given passion for the kingdom. Let us walk in the Spirit and not after the flesh.
So despite the predicted persecution, they’d boldly proclaim the Word. The Spirit convicted many that day. But when would that be? So the third word he gave to strengthen them was the faithful believer waits for Jesus’ victory. At this near final stretch of the walk, Christ said, “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…[and in verse 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.” And that happened. In a little while, that night, he’d be taken, interrogated, and the next day, tried and killed. He’d return to the Father. The people did rejoice. They mocked him, laughed at him, and when he was dead, the High Priest went to celebrate - eating the Passover Feast. But he would resurrect and they’d rejoice. The Lord also illustrated this by describing a woman in labor. She’s in pain because the hour has come. But when she’d finally give birth, that pain is no more. She no longer remembers the anguish. Why? A human being has been born into the world! Her sorrow is changed into joy. And this happened with the disciples. Remember how they fled from Gethsemane, how they watched from afar off, how Peter wept after he denied Christ thrice? Remember how they hid in the Upper Room, fearing their own arrests? Remember Mary in her sorrow, crying because she thought his body was taken - but her crying changed to joy when Jesus spoke to her? Remember the joy of the disciples when they saw him? Remember Thomas, who finally put his fingers into Christ’s nail scars and side? The relief he had? And remember how the two Emmaus disciples’ hearts were strangely warmed when he revealed himself to them? Their sorrow turned into great joy. And as Jesus said, no one could take this joy from them. Which is why, when Paul was even in prison, he rejoiced in the Lord.
So by inference, Christ was telling his disciples that his suffering death was the birthing room for salvation and joy. The cross is an execution device that’s also a saving and joy giving device. Since the time of sin, all creation has been groaning in labor pains, waiting for the appearing of that Son of God. Yes, the Bible states the disciples still didn’t get it completely, but they did eventually. The question is do we get it? What are we living for? In verse 33, Christ said - “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” Often, we are people who don’t understand “a little while.” Romans 8 tells us that all of creation has been groaning for that second appearance of Christ, so that we’ll all be changed. But how does Peter state it? 1 Peter 5:10 - “But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.” After you have suffered awhile, in this world of tribulation. But during this time of suffering, we can be of good cheer, for the Lord has overcome the world. Beloved brethren, I can’t begin to imagine the kind of life you’re going through.
Some of you, have experienced much tribulation. But you’re hoping in Christ. Your tribulation may even be because of your faith in Christ. And the word of assurance is this - it’s just a little while. And you can have joy - like Paul. You can have good cheer. Paul was even willing to be offered up. And in a little while, he was! Beheaded and delivered, he now has full joy.
But for some others, the tribulation you’re going through is not so much because of Christ. It’s perhaps because your worldly desires are not met. And to be clear, that tribulation won’t be a little while. You’re walking in the flesh. There won’t be joy. But the promise of joy is for the faithful believer that’s awaiting Christ’s victory, not their earthly fulfillment. Do you get it? Those who live after the Spirit will have a joy that is unspeakable and full of glory. We see the contrast even in the joys of Judas and Christ. His was the joy of betraying the Son of Glory, but that joy was short-lived and he killed himself. On the other hand, Christ endured the cross, and it was for the joy that was set before him, that he did this. He was a man of sorrows, but at the same time, was the most joyful man there ever was. Why? Because our Lord was Spirit filled, truth preaching and living, and a man who knew the victories that were to come.
Such words of Christ were needful for the disciples as well as for us. Are you walking after the flesh? There will be no lasting joy, no shortness of tribulations in your life. But if you walk after Christ and his Spirit, there will be tribulations, but there will be joy. May the Lord grant you wisdom to heed Christ’s strengthening words that weak Christians need to hear.
1. The World Hates Faithful Believers
2. The Spirit Empowers Us to Be Faithful
3. The Faithful Believer Waits for Jesus’ Victory
* As a matter of courtesy please advise Rev. Mark Chen, if you plan to use this sermon in a worship service. Thank-you.
(c) Copyright 2026, Rev. Mark Chen
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