John 16:23b-28
Chapter 16
23
When that day comes, you will not ask me anything. Truly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give you.
24
So far, you have not asked for anything in my name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.
25
I have taught you all these things indirectly, but the time is coming when I will no longer teach in figures; instead, I will speak plainly about the Father.
26
When that day comes, you will ask in my name, and I won’t need to ask the Father for you,
27
because the Father himself loves you, since you have loved me and believe that I came from God.
28
I came from the Father and entered into the world; again, I am now leaving the world and going back to the Father.
Commentaries
Joy After Sorrow
16:16-33 . Jesus speaks of a mysterious “soon.” That short time refers to the passion—a period of blindness and suffering. To explain this enigmatic saying, the Lord uses the image of childbirth: after the pains come the joy of birth. Similarly, the joy after the resurrection will be: once again, the Lord will see them, and his heart will rejoice with a joy that nothing and no one can take away. The Father’s love is also poured out on all the disciples (26-33) because they believe in Jesus, the Son who was sent. Jesus always presents his life as seen from the Father; he comes from Him, is in this world for a brief time, and now he is returning to the Father. Jesus is about to suffer the Passion, but he does not feel lonely. Even if his disciples abandon him, the Father is always with him. He ends these words with an encouraging cry. Despite the cruelty of the trials he has endured, he affirms: “I have overcome the world” (33).