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John 16:20
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18 They said therefore, “What is this that He says, ‘A little while’? We do not1 know what He is saying.”  
19 Now Jesus knew that they desired to ask Him, and He said to them, “Are you inquiring among yourselves about what I said, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me’?
20 Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and alament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into bjoy.  
21 aA woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world.  
22 Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and ayour heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you.  
23 “And in that day you will ask Me nothing. aMost assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you.  
24 Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, athat your joy may be bfull.  

Jesus Christ Has Overcome the World

25 “These things I have spoken to you in figurative language; but the time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language, but I will tell you aplainly about the Father.  
26 In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you;
Commentaries:
Barnes' Notes
<< John 16:19   John 16:21 >>


John 16:20

Ye shall weep ... - At my crucifixion, sufferings, and death. Compare Luke 23:27.

The world - Wicked men. The term world is frequently used in this sense. See John 16:8. It refers particularly, here, to the Jews who sought his death, and who would rejoice that their object was obtained.

Shall be turned into joy - You will not only rejoice at my resurrection, but even my death, now the object of so much grief to you, will be to you a source of unspeakable joy. It will procure for you peace and pardon in this life, and eternal joy in the world to come. Thus their greatest apparent calamity would be to them, finally, the source of their highest comfort; and though then they could not see how it could be, yet if they had known the whole case they would have seen that they might rejoice. As it was, they were to be consoled by the assurance of the Saviour that it would be for their good. And thus, in our afflictions, if we could see the whole case, we should rejoice. As it is, when they appear dark and mysterious, we may trust in the promise of God that they will be for our welfare. We may also remark here that the apparent triumphs of the wicked, though they may produce grief at present in the minds of Christians, will be yet overruled for good. Their joy shall be turned into mourning, and the mourning of Christians into joy; and wicked men may be doing the very thing - as they were in the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus - that shall yet be made the means of promoting the glory of God and the good of his people, Psalms 76:10.




Other Barnes' Notes entries containing John 16:20:

Micah 4:10
John 16:30
2 Corinthians 13:11
Ephesians 4:30

 

<< John 16:19   John 16:21 >>

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