When has a bad situation in your life turned out to lead to a happy ending?

 Some situations are not what they seem. An unwanted circumstance can lead to a better ending than you had imagined. In John 13–17, the disciples only knew that Jesus would be leaving them. They did not know where he was going, or even why he was leaving. All they knew was the fear and anxiety of Jesus leaving them behind.

In this session, Francis Chan will guide us through all the benefits the disciples gained when Jesus left them. These benefits—including the blessing of the Holy Spirit—are also ours when we follow Jesus.

Francis opened the session highlighting a problem: we struggle to believe in things we cannot see. In the West, we tend to trust in the scientific method—things we can see, touch, and feel. Invisible realities feel unsubstantial and more difficult to rely on. Why do you think it is hard for us to trust “the invisible”?

We struggle with what we cannot see, especially the looming reality of the future. Jesus told his disciples what they had to look forward to, but it wasn’t going to be easy. Read John 16:1–4, 31–33.

¹“I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away. ² They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. ³And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me. ⁴But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you.

The Work of the Holy Spirit
“I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. – John 16:1-4 ESV

³¹Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? ³²Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. ³³I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” – John 16:31-33 ESV

What did the disciples have to look forward to when Jesus left them? Why was Jesus telling his disciples about their hard futures?

 Jesus shared a grim picture of the future. None of us wants to hear that we will be kicked out of our places of worship, be scattered and separated, be filled with anxiety, or become martyrs. But Jesus shared this difficult future with his disciples so that they would be kept “from stumbling” and have peace.

In what ways could knowing that difficult times will come keep us from falling away from our faith?

If we expect difficulty, we will not be surprised when our lives take unexpected turns. Preparing ourselves today for our unknown future can actually help us endure those circumstances with more faith and resilience.

What circumstances cause you to worry about the future? What could it look like to turn your worry about the future over to Jesus?

We can be at peace during hardship because Christ has overcome sin and death on the cross and the Holy Spirit is still at work within us today. But what does the Holy Spirit actually do? Read John 16:5­–16.

⁵But 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. ⁷Nevertheless, 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 when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: ⁹concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; ¹⁰concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; ¹¹ concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.

¹²“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. ¹³When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. ¹⁴He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. ¹⁵ All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

Your Sorrow Will Turn into Joy
¹⁶“A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see me.” – John 16:5-16 ESV

What three benefits would the Advocate give to the disciples? In what ways do you benefit from these blessings?

When Jesus left, he was able to send the Holy Spirit who convicts the world of sin, leads us in all truth, and glorifies Jesus. Conviction doesn’t sound like a blessing; most of us would rather avoid it. But conviction is the Holy Spirit’s warning light to tell us something is wrong and direct us to be more like Jesus.

Why do you think it is easier to avoid conviction than it is to face our sins and flaws? What could it look like to listen and respond to the Spirit’s conviction when you feel it?

Not only does the Holy Spirit convict us of sin, but he also proves the world wrong. When people revile you, we can be sure that God has not abandoned us. He is at work disproving the work of the world.

How do you typically react when people challenge your faith? What could you do to trust in the Holy Spirit when people oppose you because of your faith?

Finally, the Advocate glorifies Jesus. The Spirit is like a spotlight in a dark concert hall, shining solely on Jesus. He directs us to focus on him in every situation.

Where in your life is the Spirit encouraging you to focus more on Jesus?

Jesus promised his disciples that they would have a difficult future. It’s not the kind of thing we want to hear from our Lord, but even in suffering there is hope.

²⁰Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. ²¹When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. ²²So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. ²³In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. ²⁴Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. – John 16:20-24 ESV

In what ways is our suffering like childbirth?

Like in childbirth, the momentary suffering we experience in this life will lead to inexplicable joy when Christ returns. But in the meantime, we still face the difficulties of life and an uncertain immediate future. For some of us, thinking about the future makes us anxious. The uncertainty of next week or next year is unsettling. For others, the potential and possibilities of tomorrow are thrilling.

When you think about your future, what do you see? Are you excited about what is coming? Why, or why not?

 The truth is that our futures will be a mixture of good and bad days but, at the end of our story, we have the promise of joy. We don’t have to worry about good times in our lives coming to an end because we know there will be greater joy in our future. And, in times we never imagined or wanted, we can be at peace because we know they will all come to an end.

How does the promise of joy change the way you see your current experiences?

When we are suffering, talking about joy and hope may feel dismissive of our pain. But Jesus doesn’t tell us to ignore our pain. We should not avoid our grief, but we can know that it is temporary. Jesus promises that our stories will end in enduring, unbreakable joy.

In what ways do you need to grieve today? What hope does Jesus’s promise give you in your current circumstances?

We may struggle to feel the Spirit in our lives or think that the invisible God is near to us. During those times, it is hard to trust him. It can be difficult to even pray. But Jesus wants us to talk to him, to pray and ask for what we need. He wants our joy to be complete.

What needs do you have that only God can meet? What would it look like to pray for those needs, even when you don’t feel like God is near?