It might seem strange, but Jesus says that some wonderful things are going to happen to his disciples because he is going away. We might think that if Jesus stayed with them he would give them the power that they need; but no. Jesus says that unless he goes away, the Holy Spirit will not come. It’s the Holy Spirit that brings all the fullness of what God can give to us.
There are nine days between the Ascension of Jesus and Pentecost, a week from Sunday. The word “novena” comes from the root meaning of the word “nine.” This is what Jesus means when he talks about “the little while” between his going away and the coming of the Spirit. Jesus brought great joy to his disciples and will do the same for us if we read his words very slowly and quietly, believing the many promises in these verses. How many of these promises can you count?
John 16:16-33
A Bible Breath: You turn my pain into joy. v. 20
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Fridays are dedicated to the Gospels.
During Lent and Easter, we read the Gospel of John.
The Firestarters are taken from the version for families with young children.
The Bible Through the Seasons 