These Things

“These things I have spoken to you so that you may be kept from stumbling. ~ John 16:1

“These things I have spoken to you in figurative language; an hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language, but will tell you plainly of the Father. ~ John 16:25

Jesus spoke these things; and lifting up His eyes to heaven, He said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son, that the Son may glorify You, ~ John 17:1

“But now I come to You; and these things I speak in the world so that they may have My joy made full in themselves. ~ John 17:13

What are "these things?" It takes the four Gospels - Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, to discover what 'these things' meant. Meanwhile, the reason why Jesus said John 16:1 is because He was speaking to His Twelve Disciples minus one concerning the difficulties of being identified with Jesus but at the same time He was assuring them of the power of the Holy Spirit who will help and guide them when He will no longer be physically present with them.

Figurative Language - when Jesus was here, He often spoke in parables and deep truths of God that unless it was revealed/ explained by Him, people would not be able to understand at all.

The hour has come - it means when the time came for the crucifixion wherein like a lamb, He too will be offered as a sacrifice of sin for our sake.

But now I come to you - Jesus was about to go but He would not leave them orphaned of His presence for the Holy Spirit will always be there for them and for us.

It is highly recommended that we thoroughly read the book of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John to get the whole picture of what Jesus was saying.

Have a pleasant day!