The Sabbath School

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Apr 8, 1897

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 23, No. 14.

The Sabbath School

International Series.

Lesson IV.—Sabbath, April 24, 1897.

Parting Instruction.

Lesson Scripture, John 16:17-33, R. V.

17 “Some of his disciples therefore said one to another, What is this that he saith unto us, A little while, and ye behold me not; and again a little while, and ye shall see me; and, Because I go to the Father? 18 They said therefore, What is this that he saith, A little while? We know not what he saith. 19 Jesus perceived that they were desirous to ask him, and he said unto them, Do ye inquire among yourselves concerning this, that I said, A little while, and ye behold me not, and again a little while, and ye shall see me? 20 Verily, verily, I say unto you, that ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. 21 A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come; but when she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for the joy that a man is born into the world. 22 And ye therefore now have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no one taketh away from you. 23 And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, If ye shall ask anything of the Father, he will give it you in my name. 24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be fulfilled.”

25 “These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: the hour cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but shall tell you plainly of the Father. 26 In that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you: 27 for the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came forth from the Father. 28 I came out from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go unto the Father. 29 His disciples say, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb. 30 Now know we that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou camest forth from God. 31 Jesus answered them, Do ye now believe? 32 Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. 33 These things have I spoken unto you, that in me ye may have peace. In the world ye have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

QUESTIONS.

1. What inquiries did the disciples make among themselves?

2. How did they repeat the inquiry? What did they acknowledge?

3. Of what was Jesus aware?

4. What question did he ask them?

5. How did he contrast their experience with that of the world?

6. What change did he say would come in their experience?

7. With what illustration did he enforce the teaching?

8. How did he apply the illustration?

9. What would be true “in that day”? What promise was made?

10. What encouragement was given for making larger requests?

11. How had Christ been speaking unto his disciples? What change would he make in his manner of teaching?

12. How would requests be made? What would be unnecessary? For what reason? Upon what was this reason based?

13. Whence came Christ? To what? What was he soon to do?

14. How did his disciples respond to this statement?

15. Of what were they now convinced? To what conclusion did this lead them?

16. What question did Jesus ask?

17. What prediction did he then make? What would be his comfort in this hour of trial?

18. For what purpose had Christ been instructing his disciples?

19. What experience awaited them? What assurance was given?

NOTES.

1. The experience mentioned in verse 20 evidently refers to the time immediately following Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection. Compare with verse 22. From that time and onward they were to ask nothing of him, but to ask the Father in his name. See verses 23-26. The reason he states in verse 27, where he says, “For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.” In this instruction we see how wisely and effectually Jesus sought to reveal the character of God, and direct the minds of his disciples to his Father as the source of all good, by teaching them to pray to the Father in his name.

2. The world may hate us and harass us and cause us tribulation and sorrow, but in Jesus there are rest and peace. This peace comes from harmony with God, and the assurance that as Christ has overcome the world, its trials, its troubles, its temptations, and all the power of the enemy, so he will give us power to do the same, to overcome as he overcame. Therefore we are to be of good cheer; victory is sure; deliverance will come.

Suggestions for Further Study.

1. What do you think is implied in our Saviour’s statement, “Ye shall see me, because I go to the Father”? Compare John 14:2; Rev. 21:3.

2. With verses 30-32 read I Cor. 10:12; first sentence of 2 Cor. 13:5, and 2 Peter 1:1-12.

3. How can we have tribulation in the world and still have peace in Christ?