John 16:1-11 – The Helper

Think back to a time when things were really bad. Perhaps your bank account balance was very low and all of your bills were due. Perhaps you weren't feeling well and your doctor gave you a bad report. Perhaps you had a difficult relationship that just seemed to be getting worse. What would you want someone to tell you? You would want him to tell you that your finances would be taken care of, your health would get better, and your relationship would be mended. When bad things are happening, we want hope more than reality. As Jesus was talking to the disciples, He knew that they were discouraged by what they had heard. One of them would betray Him, Jesus was going away, and He would be killed by His enemies. If their hearts could be represented by a water pitcher, it would be full of sadness. So, what did Jesus tell them to give them hope? Surprisingly, He didn't give them hope. Instead, He told them about the troubles they would soon face. But He also told them about someone who would help them through all of it.