Leave The World

I leave the world

JOHN 16 COMMENTARY ◄
John 16:24-27 Ask and You Shall Receive

John 16:28-33 Leave the World

JOHN 16:28 28 “I came forth from the Father and have come into the world. Again, I leave the world and go to the Father.”

What does Jesus mean by, "Again, I leave the world and go to the Father" (John 16:28)?
He is talking about His forthcoming ascension to heaven.

JOHN 16:29-30 29 His disciples said to Him, “See, now You are speaking plainly, and using no figure of speech! 30 Now we are sure that You know all things, and have no need that anyone should question You. By this we believe that You came forth from God.”

Do the disciples already understand things even before the Holy Spirit comes to them as Jesus promised?
Despite their boisterous claim above, their actions in the next few hours will prove them to have understood not all that much.

JOHN 16:31-32 31 Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? 32 Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me.

Doesn't Jesus say in John 16:31 that they do believe?
Actually He questions it, and tells them that they are about to scatter and desert Him.

JOHN 16:33 33 “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

What does "the world" (John 16:33) have in store for Jesus' followers?
"Tribulation" (John 16:33).

How are Christians to deal with it?
Instead of panicking, "have peace" (John 16:33) since Jesus knew and warned us about it in advance. The sinful world led by Satan gets more and more sinful, but Jesus has "overcome the world" (John 16:33), so we know how things end: Satan will be "cast into the lake of fire" (Revelation 20:10) to burn for the rest of eternity, while we spend it in heaven with Jesus, so we should "be of good cheer" (John 16:33).