How does John 16:10 explain Jesus' righteousness and His return to the Father?

Setting the scene: Jesus speaks of the Spirit

John 16 records Jesus’ last-night conversation with His disciples. He promises the Holy Spirit, “When He comes, He will convict the world regarding sin and righteousness and judgment” (John 16:8). Verse 10 zeroes in on righteousness:

“regarding righteousness, because I am going to the Father, and you will no longer see Me.” (John 16:10)

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Why “going to the Father” proves Jesus’ righteousness

• Only the perfectly righteous can enter the Father’s immediate presence (Psalm 24:3-4).

• Jesus’ ascension was the Father’s public endorsement of His flawless obedience (Philippians 2:8-11).

• The resurrection/ascension sequence vindicated Him against the false charge of blasphemy that led to His crucifixion (Acts 2:32-33).

• By seating Him at the right hand, the Father declared, in effect, “My Son is righteous, welcome home” (Hebrews 1:3; Hebrews 10:12-13).

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The Spirit’s ongoing testimony

• The disciples would “no longer see” Jesus physically, so the Spirit steps in to spotlight the righteousness they had witnessed (John 15:26-27).

• Through gospel proclamation the Spirit convinces unbelievers that Jesus is indeed the Righteous One (Acts 3:14-15).

• He simultaneously assures believers that Christ’s righteousness is credited to them (2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 8:16).

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Practical takeaways for believers

• Confidence: Our righteous standing rests on Jesus’ accepted righteousness, not on fluctuating performance.

• Assurance: The ascended Christ intercedes as “Jesus Christ the Righteous One” (1 John 2:1).

• Mission: Empowered by the Spirit, we present a crucified, risen, and ascended Savior whose righteousness meets every sinner’s need.