Why does Jesus say, "None of you asks me, 'Where are you going?'" Setting the Scene John 16 records the final hours Jesus spends with His disciples before the cross. Emotions are running high; Jesus is preparing them for His departure and the coming of the Holy Spirit. What Jesus Says “ But now I am going to Him who sent Me; yet none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’ ” (John 16:5) Didn’t They Already Ask? • John 13:36 – “Simon Peter asked Him, ‘Lord, where are You going?’” • John 14:5 – “Thomas said to Him, ‘Lord, we do not know where You are going…’” The disciples had used almost the same words earlier, yet Jesus now states that no one is asking. How can this be? Why Jesus Says It 1. Immediate, Present Reality • In that very moment, no one is asking. Verse 6 shows why: “Instead, your hearts are filled with grief…”. Their sorrow has silenced fresh inquiry. • The earlier questions came hours before; right now they are speechless. 2. Surface Curiosity vs. Spiritual Depth • Peter and Thomas previously asked from confusion or fear, not from a desire to grasp the redemptive purpose of Jesus’ return to the Father. • Jesus is pointing out that no one is pursuing the deeper “why” and “to whom” He is going—only the immediate pain of losing Him. 3. Missed Opportunity for Comfort • Had they asked in faith, Jesus would have gladly unfolded more about the glory of the Father’s house (cf. John 14:2-3) and the joy of the coming Spirit (John 16:7). • Their silence reveals preoccupation with self rather than anticipation of God’s plan. 4. A Gentle Rebuke • Jesus’ words carry a loving correction: “Lift your eyes; see where I am going and what it means for you.” • Similar prophetic rebukes appear in Luke 24:25-26, where He chides two disciples for slow hearts after the resurrection. Key Truths We Learn • Christ’s departure is not abandonment; it is advancement—He goes “to Him who sent Me,” guaranteeing the Spirit’s arrival (John 16:7). • Sorrow can mute spiritual curiosity. We must press past emotion to seek the Lord’s larger purposes (Psalm 27:8). • Honest, earnest questions draw fuller revelation (Jeremiah 33:3). Silence rooted in self-pity leaves us in the dark. • The literal accuracy of Scripture stands: at that precise juncture, no one is asking, and Jesus highlights it to teach an enduring lesson. Taking It to Heart • Whenever circumstances trouble us, follow Jesus’ hint: ask, “Where is the Lord in this? What is He doing?” • Fix eyes on His destination—at the Father’s right hand (Hebrews 12:2)—and on the promised presence of the Spirit, who now indwells every believer (1 Corinthians 6:19). |
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