John 16:7 — Community Reflections

JOHN 16:7 — KING JAMES VERSION 0

“Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.”

Nevertheless I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away. For if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you — this is counterintuitive: Jesus' departure is actually advantageous (sympherei—profitable, beneficial) to the disciples. His physical presence, bound to space and time, limits his accessibility; once he ascends, he can be universally present through the Spirit. The sending of the Paraclete depends on Jesus' departure; resurrection and ascension make Pentecost possible. The loss of Christ's physical presence is the condition for gaining his universal presence through the Spirit.

Church Fathers on John 16:7

The disciples, not as yet perfected, being overcome by sorrow, our Lord blames and corrects them, saying, But now I go My way to Him that sent Me; and none of you asks Me, Where do you go? They were so struck down at hearing that whoever killed them would think that he was doing God service, that they could say nothing. Wherefore He adds, But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your hearts. It was no small consolation to them to know that the Lord knew…
Chrysostom · 4th century

Or whereas they had asked Him above, where He was going, and He had replied that He was going where they would not come; now He promises that He will go in such a way that no one will ask Him where He goes: and none of you asks Me, Where do you go? Going up to heaven, they questioned Him not in words, but followed with their eyes. But our Lord saw what effect His words would produce upon their minds. Not having yet that inward consolation which the Holy Ghost was to impart,…
Augustine · 4th century

As if He said plainly, If I withdraw not My body from your eyes, I cannot lead you to the understanding of the Invisible, through the Comforting Spirit.
Gregory the Great · 6th century

Read all 17 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain

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