Charles Spurgeon Commentary John 16:4

"But these things have I spoken unto you, that when their hour is come, ye may remember them, how that I told you. And these things I said not unto you from the beginning, because I was with you." — John 16:4 (ASV)

And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you.

While they had his presence, he was like a wall of fire around them. They did not need to be protected then from dangers not yet come. And the Lord has not told us yet some of the things which he will reveal to us in due time, because the trial has not come.

You feel as if you could not die at peace right now. You dread death. You will have dying grace in dying moments. Do not be questioning yourself as to whether you have dying grace now. You do not need it yet. You will have it when the time comes.

And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you.

"I did not need, at the beginning of my ministry, to trouble you about these things. Even then, you and I were hated by evil men, but I was with you, so I was able to protect you from them." The persecutors could not slay Christ's sheep, as they desired to do, as long as their Shepherd was still with them, so his warning words were not needed while he was among them.

Christ does not teach us everything at once; if he did, we might be so confused that we would not learn anything. Perhaps we have sometimes wished that our ears could hear more than they now do; but it is most probable that, if we could hear more, we would really understand less than we now do. Have you, at any time, had your hearing more than usually acute?

If so, you must then have heard a thousand sounds which it would have been better for you not to have heard; for they so confused and confounded one another that you did not hear anything distinctly. It is just so with the mind; it is capable of receiving a certain quantity of truth, but if too much truth is placed before it at once, it produces confusion in the mind's ear and in the mind's eye, and we really hear less, see less, and understand less than we would do if less truth were set before us. The Master knew that his disciples were like narrow-necked bottles, which must be gradually filled, so he only revealed the truth to them as they were able to receive it.

But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, you may remember that I told you of them. And these things I did not say to you at the beginning, because I was with you.

Christ did not deceive his disciples concerning the treatment that would be dealt out to them. He did not promise that the road to heaven would be an easy path, or flatter his followers with the notion that the cross, which they had to carry after him, had no weight in it; These things have I told you, that when the time shall come, you may remember that I told you of them.

But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you.

Our Lord did tell his disciples something about "these things."

He did warn them to expect opposition, but he did not dwell upon that theme; he did not expatiate upon it. He did not at first give that prominence to it which he was about to do, and he explains to his disciples why he had not talked much upon that topic: "because I was with you."

It did not matter how they were opposed so long as he was with them; his companionship more than made up for anything they might have to suffer.

And, dear child of God, if you now enjoy the presence of Christ, and the power of his Spirit, you need not mind what happens to you.

But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, you may remember that I told you of them.

"You will then see my foresight, my care for you, my prophetic power. To be forewarned is to be forearmed. You will not be taken by surprise."

If any of you who have lately been converted should meet with great opposition, do not be surprised. Jesus has told you to expect it. And if the fire should get seven times hotter, consider it no strange thing that the fiery trial has happened to you.

It has happened to others before you and will happen to others after you; therefore be prepared for it.

And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you.

"While I was with you, you could run to me, and tell me all about your trials and difficulties. If anybody was hard on you, I could come to your help, and comfort you. You did not need to know these things before, so I did not tell you about them. You do need to know them now, and now I tell you about them."

But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, you may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not to you at the beginning, because I was with you.

I was your Protector; by my personal presence, I so sustained your hearts that it did not matter what trouble you fell into; but now I am going away, and therefore I give you this warning.