John 16:4 (WEB)

Passage

But I have told you these things, so that when the time comes, you may remember that I told you about them. I didn’t tell you these things from the beginning, because I was with you.

Nearby Context

John 16:2 They will put you out of the synagogues. Yes, the time comes that whoever kills you will think that he offers service to God.

John 16:3 They will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me.

John 16:4 But I have told you these things, so that when the time comes, you may remember that I told you about them. I didn’t tell you these things from the beginning, because I was with you.

John 16:5 But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’

John 16:6 But because I have told you these things, sorrow has filled your heart.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "told", "things", "time", "comes", "remember", "didn", and "tell". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "told" and "things", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 3's "They will do these things because they..." into verse 5's "But now I am going to him...", so "told" and "things" belong inside that flow. In John context, the local focus is the identity of Jesus, new birth, eternal life, and belief and unbelief.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "told" and "things" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.