Jesus was going away.  The disciples did not grasp all that would be involved - with the cross, resurrection and ascension - although Jesus had already told them plainly (Matthew 16:21).  All they understood was that Jesus, who had become their life, was going away.  What would they do?  They would miss Him dreadfully.  And if Jesus was killed by the authorities, perhaps they would be executed as well.  In either case, their life would end; or so they thought.  Maybe all these possibilities and more passed through their minds.  The result was that they were filled with grief.

Jesus had warned His disciples to expect persecution (John 16:1-4).  So, should they retreat from the world to keep safe?  No!  Jesus had commanded them to speak openly about Him (John 15:27). But even though He would leave them, they would not be alone. The Holy Spirit would be in them, giving them the courage and power to announce the gospel; and He would also work powerfully in the hearts of people who hated them.

Jesus shares the ownership of everything that belongs to God the Father.  The Holy Spirit does not give His independent opinion on anything but expresses the truth from Jesus, direct to people’s hearts.  And the Father expresses Himself to people through the Spirit and the Son (John 14:26).  The wonderful truth about the relationship between God the Father, Son and Spirit is that They are One in thought and purpose, and They work seamlessly together as Almighty God.

The crucifixion of Jesus would bring huge grief to the disciples, Jesus’ mother and family, and others who loved Him.  It was an enormous grief to Jesus too (Matthew 26:38).  He had to endure the cross alone, with its shame and pain (Matthew 27:46), but He was strengthened by the knowledge of the joy of heaven ahead (Hebrews 12:2). The same principle is given in these verses to the trainee apostles: the grief comes first, the joy comes later.  It is just like in childbirth: first the pain and then the joy.