1. Lesson One of the Book of Daniel, Introduction to the Book of Daniel

Read Verses John 16:2,3, for review:  They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.  And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.

John 16:4,  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.

Jesus Christ intends for his followers to not be startled by the hatred of this world. 

I have on many occasions heard Christians say, I just can't believe that a particular evil happened. 

How can people do those things? 

All of us have said those things! 

But to be surprised at the evil of the world is to forget the word of God. 

It is to forget the words of Christ to his disciples in this passage.

Christ knows our weakness, our unbelief, how easily our faith is upset. 

But He wants prepared disciples. 

He wants disciples who look past the present hatred and persecution and instead look at the one who has returned to the Father.   

He is pleased to have disciples of faith, disciples who believe his word and when his word is fulfilled they rejoice to see it.

Persecutions will come. 

Satan is busy, his time is short.  

So Jesus Christ fortifies his disciples with the word of God.

He wants his disciples to remember that he has told them these things so when they come to pass their faith is simply strengthened instead of weakened from fear.   

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

I was with you and I took the hatred. 

I bore the blows of the world. 

I was between you and the enemy. 

I was your buffer.

But, now I go to the Father! 

I have not burdened you with these things before because I was with you. 

You were in no danger. 

I used the time I was with you so that you became to know me as the Son of God. 

But now I must tell you these things to prepare for the hatred and persecution coming upon you because I will not be present with you.

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

Jesus Christ wants his disciples to remember his words.

His words are to do a work of grace in the heart of the disciples. 

His words have power and his words are the only power the disciples will have. 

Did not Jesus Christ promise to help his disciples to remember his words as he told them in:

John 14:26  But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

His words are meant to be recalled and recorded so that not only the twelve will remember them, but all of the disciples of Christ through the ages will have his word through writing inspired by the Holy Spirit.

That when the time shall come, ye may remember. 

They are given to fortify the disciple, they are given to perform a work of grace in the disciple, they are given to increase the faith of the disciple!

John 16:5,6,  But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou?  But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart.

Who do the disciples concern themselves about? 

Where is their mind turned at this time of impending crisis? 

It is turned upon themselves. 

It is turned inward and they are filled with sorrow for themselves. 

How natural to look at our own circumstances and be filled with sorrow when we could be filled with joy.

But disciples of Christ are not to be natural. 

The word of God expects disciples of Christ to be supernatural. 

Christ points the disciples to turn their thoughts off of themselves and on to Christ. 

None of you have asked, Whither goest thou?  

None of you have considered me in your thinking.

In your self-centeredness you have sorrow, but if you turn to thinking about where I'm going you can have joy. 

You could be thinking about the glory and joy that would soon be mine as I return to my Father. 

Your mind can be occupied with my ascension to the right hand of the Father where I will be seated on your behalf. 

Disciples you have sorrow because you think about yourself instead of me!

Turn your eyes upon Jesus and look full in his wonderful face and the things of Earth (your sorrow, yourself, your insurmountable problems) will grow strangely dim in the light of his glory and grace!