Who is the "Me" in John 16:14
John 16:14 states, "He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you" (NASB). The "Me" in this verse refers to Jesus Christ, as He is speaking to His disciples about the coming Holy Spirit [7]. This passage is part of Jesus' Farewell Discourse, delivered to His disciples shortly before His crucifixion, where He prepares them for His departure and the arrival of the Holy Spirit [7].
The identity of Jesus as the "Me" is central to understanding the passage. Throughout the Gospel of John, Jesus frequently uses "I am" statements to describe His identity and ministry [8]. These statements often echo the divine name revealed to Moses in Exodus 3:14, "I Am Who I Am," signifying God's self-sufficiency, self-existence, and unlimited nature [3, 8, 10]. Examples of these "I am" declarations include "I am the good shepherd" (John 10:14 NASB) and "I am the bread of life" (John 6:35) [2, 8]. These declarations underscore Jesus' divine nature and His unique relationship with God the Father [6].
In John 16, Jesus is explaining the role of the Holy Spirit, whom He calls the "Helper" or "Advocate." The Spirit's mission, as Jesus describes it, is to "glorify Me" [7]. This means the Holy Spirit will reveal Jesus' nature, work, and teachings to the disciples, enabling them to understand more fully who Jesus is and what He has accomplished [7]. The Spirit will take what belongs to Jesus ("Mine") and make it known to them. This includes Jesus' words, His truth, and His divine essence [7].
The disciples, at this point, are struggling to comprehend Jesus' impending departure and the implications of His words [7]. They have heard various opinions about Jesus' identity from others, with some believing Him to be John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, or another prophet [4, 5]. Jesus had previously asked His disciples directly, "But whom say ye that I am?" (Matthew 16:15 Tyndale) [1, 9]. Peter's confession that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, marked a pivotal moment, yet their full understanding of Jesus' divine nature and mission was still developing [9].
The statement "He will glorify Me" highlights the unity of purpose between the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit does not draw attention to Himself but rather points to Jesus, revealing Jesus' glory to believers [7]. This glorification involves disclosing the truth about Jesus, His relationship with the Father, and the salvation He provides [6, 7]. The Spirit's work ensures that Jesus' teachings and His person are understood and honored by His followers [7].
The phrase "He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you" indicates that the Holy Spirit will communicate Jesus' truth and wisdom to the disciples [7]. This includes the deeper meaning of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection, which the disciples could not fully grasp before the Spirit's coming. The Spirit acts as an interpreter and revealer, making Jesus' divine realities accessible to human understanding [7]. This disclosure is not about new revelations apart from Jesus, but rather a deeper illumination of who Jesus is and what He has already taught and accomplished [7].
The context of John 16:14 is Jesus' preparation of His disciples for a new phase of their relationship with Him—one where His physical presence would be replaced by the indwelling and empowering presence of the Holy Spirit [7]. This transition was crucial for the disciples to continue Jesus' mission after His ascension. The Spirit's role in glorifying Jesus ensures that Jesus remains the central figure of faith and worship, even in His physical absence [7]. The Spirit's work is to ensure that Jesus' identity as the Son of God, who came forth from the Father and returns to the Father, is fully understood and proclaimed [7].
Sources
- Matthew “Matthew 16:15 (Tyndale) — He sayde vnto the: but who saye ye yt I am?”
- John “John 10:14 (NASB) — "I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me,”
- Exodus (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Exodus 3:14: 3:14 I Am Who I Am: This name speaks of a God who is self-sufficient, self-existent, all encompassing, and without limitations, the one being in the universe who is not dependent on something else for his existence.”
- Matthew (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Matthew 16:15: He saith unto them, But whom--rather, "who." say ye that I am?--He had never put this question before, but the crisis He was reaching made it fitting that He should now have it from them. We may suppose this to be one of those moments of which the prophet says, in His name, "Then I said, I have labored in vain; I have spent my strength for naught, and in vain" (Isa 49:4): Lo, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree; and what is it? As the result of all, I am taken for John the Baptist, for Elias, for Jeremias, for one of the prophet”
- Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 16:14: 16:14 Some, such as Herod Antipas (14:1-2), thought Jesus was John the Baptist resurrected. • Elijah was expected as a forerunner to the Messiah (11:14; 17:10-12; Mal 3:1; 4:5-6). • Jeremiah or one of the other prophets: Some Jews expected Jeremiah to be raised (see 2 Maccabees 15:13-16). Jesus’ strong stand on sensitive matters (Matt 5:17; 15:1-20) may have led some to think Jesus was Jeremiah. Jesus was not yet understood as God’s Messiah.”
- John (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on John 14:10: Believest thou not that I am in the Father?.... This surely is, as it must needs be, and ought to be, an article of your faith, "that I am in the Father", and the Father in me; phrases which are expressive of the sameness of nature in the Father and the Son; of the Son's perfect equality with the Father, since the Son is as much in the Father, as the Father is in the Son; and also of the personal distinction there is between them; for nothing with propriety can be said to be in itself. The Father must be distinct from the Son who is in him, and the Son must be distin”
- John (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on John 16:28: I came forth from the Father - With whom I existed from eternity in glory. Am come into the world - By my incarnation. I leave the world - By my death. And go to the Father - By my ascension. These four words contain the whole economy of the Gospel of man's salvation, and a consummate abridgment of the Christian faith. This gave the disciples a key to the whole of our Lord's discourse; and especially to that part, Joh 16:16, that had so exceedingly embarrassed them, as appears by Joh 16:17, Joh 16:18.”
- John (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on John 6:35: 6:35 Jesus’ I am statements in John depict Jesus’ identity and ministry (see also 4:26; 8:12; 9:5; 10:7-9, 11-14; 11:25; 14:6; 15:1-5). Jesus purposefully used a phrase that would make his listeners think of the Old Testament name for God (Exod 3:14). • I am the bread of life: Jesus is the true manna that descended from God (John 6:38). He satisfies the spiritual hunger of those who believe in him (cp. 4:10-13).”
- Matthew (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Matthew 16:15: He saith unto them, but whom say ye that I am? Without taking any further notice, or making any reflections on the different sentiments of men concerning him, he put this question to his disciples, and which is what he had chiefly in view, that he might have their sense of him; and which he puts in a different form, and leaves out the phrase, the son of man, because they knew he was more than a man: nor was his mean appearance an offence to them; they had believed in him, became his disciples, and were followers of him: but it was not enough to believe in him, they ”
- John (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on John 6:20: 6:20 I am here (Greek reads I am): Jesus identified himself by the name God had revealed to Moses on Mount Sinai (see Exod 3:14; see also John 4:26; 6:35).”