John 16:1
““I have said these things to you so that you wouldn’t be caused to stumble.”
What does John 16:1 mean?
Jesus is preparing his friends for the hard times ahead, telling them plainly so they won't be blindsided when persecution and difficulty come. He knows that confusion and unexpected suffering can shake people's faith more than the suffering itself, so he's giving them a kind of spiritual roadmap in advance. When you understand what's coming and why, you're less likely to interpret hardship as a sign that God has abandoned you. This is Jesus offering a gift of honesty and foreknowledge, the kind of thing a good friend does when they see trouble ahead.