But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus is pointing out the disciples' self-centered sorrow; their grief over His departure has blinded them to the greater purpose and ultimate good of His going to the Father. They are focused solely on their own loss, missing the "whither" that leads to their own future empowerment.
But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus is preparing his disciples for his impending departure, explaining that the sorrow they feel is natural but shortsighted. While he’s leaving them physically, he's going to the Father, and he wants them to focus on the greater good that will come from his absence, rather than dwelling solely on their own loss. Their grief has made them silent and unable to ask the deeper questions about where he's going and what it means.
Jesus is about to leave, and His disciples are fixated on their loss. Why is their perspective so different from His?
Jesus observes that His disciples aren't asking the crucial question: 'Where are you going?' They had asked before (John 13:36, 14:5), but the scholarly context highlights that their previous inquiries were focused on their own immediate situation and loss, not on the divine purpose of Jesus' departure.
Jesus knew their sorrow would fill their hearts. Why would He deliberately say something that would cause them such pain?
Jesus is speaking these words knowing the disciples' hearts are already heavy with sorrow. He acknowledges this, stating in verse 6, 'because I have told you these things, sorrow has filled your hearts.' This isn't a critique of their feelings, but an explanation of why they aren't asking the right questions.
Ask a follow-up
Jesus is speaking to His disciples in His final hours before His crucifixion. His impending departure to the Father, though causing them sorrow, is the necessary precursor to sending the Holy Spirit to empower them for the mission ahead.
c. AD 30— this verse
Jesus' Last Week in Jerusalem
Jesus and his disciples are in Jerusalem during Passover week, facing escalating tension with religious authorities.
c. AD 30
Jesus' Arrest and Crucifixion
Jesus is betrayed, arrested, tried, and crucified. This marks the culmination of the earthly ministry and the event Jesus is preparing his disciples for.
c. AD 30
Jesus' Resurrection and Ascension
After His resurrection, Jesus spends time with His disciples before ascending to the Father, fulfilling His promise to send the Holy Spirit.
c. AD 30-33
The Coming of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit descends at Pentecost, empowering the disciples to carry on Jesus' ministry and spread the Gospel.
c. AD 40-60
Early Church Expansion and Persecution
The followers of Jesus, empowered by the Spirit, spread Christianity throughout the Roman Empire, facing significant opposition and persecution.
This verse represents the 'protoevangelium,' the first hint of God's plan to send a Savior. Jesus' going to the Father is the necessary step to fulfill this ancient promise and bring salvation.
Psalm 110:1This psalm speaks of the Lord's ascension to the right hand of God. Jesus' departure to the Father in John 16:5 directly fulfills this prophetic declaration of His exaltation and authority.
Acts 1:9-11This passage describes Jesus' ascension into heaven. It provides the historical and divine confirmation of Jesus' departure to the Father, as spoken of in John 16:5.
Romans 8:34Paul states that Christ Jesus is at the right hand of God, interceding for us. This highlights the purpose and consequence of Jesus going to the Father, showing His ongoing work even after His earthly departure.
Hebrews 4:14-16This passage emphasizes that we have a High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus Christ. It underscores the significance of Jesus going to the Father, enabling Him to sympathize with our weaknesses and offer mercy.
cambridgeJohn 16:5: "But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou?"
5 . I go my way to ] Or, I go away unto ; the notion is that of withdrawal (see on John 16:7 ). Hitherto He has been with them to protect them and to be the main object of attack: soon they will have to bear the brunt without Him. This is all that they feel at present,—how His departure affects themselves, not how it affects Him. And yet this latter point is all important even as regards themsel…
jfbJohn 16:5: "But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou?"
- But now I go my way to him that sent me—While He was with them, the world's hatred was directed chiefly against Himself; but His departure would bring it down upon them as His representatives.and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou?—They had done so in a sort (Joh 13:36; 14:5); but He wished more intelligent and eager inquiry on the subject.
Jesus is pointing out the disciples' self-centered sorrow; their grief over His departure has blinded them to the greater purpose and ultimate good of His going to the Father. They are focused solely on their own loss, missing the "whither" that leads to their own future empowerment.
Jesus is preparing his disciples for his impending departure, explaining that the sorrow they feel is natural but shortsighted. While he’s leaving them physically, he's going to the Father, and he wants them to focus on the greater good that will come from his absence, rather than dwelling solely on their own loss. Their grief has made them silent and unable to ask the deeper questions about where he's going and what it means.
Jesus is preparing his disciples for his impending departure, explaining that the sorrow they feel is natural but shortsighted. While he’s leaving them physically, he's going to the Father, and he wants them to focus on the greater good that will come from his absence, rather than dwelling solely on their own loss. Their grief has made them silent and unable to ask the deeper questions about where he's going and what it means.
"But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’" — Jesus is pointing out the disciples' self-centered sorrow; their grief over His departure has blinded them to the greater purpose and ultimate good of His going to the Father. They are focused solely…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026