You Will See Me
16:16-24
Jesus continues his last teachings in this passage, preparing the disciples for what will come. So, he told them that, in a little while, they would not see him, but after another little while, they would. (16)
It appears that Jesus was speaking of his death which would, indeed, happen in a little while. Within hours he would be arrested, bound, and taken before the high priest. They would then take him to Pilate, hoping Pilate would sentence Jesus to death. Pilate would send him to the cross, where he would die.He would then be buried.
They would not see Jesus while he was dead in the tomb only a little while after he spoke to them. But, in a little while after that, on the third day, they would see him again because he would be resurrected and would appear to them.
The disciples did not understand. (17-18) They talked among themselves and wanted to ask him what he was talking about. Jesus knew this. (19) And so, he explained further.
He told them they would weep and lament. (20) Lamenting is a passionate expression of sorry. As they saw Jesus suffer and die, they would cry and grieve. They missed him as a friend and as their leader. They missed his protection and felt vulnerable and afraid.
They also grieved their personal failures. Those who scattered to their homes must have felt guilty and ashamed. Peter must have been devastated at his denial of Christ just in the way Jesus said he would and that Peter refused to believe.
The disciples grieved, but the world rejoiced. The “world” is the part of humanity that is against God. The is the same world that God loved enough to send his son to. (John 3:16)
As Jesus died on the cross, they jeered and taunted him as they rejoiced in his death. They rejoiced because they thought that they had defeated him.
But they did not defeat him. He defeated Satan and all of his followers. “He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.” (Colossians 2:15)
The seed of the woman bruised the head of the seed of the serpent just as God said he would. (Genesis 3:15)
It must have been quite a shock to those powers and authorities of Satan when Jesus rose from the dead and they realized they were defeated!
Jesus went on to say that the disciples’ sorrow would turn to joy. (20) He did not explain it, but he knew that, once they was he was resurrected and alive, they would be joyful.
Jesus gave an example of a woman giving birth. She had sorrow, in the sense of pain, during the birth, but joy once the baby was born. (21)
Similarly, they would have sorrow for a while, then he would see them again, and they would rejoice. (22) Once this happened, no one could take their joy away. It was a joy they wanted to share with the world.
And, from that point on, whatever they asked in the name of Jesus, the Father will give to him. He told them to ask. If they asked, the Father would give them their request and their joy would be full.
Have you ever had joy in answered prayer? Have you prayed for someone to be saved and they were? Someone to be healed and they were? For God to provide for needs and he did? This is the joy Jesus was talking about.
Speaking Plainly
16: 25-33
Jesus acknowledged that he had said things to them in “figures of speech” (25) That would include parables and metaphors, both of which he frequently employed. But he would later speak plainly about the Father. This would occur mostly through the Holy Spirit, who would reveal the full meaning of Jesus’ words as well as the words of the Old Testament scriptures.
We see this in the amazing ability the disciples had to tie Old Testament scripture to Christ and to explain the revelation of God’s plan of salvation. We also see it in our own ability to read and understand Jesus’ words and the teaching of the disciples.
In this moment, Jesus gave them a precious truth. They did not need to pray to Jesus and ask Jesus to ask the Father for them. The Father loved them because they loved Jesus and believed in him. Because he loved them, they could ask in Jesus’ name and the Father would answer their prayers.
Jesus also told them plainly that he came from the Father into the world and was now leaving the world to go to the Father in heaven. (28)
The disciples know claimed to believe Jesus. But Jesus questioned this, telling them that the hour was upon them when they would abandon Jesus and scatter to their own homes. (31) It must have been a bitter experience to later realize that they had done just as Jesus said.
The final words of this discourse were words of encouragement. Jesus told them he said these things so they would have peace. They would fall away and scatter. They would mourn and grieve. They would be afraid. Then, they would realize Jesus’ truth that the world offered them tribulation. But they could have courage, because Jesus had overcome the world. (33)
Those encouraging words have traveled to us over centuries of tribulation, persecution, and trying times. In every age, some part of the church will experience it. But, none of it is outside the knowledge and control of the Lord. He has overcome the world.
And the church will endure.
Take heart in these words.
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