Read John 16:16-33
"A little while, and ye shall not see
me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the
Father." John
What did Jesus mean when He said, "A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father" ? Jesus spoke these words on the same night in which He was betrayed and arrested. On the very next day, he was tried before Pontius Pilate, condemned, crucified, and laid in a tomb. The unbelieving world rejoiced at Jesus' death, but Jesus' disciples wept. Yet, their sorrow was turned to joy at the glorious resurrection of Jesus on the third day. Once Jesus' disciples came to understand that Jesus had paid in full for their sins by His innocent sufferings and death and that He had risen again in victory and was ascending to heaven to prepare a place for them to be with Him forever (cf. John 14:1-3), they had a joy which no man could take from them. They had forgiveness for all their sins and an eternal home with Jesus in heaven. Even in death, they had life!
Because Jesus was completing the redemptive work which He came into this world to do and was going to the Father, for a little while His followers would not see Him. But again, in a little while, they will see Him! Though the three days in the tomb seems like a short while, the nearly 2,000 years since Jesus' ascension to the right hand of God the Father seems long to us who await His return. Yet, in comparison with the eternity in heaven that awaits us when we again see our Lord Jesus, it is only "a little while." Soon, our Lord Jesus will return in the clouds of heaven to take us to be with Him forever. Then we will have joy which no one can ever take from us!
During the "little while" in which we dwell in this world, we experience tribulation and suffering. But we can "be of good cheer," for Jesus our Savior has "overcome the world." When He returns, our momentary sorrows will be turned to everlasting joy; but the brief rejoicing of the world will be turned into never ending sorrow! Cf. Psalm 16:11; Luke 6:25; Revelation 1:7; 21:1-8.
O dear Lord Jesus, You have died for our sins, risen again, and ascended to the right hand of God the Father. For "a little while" You are hidden from our eyes. But we know that even now You are interceding for us before the Father, preparing a place for us to be with You forever, and that You are still with us always. In this world, we have tribulation, but You have overcome the world. We pray that You graciously preserve and keep us in Your mercy and grace until, "in a little while," You come again to take us to be where You are forever! Amen.