“A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me, because I go to the Father.” John 16:16.

The Lord Jesus is speaking to His disciples here after supper was finished and after the departure of Judas Iscariot to betray Him, He warns them of His own death on the cross. Though the words He uses to describe these near future events are figurative, to keep them from panicking and become unable to focus on His last instructions to them.

“A little while, and you will not see Me…” for I am about to be arrested and crucified. It is not as though Jesus had not explicitly warned the disciples of His death; He was quite plain as can be seen by this verse in Mark chapter 8.

“And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. He spoke this word openly. And Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him.” Mark 8:31-32.

Peter’s response shows that the disciples’ mindset was not open to accept the idea that the Messiah would die. They, like the rest of Israel, thought that the Messiah would rule forever.

This incident happened a while after the feeding of 4000, and approximately a week before the Mount of Transfiguration, making it very, very roughly six and one half months before this Last Supper. Mark 9:9-10, also repeats the prophecy of Christ’s resurrection mentioned earlier in Mark 8:31 above.

“Now as they came down from the mountain, He commanded them that they should tell no one the things they had seen, till the Son of Man had risen from the dead. So they kept this word to themselves, questioning what the rising from the dead meant.” Mark 9:9-10.

“…and again a little while, and you will see Me” John 16:16b, because I will rise from the dead, to die no more, and come to you. Some expositors have speculated that this phrase indicates that the “little while” is actually the period between the Lord’s ascension into heaven and His glorious return after the tribulation.

This is an interesting thought, but it does not seem to fit the context. You will find as we go along that the Lord speaks of seeing the disciples again, and of their rejoicing over Him, see verse 22 later in this study.

Always remember context, how does it fit with the rest of the passage you are studying. Some verses like John 3:16 or Romans 6:23 can stand alone, yet they too still add to the context of the passages.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23.

While other verses are clarified when considered with the whole passage, or even the whole chapter, be careful, many errors and heresies have arisen out of careless Bible study.

This means that you must be critical of your own work, this site, and the work of others, since they have a color of authority because they are published. Please, just be careful.

“…because I go to the Father.” Again some have asked, is the Lord saying that you will not see Me, because I shall be crucified, buried and rise again and then you will see Me again when I return after the tribulation, “because I go to the Father.”

Or does this verse mean that, My job on earth is done, now it is time to return to the Father in heaven by way of the cross.

And because the Father is satisfied with My sacrifice as the spotless Lamb of God given for the sin of the world, He will raise Me from the dead as proof, and I shall show Myself to you that you may not sorrow.

More of this unfolds as we go along.

“Then some of His disciples said among themselves, ‘What is this that He says to us, “A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me”; and “because I go to the Father”?’ They said therefore, ‘What is this that He says, “A little while”? ‘We do not know what He is saying.’” John 16:17-18.

It is interesting that the disciples quoted the Lord the way they did. “A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me”; and “because I go to the Father.”

They quoted the first part verbatim but they separated the you will not see Me, and you will see Me part from “because I go to the Father” with the word “and” were they not listening?

Jesus’ words in John 16:16 are just one sentence, not two. Here again is His one sentence statement.

“A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me, because I go to the Father.” John 16:16.

At any rate, the disciples question boils down to this: “What is this that He says, ‘A little while’? We do not know what He is saying.” Jesus answers their question using the most solemn of descriptions.

“Now Jesus knew that they desired to ask Him, and He said to them, ‘Are you inquiring among yourselves about what I said, “A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me”? Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy. A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you.’” John 16:19-22.

“…you will weep and lament”, any of us who have lost friends or loved ones know this feeling. It will be no less sorrowful for the disciples.

“…but the world will rejoice”, evil will always rejoice and gloat over its victims. The photograph of Hitler’s little jig after the surrender of France, June 1940 always comes to mind.

Did you know that the only mention of celebration during the tribulation was after the beast killed God’s two faithful witnesses?

“Now when they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them. And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. Then those from the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations will see their dead bodies three and a half days, and not allow their dead bodies to be put into graves. And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, make merry, and send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.” Revelation 11:7-10.

When Judas offered to betray Jesus the religious leaders were happy for the opportunity.

“Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Him to them. So when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. So he sought how he might conveniently betray Him.” Mark 14:10-11.

“Now the men who held Jesus mocked Him and beat Him. And having blindfolded Him, they struck Him on the face and asked Him, saying, ‘Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?’ And many other things they blasphemously spoke against Him.” Luke 22:63-65.

“Then Herod, with his men of war, treated Him with contempt and mocked Him, arrayed Him in a gorgeous robe, and sent Him back to Pilate.” Luke 23:11.

“And the people stood looking on. But even the rulers with them sneered, saying, ‘He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ, the chosen of God.’ and the soldiers also mocked Him, coming and offering Him sour wine, and saying, ‘If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself.’” Luke 23:35-37.

“And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads and saying, ‘You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross.’ Likewise the chief priests, also mocking with the scribes and elders, said, ‘He saved others; Himself He cannot save. If He is the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe Him. He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now if He will have Him; for He said, “I am the Son of God.”’ Even the robbers who were crucified with Him reviled Him with the same thing.” Matthew 27:39-44.

The Lord continues this thought by telling the disciples that, “…you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy.” He then gives the picture of a woman giving birth, something you ladies can relate to through your own experience.

For the most part it seems that just about no matter how horrific labor is; women quickly put that behind them and enjoy their newborn child.

This is a good analogy for what the disciples are about to go through; the utter desolation and loss of a dream, their greatest hope the Messiah, the Christ is dead.

Dead too is a beloved teacher and friend, was He a liar, a prophet, insane? Satan must have filled their heads with doubts while the Lord lay in the grave.

“…but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you.” What a tremendous experience, the joy of seeing the Lord again after His resurrection from the dead would be a memory, burned into their minds, forever, truly a rebirth of hope.

The Apostle John describes seeing the risen glorified Lord many years later on the island of Patmos.

“And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, ‘Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.’” Revelation 1:17-18.

“And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask and you will receive, that your joy may be full.” John 16:23-24.

Once the Lord has risen and appeared before the disciples all of these inquiries that they make of Him will have been answered and all of the things He has been speaking about in figurative language will become clear.

“Peter said to Him, ‘Lord, why can I not follow You now? I will lay down my life for Your sake.’” John 13:37.

“Thomas said to Him, ‘Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?’” John 14:5.

“Philip said to Him, ‘Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.’” John 14:8.

“Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, ‘Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?’” John 14:22.

This thought also carries forward beyond Christ’s ascension into heaven (see Acts 1:1-11) to the day of Pentecost when the disciples receive the Holy Spirit, who is called, the Comforter, the One called alongside, and the Spirit of Christ, among other things.

“But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.” Romans 8:9.

It is this same Spirit that indwelt the disciples enabling them and others to write the entire New Testament and answered all of their questions, so that they need not ask anyone. The Holy Spirit dwells in all believers and is capable of answering all of their questions.

“But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.” 1 John 2:27.

“Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.” John 16:23b-24.

No one was able to ask anything in Jesus’ name until after He was glorified at His resurrection and ascension. This is why the Lord instructs His disciples to petition the Father in His name at this time.

There is great power in the Spirit and in prayer; it is time for all Christians to use the tools given to us for the good of the body of Christ, which is the church and for our country which is foundering on the shoals of evil unbelief.

“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16.

Sorrow Will Turn to Joy, John 16:16-24 taken from godisrevealed.com posted on 5-1-13, updated on 3-8-18.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version, copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission, all rights reserved.