This passage brings to an end Jesus’ discussions with his disciples in the upper room; what follows in ch.17 is his prayer. And so in v.16 here we see Jesus once more telling the disciples that “in a little while” they will see him no more and, then, “after a little while” they will see him.
Those words aren’t cryptic but neither are they entirely clear – at least it wasn’t plain to the disciples what Jesus was saying. But instead of directly asking him about it, they keep asking one another what he meant – pooling their ignorance and finding no answers.
Jesus can see what’s going on and so he addresses their confusion, not by directly explaining his words but by dealing with the impact the reality he is speaking of will have on them.
1. Your grief will turn to joy
The first thing to say in respect of that is that the disciples would experience the most profound grief, whilst the world rejoiced, but their grief would then be transformed into the most glorious joy.
While some have suggested that Jesus has his return in glory in view here, the most obvious and natural way to understand his words is as referring to his death and resurrection. In a very short time, they would plumb the very depths of grief in the hideous loss of their Master but that grief would only last a short while: the Lord’s resurrection would take away that grief forever.
As we know, the disciples didn’t factor the resurrection into their thinking about the Messiah, just as they hadn’t factored in the cross. But as events unfolded, they struggled to cope with the latter and then were surprised by the joy of the former. Jesus is trying to prepare them for both – and is stressing the short wait involved (“a little while” occurs 7 times in 4 verses).
Jesus wasn’t exaggerating – in a very short while their grief was indeed turned into the most delirious joy. It would be wrong to think that they only got joyful once Pentecost had happened; it’s there at the resurrection.
And that note of joy is kept up throughout the NT – the Christian life, for all it is attended by many griefs and trials, is to be experienced as a life of joy (see 1 Peter 1:8,9).
We can, of course, understand why the disciples would be overjoyed to see their Lord again – for anyone to come back from such a brutal and obvious death would be a source of great joy and amazement. But Jesus here uses a very interesting image to describe the coming events – it will be like a woman giving birth, going through the pain and out into the joy. Is he just casting around for a helpful illustration or is something more going on?
I think it’s the latter and it relates to how the OT uses similar imagery – it is often used in passages that speak of God’s climactic work in the world, of the time of judgement/salvation when Messiah is revealed. And it is a truly appropriate image because, at that time, a whole new world will be born, a whole new creation will begin to be unveiled. In 20:1ff, John will describe the events of Easter Sunday in terms that recall the original creation, to show us that this is the start of the new creation.
All of which should alert us to the fact that the resurrection is vitally important to our lives as Christians. It gives us the certain hope of the new creation, it vindicates Jesus as Messiah and assures us of our status in him; it energises our new life in him. How much damage we do to ourselves when we minimise the reality and impact of the resurrection – it isn’t just a proof that God accepted the sacrifice of Jesus but the bringing to birth of a whole new creation.
It’s wonderful, a source of unending joy, a joy that is to be ours, even in the midst of perplexing and grievous situations.
2. Asking the Father
Having spoken of the grief and the joy that will so shortly follow, Jesus then goes on to explain further what the effect of his departure will have on the disciples.
In vv.23-28 he speaks of an intensified relationship with the Father, such that his disciples will be able to directly ask the Father in his name and receive answers to their prayers with great joy (v.24).
Here is a further consequence of his departure. Because of his death and resurrection and the promised sending of his Spirit, Jesus will usher his disciples into the same kind of relationship he has lived out with the Father, in which they will work together with God.
But they will only do so ‘in Jesus’ name’, on the basis of who he is and what he has done. And because they have loved him and believed that he came from God, they will experience God’s love – not that they will in that way earn it but this is the road to travel in order to experience the fullness of the Father’s love.
None of that could take place unless Jesus went away, went the way of the cross. These are hard things for the disciples to grasp but Jesus is not selling them short and leaving too soon – he is giving his all in order that they might have it all.
This blessed relationship with the Father is ours, too, in Jesus. And so is the calling to be fellow-workers with him, to be asking for things in Jesus’ name, those things that promote the glory of God and further his purposes in and for the world.
3. Now we know…
In v.29 the disciples say to Jesus, “Now you are speaking clearly …now we can see…this makes us believe”. Things are starting to add up to them, they’re beginning to grasp what Jesus is saying – he doesn’t need anyone to ask him questions. And so they affirm, “This makes us believe that you came from God.” (v.30)
Jesus’ reply is very important. There’s a translation issue involved but it isn’t determinative. Either Jesus replies, as in the NIV, “You believe at last!” or, as in the TNIV, “Do you know believe?”. The latter is probably the better option but what Jesus is doing in any case is raising the stakes somewhat – yes, they believe but it is one thing to believe now; a time is coming when they will all be scattered and will leave him on his own.
The shadow of the cross is steadily creeping across their lives and experience. It is one thing for them to believe in advance of the cross; it will be another to go on believing in the face of such brutal violence and outright rejection.
They think they now know, that they have grasped what Jesus has been speaking about – but he has always had the cross in view and, in the face of the cross, they will all fail, they will all be scattered.
Don Carson very perceptively points out that “No misunderstanding is more pathetic than that which thinks it no longer exists.” The basis for their new-expressed faith in Jesus is very shallow indeed (their own grasp of what he is saying).
How much better it would be for all of us to say with Paul, “I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it”. The cross-shaped nature of the Christian life, in which we’re called to share in the sufferings of Jesus, demands a certain humility and a readiness not to be shaken by the unexpected twists and turns of life.
Our faith needs to be deeply-rooted in the trustworthiness of God and the rock-solid reality of his grace, and not in our feeble grasp of truth.
Why does Jesus tell them all this? Why is there this whole prolonged discussion? “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.” Jesus’ purpose is not to shame or humiliate; it is to lead us into his peace even while we’re in the teeth of the storm.
The reality is that “in this world you will have trouble”. No two ways about it – every disciple will prove this in their experience, one way or another; and every church will know it too. But in that knowing we are to also know this: Jesus has overcome the world. By his cross and resurrection, Jesus has conquered the world in its violent defiance and stubborn resistance to God.
Knowing that, we are to take heart from it and not give in to despair. Yes, we do fail the Lord, just like these disciples were so soon to do. But such failures are not absolute; they are real and grievous but the reality is that Jesus has conquered, has overcome the world.
And that counts for everything.
