The closer one gets to the finish line, the clearer it
becomes.
The pace quickens, the focus narrows.
See Jesus; His face like a flint.
No more foot washing. No more talk of a betrayer, a denier, a new
commandment or worldly persecution.
His gaze settles on those with Him. Those He chose, to carry
the Torch; to change the world.
Knowing in a matter of
moments, these few would enter the battle for the souls of man.
Knowing that all but one, would be martyred in the battle.
Knowing that in a matter of moments, everything for them, for
all the world, would change, forever.
Knowing all this…
This is what He said.
16 “A little
while, and you will not see Me;
Guys, I will die.
Behold
the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world John 1:29
He is talking about His imminent, soon to come, death.
Jesus, willingly added humanity to His Divinity.
Now, Life personified, was actually about to die.
God is the Master Planner and Master Planter.
By His Word, He created the universe. Setting the precedent
that His Word is the Seed of Life.
Jesus is The Word, become flesh (John 1:14). He says His words
are seed (Luke 8:11).
At least four times He already planted the seed that He’d only
be with them, for a little while.
John 7:33, John 12:35, John 13:33, John 14:19.
Now, it’s time for the seed to bloom.
Remember, He just said, “These things I have spoken to you,
that you should not be made to stumble” (not get caught in the
devil’s snare). John 16:1.
So, when it comes to pass, you’ll believe.
This is His way.
As a Master Planner, He prepares us.
As a Master Planter, He plants seeds within us, so we grow.
So, now they should say something like:
Oh, it’s time? Already? You told
us, You’d only be with us, for a little while. We don’t like it, but You warned
us. We understand.
However, the danger is that we, rather than nurturing His
Word, His Seed, we take it for granted because it comes readily and repeatedly.
We hear something we’ve heard before so instead of paying
attention we recline on our apathy.
We have Bibles in every room—gathering dust.
We skip Church because, we can watch it anytime while lying in
bed—snoring. Plus, online we can search sermons on the topic of our choice—like
ordering from a dessert menu—like gathering to ourselves what our itching
ears wants to hear. 2 Tim. 4:3.
Lord, do we take Your Word seriously, literally,
or do we take it for granted?
We’ll see how the disciples respond in a moment.
A little while…
By any standard it really was just a little while. In a
matter of minutes, He will wrap up His Upper Room Discourse with a prayer for
His disciples; including those who believe because of their word—that
means you and me. John 17.
After that prayer they head to the Garden of Gethsemane, where
He prays, sweats great drops of blood, and Judas shows up leading a pack of
hungry wolves who will crucify Christ. In less than 24 hours, before the next
sunset, He will be laid in a borrowed tomb.
Okay guys this is not a drill, pay attention, in a little
while I’ll be gone.
and again a little while, and you will see
Me, because I go to the Father.”
Guys, I will rise.
I am the
resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall
live John 11:25
He is talking about His imminent, soon to come, resurrection.
A little while, after His death, with their physical
eyes they will see Him, again.
Because His life was sinless, His dying is the eternal, spotless,
sacrificial payment, for the sin debt for all who will accept, receive, and
believe in Him.
His death defeats death.
Hallelujah!
Okay, so far He’s told them:
I will die.
I will rise.
Crystal clear, right?
17 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’?” 18 They
said therefore, “What is this that He says, ‘A little while’? We do
not know what He is saying.”
The disciples are whispering and wondering, what in the
world is He talking about? Now you see Me, now you don’t, now you do—I have no
clue?
Oh, well, umm, then again, maybe it’s not so crystal clear.
Listen.
Close.
You can hear the Words of Jesus, echoing from 2,000 years ago…
a little while and you will see Me…
Crystal clear, right?
Are you ready?
19 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’?
It was obvious they didn’t understand.
The original text reveals that the disciples, kept asking,
they were carrying on a conversation amongst themselves.
So, Jesus responds.
20 Most
assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will
rejoice;
You are set apart, from the world.
The Church and the world are diametrically opposed. What makes
them weep, what makes them rejoice, are completely different.
You (His Church) are set apart, called out, from the
world.
The word Jesus uses to describe His Church, is: ekklésia.
Ekklésia: set apart ones, called out and to, the works of God.
In the world but not of the world.
1 Peter
2:9. You are a chosen generation, a royal
priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that you should show forth the
praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous ligh
The Church and the world do life different.
And they do death different.
Those in Christ don’t sorrow as the world without hope. 1
Thess. 4:13-18.
and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be
turned into joy.
You will hurt; you will overcome.
In the
world you will have tribulation, be of good cheer (joy), I have overcome the
world. John 16:33.
Yes, you will weep, you will sorrow, we live in
a broken world.
Christianity does not remove from the world, does not replace
pain, suffering, sorrow…
But sorrow will be turned into joy.
A metamorphosis (even if by way of a cocoon).
All
things work together for Good to those who love God and are called according to
His purpose. Romans 8:28.
In the midst of the sorrow, joy will be a constant companion
through the long dark tunnel of grief. It will remain through the fiery trial.
When the smoke clears, joy will remain.
Weeping may endure through the night, but joy, will be left
standing with you, through the mourning, and in the morning.
21 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.
Jesus chooses the perfect analogy.
Notice, the event that triggers their sorrow isn’t a sickness,
or unfortunate event that we wished would never have happened.
This event is actually a, Divinely orchestrated part of the
process, that leads to eternal joy and victory.
Like labor pains are part of the birthing process. The mom
willingly endures the pain for the joy she knows is set before her.
Don’t stop yet, the analogy goes even deeper.
Labor pains are a result of the curse.
Hebrews 12:2. Jesus willingly endures the cross,
for the joy set before Him, the joy He knows is coming, the joy of reversing
the curse, so many can be born into His Kingdom.
22 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.
I will see you again.
In this world, we will weep. Because we weren’t created for
this; this sorrow, this pain, this death. We weep, because it hurts.
But those of us, in Christ, weep with Easter in our tears; hope
in our hearts, joy in our eyes, His peace in our soul. Those things, the world
cannot take.
“I will see you again” was our dear, Grandma Mary’s last
message as she departed.
She held on for weeks, as winter did too; through bitter cold,
and snowing, and blowing. We didn’t know what kept her holding on so long. But
finally, one day, as peaceful as can be, she simply let go.
That day, was the first day of spring.
One last message to her hundred and something children and
grandchildren.
This is not the end. This is just the beginning. And for those
of you in Jesus…
I will see you again.
23 “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. 24 Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.
Welcome to My Family.
Most assuredly, may
also be translated as, truly truly, or, verily, verily. The original
text reads, amén amén.
At end of sentence, amén, means: so be it.
At the beginning it’s added for emphasis; to alert the hearer that
what follows is important, listen up.
He grabs their attention, then hands them a blank check, with
His signature.
What?
Whatever you ask… in My name, in My name.
Until this night, this supper, Jesus never really mentioned
praying in His name, (John 14:13–14; 15:16).
He is talking about praying in His name, not
just using His name as a few words in a formula.
Note: He is talking to His disciples, not the world.
Those who do the will of My Father, are My
family. Mark 3:34-35.
He’s talking to family.
Weddings, births and adoptions are given family names.
All of which reflect the relationship God wants. The Bride of
Christ; Children of God.
Jesus is saying, welcome to My family. I’m giving you, My name.
In My name, you can enter straight in, to the Father’s house.
Welcome Home.
The
closer one gets to the finish line, the clearer it becomes.
The pace
quickens, the focus narrows.
See
Jesus; His face like a flint.
No more
foot washing; talk of betrayer; denier; new commandment, or persecution.
His gaze
settles on… you.
Those He
chose, to carry the Torch; to change the world.
Knowing
in a matter of moments, He will finish the battle for the souls of man.
Knowing
that multitudes, have been, and will be, martyred in the battle.
Knowing
that everything, for all the world, is about to change, forever.
Knowing
all this…
He says
to You.
I WILL
SEE YOU AGAIN.
Are you
ready?
Prayer Requests:
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Again, John 16:16-24
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Will See You Again, John 16:16-24
Thank you for sharing.
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