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John 16:16-22

King James Version (KJV)

“In our prayers we talk to God, in our Bible study God talks to us, and we had better let God do most of the talking.”
— D.L. Moody

Scripture focus

16. 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. 17. Then said [some] of his disciples among themselves, What is this that he saith unto us, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me: and, Because I go to the Father? 18. They said therefore, What is this that he saith, A little while? we cannot tell what he saith. 19. Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him, and said unto them, Do ye inquire among yourselves of that I said, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me? 20. Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. 21. A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. 22. And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.

John 16:16-22 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on John 16:16

Theological / Devotional

Shall not see me. The first “little while” is generally understood to refer to the short time intervening until the Passion, and the second “little while” to the three days between the crucifixion and the resurrection. Some have suggested a dual meaning in Christ’s words, first, that they refer to the death and resurrection, and second that they refer to the ascension to the Father and His return at the end of the age (ch. 14:1-3). This return is elsewhere represented as not far away: “He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly” (Rev. 22:20; cf. ch. 1:3). However, in view of the explanation in John 16:20-29 it seems best to consider the passage a reference to the events of the immediate future.

By SdaBc