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No longer a little while:    John 16.17-33

                    Zechariah13.7-9,  Philippians 4.4-7, John 16.17-33                                                      February 12, 2006

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The agitation of chapter 13 of John can still be felt at the end of chapter 16, but there is a new feeling, like a fresh breeze that blows through the discussion. The disciples are struggling with what one translation calls Jesus' figures of speech. This sounds too literary a term for what are just puzzling sayings. Jesus is trying to help them understand, in advance, about his death. But he knows they cannot understand it yet. What he is saying sounds like riddles, confusing enigmatic talk.

For example what does he mean by "a little while"? It is at this point that one can sense Jesus getting carried ahead to the outcome of his suffering. They will be sad for a short time but then they will see him again and they will rejoice. He uses an example of a woman giving birth. And although he means they also will one day forget the trauma of the next few days, there is also a sense in which this analogy refers to himself.

The reason they will be glad and that their joy will never be taken from them, is because he will come back to them. Indeed when they see they risen Lord they were filled with joy (Jn 20.20). But this joy lasts precisely because Jesus has died and been raised. And it persists even though he returns to the Father. Already he has told them that both he and the Father will dwell with them (14.23).  The fresh breeze feels like Jesus anticipating his victory and return to his disciples. He is already talking about what happens afterwards.

In this new situation they will have to ask for help in a new way. Jesus will return to the Father. They will not be able to call on him in the same way as they have been. But now, he says, they will be able to call on the Father - directly - not through him. The Father knows they love him and believe that he has come from God, and so the Father will hear and give them what they need. These statements about prayer are not so much about what to ask, as who to ask. Now their relationship is to be with the Father directly. But because Jesus is returning to the Father praying to the Father will be like praying to him.

Once again in this passage we get another glimpse of the unity of being and purpose between the Father and Jesus. Even though they are scattered and leave him alone, he is not alone. And even though he can say he has come from the Father and is returning to the Father, at this point between coming from and going to, he is not alone because the Father is with him.

As Jesus approaches his death he knows that the belief of the disciples (he mentions it in 16.27 and they mention it in 16.30) is true but weak. They will scatter. But he is telling them these puzzling things so that they will have peace. He adds another explanation to his death here - he has conquered the world. They will be persecuted, but he has won. They can be brave. Persecution is not defeat. In the face of the hostility they can have peace, because they know the  Father and the Son. They can call on the Father directly. That is why they both can and should ask for what they need. That is why they can rejoice, because Jesus has conquered and they know the Father.

Dale Appleby