John 16:16

John 16:16 says, A little while, and ye shall not see Me: and again a little while and ye shall see Me, for I go to the Father.  After His crucifixion, the disciples did not see Jesus while He was in the grave. After His resurrection, they saw Jesus for a time.  After His ascension, they received the Holy Spirit to reveal Jesus's truth to them. Jesus went to the Father for a time, but He is coming again.  We today as His followers live in the time of the Holy Spirit, but we will see Jesus, whether in this life or the one to come.   Verse seventeen says. 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?  The disciples questioned what Jesus meant when He said this.  Sometimes, as we go through life, there may be times when we do not fully understand what God is telling us, but the Holy Spirit will lead us to the truth and empower us to do what we are called to do.  The disciples would soon understand what Jesus meant, but not until after His resurrection.  Verse eighteen continues, They said therefore, What is this that he saith, a little while?  We cannot tell what he saith.   The disciples really expressed their confusion.  I believe we can say the same today about the Second Coming of Christ. Every generation, even the early disciples, thought Jesus's return was to be soon.  We, like all other Christians, must simply rely on the power and indwelling of the Holy Spirit to keep strong in our relationship to Christ even when we do not understand everything.  Verse nineteen states, Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask Him, and said unto them, Do you 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?  We are never going to catch God by surprise with our questions.  He knows even before we do when doubt or confusion come.  Verse twenty adds, 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.  At the cross, the world, those who did not believe that Jesus was the Christ, rejoiced, but at the empty tomb, joy came to the disciples.  When we are following Christ, even when the world rejoices at our suffering for Christ, we need to remember our ultimate joy in Him.  Verse twenty-one continues, 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.  Jesus used the analogy of a woman giving birth.  She endured the pain, but when the child was born, she forgot the pain and rejoiced in the child.  Verse twenty-two concludes, And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you. That promise is still in effect.  No man can take our joy in Christ from us.