2 minute read
In the Beginning: The Book of John
(John 16:12-19[HCSB])
12 “I still have many things to tell you, but you can’t bear them now. 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak whatever He hears. He will also declare to you what is to come. 14 He will glorify Me, because He will take from what is Mine and declare it to you. 15
Advertisement
Everything the Father has is Mine. This is why I told you that He takes from what is Mine and will declare it to you.
16 “A little while and you will no longer see Me; again a little while and you will see Me.”
17 Therefore some of His disciples said to one another, “What is this He tells us: ‘A little while and you will not see Me; again a little while and you will see Me’; and, ‘because I am going to the Father’? ” 18 They said, “What is this He is saying, ‘A little while’? We don’t know what He’s talking about! ”
19 Jesus knew they wanted to question Him, so He said to them, “Are you asking one another about what I said, ‘A little while and you will not see Me; again a little while and you will see Me’?
You will see Me in a little while
Ichose to repeat verse 16 in the lesson title because it is so reassuring. In the Holman Bible this begins a set of passages entitled “Sorrow turned to Joy.” Nothing could be more appropriate than joy, especially on the heels of the previous lesson which had an overtly negative vibe.
And while one commentary has set forth the notion that Jesus coming back “in a little while” meant He would be resurrected soon after being crucified, I see it another way.
The great hope in this declaration was not meant only for His disciples of that time, but also for His disciples of this time. Nothing is more hopeful in these dark days than knowing that Jesus will be back “in a little while.”
In this way the Holy Spirit is prophesying … doing exactly what Jesus said the Spirit would do in verses 13 & 14: “When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak whatever He hears. He will also declare to you what is to come. He will glorify Me, because He will take from what is Mine and declare it to you.”
Therefore, if we are hearing the truth and speaking the truth, it is the truth that comes from Jesus Himself [by the Spirit]! How this is interpreted has a great deal to do with an individual’s relationship with Jesus.
In my case it is a message of hope in a hopeless age; and it is certainty in an age of doubt and distrust.
Take heart, little flock! Jesus will be back in just a little while …
