1. On this section Luther wrote: "We have now often heard what it means 'to go to the Father'; which indeed is not a common expression, such as men usually employ and as they generally understand it, but is the language of the Lord Christ and His Christians. That Christ went forth from, or was sent by, the Father (see vs. 28) means nothing else than that He, the true Son of God from eternity, became a true man, and revealed Himself on earth in human nature, essence and form, permitted Himself to be seen, heard, and felt, ate, drank, slept, worked, suffered, and died, like any other person. Again, that He goes to the Father, that means that He will be glorified by His resurrection from the dead, that He sits at the right hand of God and reigns with Him in eternity, as eternal, almighty God. For by His coming down or going from the Father He revealed and proved Himself a true, natural man; but by His return to the Father He declared Himself to be true, eternal God, out of God the Father, and thus remains in one person both God and man, and should be thus known and believed."
2. The "little while" began with His arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane and lasted three days until He appeared to them in the evening of Easter Sunday. The beautiful axiom in vs. 21 is readily understood by all cultures. The point of comparison is applied in vs. 22: A painful situation very quickly becomes a joyful occasion with all pain forgotten
3. Lazarus in the parable of Lk. 16 spent a "little while" in the company of dogs but is now in Abraham's bosom. The malefactor spent a "little while" on the cross but is now in Paradise. Paul said: "The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us." Rom.8:18. The Covenant People spent a "little while" in captivity in Babylon but were restored to their land in Israel. Ps. 126. See also Ps. 30:5; Is. 26:20; 54:7; Mt. 5:4; II Cor. 4:16-18. At Lk. 17:22 Jesus says: "The days will come when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man but you will not see Him." Then in vs. 23 He warns us not to follow false teachers. False teachers mislead people who mistakenly think that the Lord has deserted them. They make people feel good by feeding them rubbish. Remember the warning of Jesus at Mt. 24:4-5. When you are sorrowful and can find no comfort among people look at Rom. 10:5-13. You find comfort only in the Good News. That Good News is in your mouth and in your heart. The sorrow lasts only a little while. The disciples were such sorrowful cowards for three days. But, when Jesus reappeared to them, their sorrow was changed to joy.
4. On the words "a little while" see Jn. 7:33; 12:35; 13:36 and 14:19. For Jesus' enemies these words were warning words of condemnation and judgment. But for the disciples these words were great comfort because Jesus assured them that He would not forsake them. The whole Bible is one long book of comfort which says: "I will never leave you nor forsake you." Deut. 31:6.8; Gen. 28:15; Heb. 13:5. Many other passages could be cited. For example, Is. 43:1-2 and Mt. 28:20.
5. Notice that Jesus affirms His promise in vs. 20 with "Truly, truly." Jesus binds Himself to an oath to take care of you. No one can take your joy in Christ from you.
6. Jesus says in vs. 17 that He is going to His Father. In His final sermon to the disciples and us in Jn. 13-17 He uses the word "Father" at least 48 times. In Gethsemane He prayed fervently to His Father. On the cross His first and last recorded sentences (Lk. 23:34 and 46) began with the word "Father". Just before He ascended He said "in the name of the Father etc." Jesus is also our model. In days of great sorrow we should pray frequently "Our Father etc."
7. Very often, like the disciples, we are cowards and hide in the times of "a little while." But then when the Lord reappears He very graciously forgives us. "Oh give thanks unto the Lord for He is good."
THEME: A Little While
Twice Jesus had spoken to His enemies about the little while. Read Jn. 7:33-36 and 12:35-36. He was warning them. At 13:33 He told the disciples that He had told the Jews this. Now He was saying it to the disciples. At 14:18-19 He repeats it but this time He comforts them. But the big passage on "a little while" is found in our text.
I. WHAT THIS MEANT AT JESUS' TIME
A. What it meant for the Jews. Read Jn. 7:33-36. Jesus had been testifying to the Jews that He warns them that after a little while He would go to the Father (suffer, die, rise and ascend) and they would not be able to follow Him. Why? Because of their unbelief. Then they make fun of Him in vs. 35. Again, at 12:35 He warns the Jews that He, the Light, would shine a little while longer. If a person rejects the Light of the Gospel, Jesus Christ, there will come a time when it is too late. Paul warns at Rom. 13:11 "Now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand." The Jews were blind to what Jesus said. He wanted them to repent and believe.
B. What it meant for the disciples. At 14:18-19 Jesus repeats the "little while" idea to the disciples but He distinguishes between the world and the Christians. After a little while the world will not see Jesus. There is no record of the Jews seeing Jesus after His resurrection. They did not see Him. But to the disciples He said: "But you will see me. Because I live you too will live." They saw Him often after His resurrection. And they rejoiced in their life in Christ. But the big passage about a little while is found in our text. The disciples were confused over Jesus' words. Then He explained: "You will weep and mourn and the world will rejoice. You will be pained but your grief mourn and the world will rejoice. You will be pained but your grief will turn into joy." Then He uses the beautiful illustration in vs. 21 and its application in vs. 22. When Jesus suffered and was in the grave the disciples mourned but the world rejoiced. But all of that suddenly changed when He rose form the dead. Many of them died rather than to deny their faith. No one took their joy from them.
II. WHAT THIS MEANS TODAY
A. What this means for the unbelievers. John the Baptist used very stern language to warn the hypocritical Pharisees and Saddoucees. Read Mt. 2:7-10. Their lack of good works proved that they had not confessed their sins and believed in Jesus. Therefore he refused to baptize them . The little while would not last forever. Stephen (Acts 7:51-53) boldly told the Jews the truth about themselves. They were stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears. The little while would not last forever. Likewise, we must show people their sins so that they might confess them and then receive forgiveness. The time is short.
B. What this means for believers. We are living in the little while of this life. Like Jesus said, we often weep and mourn while the world rejoices. Maybe we are tempted to deny Him. Maybe we are tempted to follow false prophets who promise us false joys of this world. But He promises that after the little while of pain and suffering we will see Him again. The clouds hide the sun but it is still there. Troubles hide Jesus' cheerful face but He is still there. Ps. 30:5 says "Weeping may endure for a night but joy comes in the morning." Is. 54:7 reads: "For a brief moment I have forsaken you, but with great mercies I will gather you." And Paul, at Rom. 8:18: "The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us." Israel mourned but the Lord brought them back to their land. The disciples mourned but Jesus rose from the dead. He is constantly saying: "I will never leave nor forsake you."