John 16:19, commentary and pictures

Jesus knew without being told that His disciples longed to ask what He meant about being separated from them, and He answered their unspoken perplexity in His farewell words on the night before His suffering to keep their hearts from being troubled. The little while when they would not see Him was His death and burial when they would weep and mourn while the world rejoiced, and the again a little while when they would see Him was His resurrection triumph when He broke the bonds of death and turned their sorrow into joy. His words comforted them in their distress, though they could not fully understand them until after the resurrection had taken place. Knowing every conflict and dark future of affliction and temptation to lose faith that lay before them, He spoke to strengthen their faith and courage, mingling bright hopeful promises with the dark prospect and making every provision through faith that they should not fail nor be discouraged nor be offended. Those words of comfort were repeated by the disciples to stay sinking hearts and have spread over all lands to comfort the desponding through all ages, as instruction for every church, school, sanitarium, and Christian home in how to receive His grace and stand firm in trying times.

Setting and Meaning

Jesus spoke these words in the upper chamber after Judas had withdrawn, alone with the eleven faithful disciples, because the multitude could not understand such sacred truths. He was about to tell them of His approaching separation from them, yet before doing so He directed their thoughts to the great object of His mission kept ever before Him, that all His humiliation and suffering would glorify the Father's name, which was His joy. He knew they were desirous to ask what He meant by saying that in a little while they would not see Him and then in a little while would see Him again, for He discerned their unspoken question and their perplexity over His coming separation from them. These were His farewell words on the night before His suffering, spoken to keep their hearts from being troubled as He prepared them to be separated from Him and to have Him no longer as their visible counselor.

The little while when they would not see Him was His death and burial. Then they would see their Lord betrayed and crucified, and with the bridegroom taken away from them they would weep and lament and mourn and fast while the world rejoiced. The again a little while when they would see Him was His resurrection, fulfilled in the hour of His triumph when He broke the bonds of death and came forth from the tomb. Their sorrow would thus be turned into joy when He came forth and they saw Him again. The words comforted them in their distress, though even they could not fully understand them until after the resurrection took place.

After His ascension He would be absent in person but still with them through the Comforter, so they were not to spend their time in mourning. By faith they were to look to the sanctuary above where He ministers for them, and to open their hearts to the Holy Spirit, His representative, and rejoice in the light of His presence. Yet days of temptation and trial would come when they would be brought into conflict with the rulers of this world and the leaders of the kingdom of darkness, when He was not personally with them and they failed to discern the Comforter, and then fasting would be fitting.

Encouragement and Lasting Instruction

These farewell words were encouragement to prepare the disciples for the severe trial ahead, meant to strengthen their faith and courage, and studying them gives believers strength and assurance to stand firm in trying times. He knew every phase of experience they would meet and all the conflicts they would face, and He spoke plainly about the difficulties in the world and the dark, troubled future of manifold afflictions and great temptation to lose faith. Grieved for them, He prepared them by presenting the hopeful part of the future and mingling bright, hopeful lines with the dark, with every provision made that through faith they should not fail nor be discouraged nor be offended. These lessons given before He left them prepared them for future trials and temptations, assured them He would not leave them ignorant of His purposes and plans, and gave them reason to remember His love in their work and councils.

The discourse to which these words belong is instruction for every church, school, sanitarium, printing establishment, and Christian home, a message explaining how people may receive Christ's grace whose conditions must be followed, or they will be unprepared to belong to His people when He comes in glory. It is instruction that plainly expresses God's will for His people, given just before His betrayal and crucifixion to be lived out in practical life by living His prayer for unity with one another and with Christ. That lived unity cures dissension and seeking the highest place, heals sick souls who think themselves whole, and enables them to stand the test in the shaking time when everything that can be shaken will be shaken.

The teaching shows what God desires to do for the human race and for which the Father has made every provision, instruction given to men in all ages from generation to generation which, if obeyed, would make the race different and present a new world bearing the impress of heaven. Received with the Holy Spirit coming as on the day of Pentecost, it opens eyes now blinded so the scales fall from them. The words of comfort and counsel and prayer were repeated again and again by the disciples to stay their sinking hearts in disappointment and trial, and through their testimony the truths have spread over all lands to live through all ages to comfort the desponding and give peace and hope to believers. This foreknowledge and preparation makes these chapters of highest value for every soul consecrating life to the service of God.