16[Jesus said:] “A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see me.” 17So some of his disciples said to one another, “What is this that he says to us, ‘A little while, and you will not see me, and again a little while, and you will see me’; and, ‘because I am going to the Father’?” 18So they were saying, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We do not know what he is talking about.”
It will only last for a little while longer.
And you know what I’m talking about.
In fact, when I say that – it’s only going to last a little while longer – in this context –
To encourage you to wait on the Lord and be of good courage,
to be still and know that He is God,
to know that though weeping may tarry through the night, joy will come in the morning, in just a little while.
You know what I’m talking about, much more than I know what I’m talking about, ‘cuz, for you to be encouraged in that, it’s not me who’s talking, but the Holy Spirit, and He sure knows what He’s talking about when He says that to strengthen you.
And if you don’t know what I’m talking about, ‘cuz I wasn’t exactly talking about that (except maybe I was),
I’m talking about some of those things in your life, body and soul, family and friends, work and community, your struggle in living the life of repentance, faith, and love, that you would rather over soon, if not yesterday.
So, here’s what I’m talking about.
A little while, really means a little while.
Our Lord knows what He is talking about.
We may not think our Lord knows how to count, but it’s us who don’t know how to count.
Our Lord is not slow as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
We’re the one’s who need to be reminded how to count and keep track of time
And so give us this day, our daily bread,
During this time of a little while.
The original context of this verse is helpful.
Jesus said in a little while, the disciples wouldn’t see Him. He would be betrayed, suffer, die and be buried. They wouldn’t see Him, but the world would rejoice, while they would have sorrow.
But then, they would see Him again. 3 days later He would rise. He would show them His hands and side, say Peace be with you, breath on them the Holy Spirit, and the disciples would rejoice.
A joy that no one could take from them.
But they didn’t know what Jesus was talking about. But after waiting, they would see Him again and know what He was talking about.
So for now, as we in part know what Jesus is talking about, we know His joy and His love, and as we are still confused as what all Jesus is doing and will do, we wait until we know all that Jesus was doing and talking about when we see Him.
So, now we listen carefully to what He is talking about and we wait and we take courage.
God is faithful to His promises.
He did see His disciples again. He did rise from the dead. He did give them joy that no one can take from them.
God is faithful to His promises. He knows what He is talking about.
He who promised He knows how to feed and clothe you, even as He feeds the birds and clothes the lilies, has He been unfaithful to that promise to you? You know what I’m talking about.
Should you have been worried that your Lord did not know what He was doing? You know what I’m talking about.
He who was promised so long ago, did come, did die, did rise – many saw and believed, and blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.
Listen, when you don’t know what you’re talking about because you feel alone and afraid or angry and confused, confess the Creed and repeat what Jesus has done, feed your faith that God has been faithful, died for your sins, rose for your justification, sent His Spirit, preserved His Church, and called you to Himself by giving you His Word and Spirit, so He will be with you during this little while, too.
So now, we wait.
He knew what He was talking about, even if you didn’t understand. And He knows what He is talking about, even if you doubt. So now. You. Just. Wait.
And as you wait, you are called to faith, hope in God and love for each other.
Think of how our Lord describes love – 1 Cor. 13, love is patient and kind.
God strengthens you towards patience with them with His patience toward you, the chief of sinners, today.
Beloved, St. Peter says today, beloved, people loved by God, people who know the love of God for them,
I urge you as sojourners and exiles,
As people who are waiting to finally be home, to see God face to face, to know this world is not your home, these suffering will only last a little while longer
to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul….live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil….honor everyone. love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.
As you wait, you don’t have to wait for Jesus to see you and give you a joy that no one can take from you. Jesus sees you right now, and He doesn’t see you in anger.
God sees you, not in a little while, but right now, in love, blameless, pure and holy in Christ Jesus.
All because of that little while of Jesus hanging and bleeding and dying.
Do you think that time of great physical, spiritual, and emotional suffering felt like a little while to your Lord?
But it won an eternity for you, it is the foundation of the joy you have now that no one can take from you now or forever.
He knew what He was talking about. So, when He says a little while, trust that He knows how to count, as well as how to save and give joy and strength in waiting.