Jesus’ Words in Red In A Little While

Jesus’ Words in Red 

In A Little While

"In a little while you will see me no more,

and then after a little while you will see me." 

For the disciples, the death of Jesus may not have looked like labor pains

But the pain gave way to new birth

Joy that fueled them with hope

Hope that saw them through persecution and even their own death

It is important that we always keep in mind whatever suffering, grief and pain

The fact is true, this too shall pass 

Why?

Because

“After a little while you will see me." 

In A Little While

When a little while becomes an

eternity, we need hope.

Jesus illustrates a little

while with a woman in labor.

For the life of me I can’t understand

why a woman would want to give birth.

I watched Sandy go through labor with our three

 children and the curse in Genesis 3:16 is true.

To the woman he said,

"I will greatly increase your pains in childbearing;

with pain you will give birth to children.

Being in that moment it seemed

like an eternity waiting for the baby

to be born and the pain to be over.

Pain comes.

Physical or emotional pain hurts.

The greatest pain is the pain of death.

Death is the hope killer.

 Whether we bring on our own pain or it is inflicted

by the world around us, God wants us to have hope.

He wants us to know pain is only for “a little while”.

Psalm 30:5

For his anger lasts only a moment,

but his favor lasts a lifetime;

weeping may remain for a night,

but rejoicing comes in the morning.

God does not take pleasure in our pain.

But pain is real.

Pain always has a message.

Pain is always trying to tell us something.

Pain has a way of destroying

 some and strengthens others.

God’s intention is to turn ashes into beauty…

Sorrow into Joy.

 

For the disciples a little

while meant the death of Jesus.

A loss and grief of great magnitude.

Jesus said…

"But a time is coming, and has come,

when you will be scattered,

each to his own home.

You will leave me all alone.”

Imagine the fear, imagine the grief.

Though these events of the next three days would pass…

It had to seem like an eternity to the disciples.

'In a little while you will see me no more

But be sure to read the second part of the verse…

and then after a little while you will see me,'

The disciples saw Jesus again but

this time in His resurrected body.

That is JOY!!!

For the disciples, the death of Jesus

may not have looked like labor pains.

But the pain gave way to new birth.

Joy that fueled them with hope.

Hope that saw them through

persecution and even their own death.

It is important that we always keep in

mind whatever suffering, grief and pain…

The fact is true this too shall pass.

 

Why?

Because…

“after a little while you will see me." 

Scripture Reading

John 16:16-33 NIV

16 "In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me." 

17 Some of his disciples said to one another, "What does he mean by saying, 'In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me,' and 'Because I am going to the Father'?" 18 They kept asking, "What does he mean by 'a little while'? We don't understand what he is saying."

19 Jesus saw that they wanted to ask him about this, so he said to them, "Are you asking one another what I meant when I said, 'In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me'? 20 I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. 21 A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. 22 So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. 23 In that day you will no longer ask me anything. I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 24 Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.

25 "Though I have been speaking figuratively, a time is coming when I will no longer use this kind of language but will tell you plainly about my Father. 26 In that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. 27 No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. 28 I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father." 

29 Then Jesus' disciples said, "Now you are speaking clearly and without figures of speech. 30 Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God."

31 "You believe at last!"  Jesus answered. 32 "But a time is coming, and has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me.

33 "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."