A Little While

When my daughter was about three years old, we sent her to a daycare center for the first time. On the way there, I kept telling her that daddy would leave her for a little while, just a little while, and then I would come back and pick her up. She was totally confused by these words, and immediately sensed something bad going to happen. She watched me closely and as soon as she saw me leaving her behind, she started to cry loudly, as if she would never see me again. Later when I came to pick her up, as soon as she saw me from afar, she immediately ran over and held on to me and did not let go. Many parents share this experience. I have four children and have rehearsed this kind of “mourning hour” four times and it was hard to forget.

Over the table of the last supper, Jesus had similar parting words with his disciples. ¹⁶ “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.” ¹⁹Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, “Is this what you are asking yourselves, what I meant by saying, ‘A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me’?” (Jn. 16:16-19 ESV) In these four verses, the phrase “a little while” has been repeated seven times! Since verses 17 and 18 look awfully similar, some question it as a copying typo. However, it is a vivid description of the confusion and fear his disciples went through at the moment. They all sensed that something bad was going to happen. Jesus had to comfort them by saying, So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. (Jn. 16:22 ESV) They had sorrow because they realized Jesus’ immanent departure. Yet, Jesus must leave them alone for a short period of time, so that they may receive the joy that could never be taken away.

A worker at a daycare center would be used to crying babies, especially from those first timers. Some kids would cry for the entire time until their parents show up. If you have ten such crying babies at your daycare, you would join them in wishing their parents would show up sooner. When someone finally shows up at the door, even though you may not know the person, you would immediately recognize whose parent he is from the reaction of the kids. If one of the ten babies suddenly stopped crying and ran to the door and hold on tight to the person, you know who is coming. After Jesus’ resurrection, he first came to crying Mary, Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” (Jn. 20:15 ESV) There is humor in these words. When Mary finally realized who He is, she held so tight to Him that Jesus had to protest, “Do not cling to me.” (Jn. 20:17 ESV) That is the beginning of a long pickup process. One by one, His mourning disciples were picked up by Him, the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. (Jn. 20:20 ESV) That is the joy that can never be taken away. You may not recognize Jesus, but if you saw all His disciples fleeing in fear and hiding in despair, and then suddenly they erupted in joy and even willingly laid down their lives for the gospel, then you would know whom they had met. Only Jesus has the magic to wipe away all the tears from these disciples mourning for Him.

Jesus told His disciples at the last supper, I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. (Jn. 14:18 ESV) He was speaking to us as well. As we are all born into this world in a loud cry, and we would exit in the sound of mourning as well. We are all like orphans forgotten in the daycare center. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost. (Lk. 19:10 ESV) After Jesus picked up His disciples one by one, He is still picking up people. Everyone that has been picked up by Him, would immediately stop crying, because he becomes children of God. Even though this world is full of mourning and despair, we as a group that has been picked up by Jesus, rejoice in waiting. For in a little while, He would come back again to receive us home.
Prayer: O Lord! You are raised for our justification! You walk into my desperation and called my name and led me to a new home. Help us to wait with patience, because in a little while, we will see you face to face. Come, Lord Jesus!