The apostle John wrote how Jesus told His disciples, “All things that the Father has are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall show it unto you. A little while, and you shall not see me: and again, a little while, and you shall see me, because I go to the Father”, and in chapter sixteen and verse seventeen of his book John shared how Jesus' disciples ask, “what is this that he said unto us, a little while, and you shall not see me?” where we read:
Then said some of his disciples among themselves, What is this that he said unto us, A little while, and you shall not see me: and again, a little while, and you shall see me: and, Because I go to the Father?
The verse reads, “Then said some of his disciples among themselves, What is this that he said unto us, A little while, and you shall not see me:” John began with the words, “then said” which means “at that time uttered, declared, proclaimed and asked”, “some of his disciples among themselves” or “a few or small number of Jesus' students, pupils and attendants toward and in regard to their own selves”, “what is this” which means “what does Jesus mean” “that he said unto us” or “that he, Jesus, uttered, declared and proclaimed to us, disciples of Jesus”, “A little while” which means “a small and brief amount of time”, “and you shall not see me” or “and you, disciples of Jesus, will not behold, view or look upon me, Jesus”. John shared how a few of the disciples of Jesus began to question with one another as to “what” Jesus meant by saying He would be with them for a “brief time” and afterward they would not “look upon” Him.
The verse continues, “and again, a little while, and you shall see me: and, Because I go to the Father?” John added the words, “and again” or “and another time”, “a little while” which means “a short and brief amount of time”, “and you shall see me” or “and you, disciples of Jesus, will not behold, view and look upon me, Jesus”: “and, because I go to the Father” which means “and since and on account that I, Jesus, depart, leave and go forth to the Heavenly Father God”? John shared how Jesus' disciples continued their discussion among themselves by repeating how Jesus spoke of the “brief time” after they would not see Him, that they would “behold” Him again since He was “leaving” to be with His Heavenly Father God.
When we think through John's words in this verse, we learn how Jesus' disciples did not know what He meant by telling them they would “not see” Him after a “brief time”, but then would “see” Him again a “small amount of time” later. Jesus knew God's plan of salvation for mankind, and this included Jesus leaving His disciples to be tried, tortured and crucified. He would be away from His disciples at that time, but three days after His death, He would rise from the grave and be with His disciples again. Thereafter Jesus would be with them for a while and then depart to be with His Father in Heaven where He is alive today. Anyone who believes and trusts in Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord” will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life with God. Those who are wise will understand what Jesus meant by His disciples not seeing Him and then seeing Him again, and yield their lives completely to Him.
Next time we see John share how Jesus' disciples say, “we cannot tell what he said”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
No comments:
Post a Comment