Exposition of John, Chapter 16 · Verse 14 – Verse 16
Verſe 16. A little while, and ye ſhall not ſee me, and again a little while, and ye ſhall ſee me: becauſe I goe to the Father.
From this to v. 23. is contained the ſecond encouragement, whereby Chriſt comforts his diſciples, and mitigates their exceſſive ſorrow for his departure. In this verſe the encouragement is more briefly propounded; That however he was ſhortly to be removed from them in reſpect of his bodily preſence, being now to ſuffer death, and leave the world; yet they ſhould ſhortly after that ſee him again, and he ſhould finde a way to be indeed preſent with them. For underſtanding whereof, albeit that reaſon of his going to the Father, may lead us to underſtand it of his appearing again to them bodily, after his reſurrection, and that ſince he was not to abide under the power of death, but to riſe again and aſcend to his Father; they ſhould get a ſight of him by the way; yet I take not this ſight to be underſtood here further, then as it was a forerunner of greater things. For this is to be done in that day, wherein they were to be endowed with much knowledge, and to come much ſpeed in their prayers put up in his Name, v. 23. which is not to be reſtricted to that time betwixt his Death and Aſcenſion, but was rather verified after his Aſcenſion. And upon the ſame ground, albeit the enjoyment and ſight of Chriſt in heaven, (which every beleever may expect after a ſhort while) do indeed compleat that joy which is propounded, v. 20. as the fruit of their ſeeing of him; yet it is not to be reſtricted to that either. For in that day they will need no prayer, as v. 23. it is ſaid they ſhall in the day they ſhall ſee him. Therefore it is moſt clear to underſtand the encouragement thus, That however he was ſhortly to die and remove from them, yet ſeeing he was not to abide under the power of death, but to aſcend and be exalted with the Father; he would therefore give proof of his exaltation and goodwill toward them, by pouring out of his Spirit, whereby they ſhould enjoy a ſpiritual ſight of him, as chap. 14. 19. and by this their ſad houres ſhould be ſweetned (as alſo all beleevers) till they come to full ſight and full joy in heaven. Now albeit this encouragement, thus explained, together with the reſt that follow, do all depend upon the pouring out of the Spirit, as fruits and benefits to be reaped thereby, as well as theſe that are formerly mentioned in this chapter. And ſo may all be reduced to that general encouragement, of the coming of the Holy Ghoſt; yet ſeeing Chriſt doth not here (as in the former) name this as a fruit of the Spirits coming, therefore I have made it a diſtinct encouragement. Doct. 1. The life of beleevers within time is made up, and conſiſts of g…eat variety of lots, having and wanting, ſweets and ſoures, mixed together, and ſucceeding one to another; for, ſo it is here declared, they are now ſeeing, ſhortly, not to ſee, and after that to ſee again. 2. The great exerciſe of beleevers, is about the enjoying or wanting a ſight of Chriſt; and this ſight of Chriſt is ſo precious to them, that it moves all the wheeles of their affections, and makes faire weather or foule, according as they want or enjoy it; it being ſtill winter when he is abſent, and whenever he returns, he brings the Spring with him; Therefore is all their exerciſe ſummed up in this, ye ſhall not ſee me, and, ye ſhall ſee me, and this is it which begets the joy and ſorrow after mentioned. 3. Whatever be Chriſts tender condeſcendence, at ſometimes, to his people; yet they are to expect that within time, they will get ſatisfaction to their ſenſe, but for a ſhort time; for, ſo did the diſciples finde its the matter of his bodily preſence, and ſo will beleevers finde in the matter of ſenſible enjoyments, a little while (being all put together) or, but now a little while in reſpect of what they had enjoyed, chap. 14. 9. and ye ſhall not ſee me. The word imports a ſerious and intent ſeeing and contemplating, and is attribute oft-times to a ſight of the minde; and it may inſinuate, that now they ſhould not get him ſeen ſo diſtinctly as formerly, or that his removal ſhould ſo confound them for a time, as they ſhould not ſo much as get him contemplate with the eyes of their minde, till the Spirit come upon them. 4. It is the Will of Chriſt, that believers be not ſurprized with the withdrawing of Chriſt ſenſible preſence, but that in the midſt of enjoyments, they reſolve and be armed for it; Therefore, while they enjoy his company, he doth warne them, a little while, and ye ſhall not ſee me. 5. Chriſt when he doth withdraw his ſenſible and bodily preſence, is yet not abſent from believers, but hath a way of preſence, wherein ſpiritual minds may diſcern and ſee him; for, notwithſtanding his removal, ye ſhall ſee me, ſaith he. The word imports a full and clear ſight, as if he were before their eyes. 6. As the ſenſible enjoyments of beleevers are but ſhort, while they are within time, ſo their deſertions and clouds are but ſhort alſo; They may think the time long, becauſe of their affection, and they may prolong their own affliction, by taking in an idol in the room of an abſent Chriſt, and by not making uſe of deſertion as they ought; But he alloweth that their ſad houres be ſhort, and however it be, they are ſo in reſpect of eternity: for, again a little while, and ye ſhall ſee me, 7. Chriſts ſuffering for, and departing from his people, hath neither changed his affection to them, nor deprived him of ability to do for them; But they are the rather ſo much the dearer to him as the price of his ſufferings, and by his exaltation he is able to be powerfully preſent with them, by the pouring out of his Spirit; for, it is a reaſon of their ſeeing him, becauſe I go to the Father, having laid down the price of their Redemption.
Verſe 17. Then ſaid ſome of his diſciples among themſelves, What is this that he ſaith unto us: A little while, and ye ſhall not ſee me: and again, A little while, and ye ſhall ſee me. And becauſe I go to the Father?
18. They ſaid therefore, What is this that he ſaith, A little while? we cannot tell what he ſaith.
In theſe verſes is recorded the occaſion of Chriſts further enlarging and explaining of this encouragement, taken from the ignorance and ſtumbling of ſome of his diſciples; who repeating this doctrine, and making enquiry among themſelves about the meaning thereof, do ſtill remain ignorant of his true ſenſe therein, not underſtanding any part of the words, and leaſt of all, that they ſhould ſee him, becauſe he goeth to the Father, ſeeing thereby, it would ſeem, he would rather be removed out of their ſight. Whence learn, 1. It is commendable in diſciples, that they heare Chriſts doctrine with ſuch attention, as to receive and retain it, though they do not underſtand it; for, ſo do they repeat all he ſaid, teſtifying how attentive they were, however their underſtanding was darkned. 2. Let doctrine be never ſo plain, and never ſo frequently repeated, and let means be never ſo many and hea…ers moſt attentive; yet they will continue ignorant, till Chriſt enlighten their mindes; for, albeit this plain doctrine had been inculcate before, and almoſt in the ſame termes, chap 13. 33. yet, ſay they once and again, What is thi… that he ſaith unto us, &c. 3. When Chriſts followers are ignorant of any truth, it concerns them to be inquiſitive about the ſame, and to make uſe one of another for that end; for, they ſaid among themſelves, what is this that he ſaith unto us, a little white, &c? 4. Uſing of means will not avail, nor can beleevers help one another to underſtand truth, unleſſe Ch…iſt ſhine in with light; for, after their repeating of the words, and an enquiry among themſelves once and again, he reſult is, we cannot tell what he ſaith. 5. When believers are in trouble, and eſſaying to rid themſelves out of difficulties, without employing of Chriſt, ordinarily ſuch a condition and exerciſe are attended with fits of bitterneſs; for, they being much grieved this night, and labouring among themſelves to clear this matter, but to no purpoſe, do repeat his words, and once and again enquire, what is this that he ſaith? and in end reſolve, we cannot tell what he ſaith. Whereby they not only expreſſe their own ignorance, but ſome bitterneſſe alſo, indirectly carping at his expreſſions, and challenging that he ſhould ſo ſpeak unto them.
Verſe 19. Now Jeſus knew that they were deſirous to ask him, and ſaid unto them, Do ye enquire among your ſelves of that I ſaid, A little while, and ye ſhall not ſee me: and again, A little while, and ye ſhall ſee me?
In this verſe is contained Chriſts preface to the explication of this encouragement; wherein, by making known that he underſtood their perplexity, and their deſire to be reſolved, he teſtifieth his willingneſſe to clear their doubt, and makes way for it, preventing their enquiry. Whence learn, 1. Whatever be the perplexities of Saints, and their weakneſſe under them; yet they know Chriſt to be the only reſolver of their difficulties, and they cannot be at reſt till they get light; for, their enquiry among themſelves not ſucceding, it is ſubjoyned, notwithſtanding their indirect carping, that they were deſirous to ask him, that ſo they might attain to light in the matter. 2. Albeit believers ſtand, oft-times, in ſenſible need of Chriſts help, and be deſirous thereof, yet they are kept back from employing of him partly, by their unwillingneſſe to bewray their own indigence; and partly, by reaſon of their ill-ordered reſpect to him, which keeps them at a needleſſe diſtance with him; for, albeit they were deſirous to ask him, yet they proceeded no further then a deſire, as being unwilling to bewray their ignorance, and reſpecting their Maſter ſo as they were afraid to ask him. 3. Chriſt is ſo infinitely omniſcient, and hath ſo vigilant an eye over the condition of his people, as he knoweth and taketh notice of their ſecret doubts and perplexities, before they be propounded to him; for, Jeſus knew that they were deſirous to ask him, and by that queſtion, do ye enquire among your ſelves, &c? he lets them ſee he knew their ſecret reaſonings and debates. 4. Chriſt will not caſt off his dull and weak followers, but their neceſſity hath a mouth of its own to his omniſcience and infinite love, whereof he will give proof by preventing their enquiry; as here, however they were ignorant, and ſtood off from asking him, yet he prevents them with a reſolution of their doubt. 5. When diſciples are about the uſe of ſome means, for reſolving of their doubts, Chriſt will in due time come and clear them; for, ſo much is imported in that he takes notice that they were enquiring among themſelves of that he ſaid; and while they were about that mean, he cometh and reſolveth them. 6. Albeit Chriſt do prevent his perplexed people, and do approve of their uſe of any lawful means; yet he accounts it ſtill a fault, that they ſhould not employ him in doubtful caſes; for, this queſtion, do ye enquire among your ſelves, &c? doth not only import his notice-taking of their exerciſe, and an approbation thereof, in ſo far as they were not reſting in ignorance, but making uſe of that mean; but alſo, an indirect challenge that they ſhould enquire among themſelves, and not employ him.