John 16:7, 16-19
The Little While
\\#7\\ Jesus told the disciples that He was going away and that it
was expedient or necessary that He do so.
This was certainly NOT the first time Jesus had told His disciples
this truth.
1. John appears to write his gospel in chronological order.
2. If so since \\#John 12:1\\, we have been reading about the
last week of Jesus’ life and from \\#John 13:1\\, we have
been reading about the last night of Jesus’ earthly life.
3. Matthew records three occasions where Jesus told the disciples
that He was going to Jerusalem to be betrayed, beaten, and
killed! \\#Matt 17:22, 20:18, 26:24\\
a. The disciples did not seem to understand at all what Jesus
meant when He made those statements; yet for some divine
reason, when Jesus simply says that He is going to leave
them \\#John 16:7\\, they seem to not only get it but
need to completely understand it \\#John 16:17-18\\.
b. I am not certain why it hit home with them so this time
except to say the Holy Ghost opened their minds to grasp
a little bit of the truth.
Notice the phrase Jesus used in \\#16\\ that the disciples repeated
several times in \\#17-18\\, "a little while." The disciples, trying
to understand it, repeated the phrase "a little while" three times.
And after they talked about it among themselves, they still not
understand it.
Let’s consider "The Little While" for a few moments today.
I. \\#16\\ There are two "little whiles.”
John 16:16 A little while, and ye shall not see
me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see
me?
A. After the first "little while," Jesus would be leaving.
1. I am not sure that the disciples ever comprehended this
"little while."
2. Jesus and the disciples were a team (except for the
traitor), and it sounded like Jesus was breaking up the
team.
a. The way Jesus made this statement, it was as if He
were quitting of His own accord, as if Jesus were
quitting the team.
b. Perhaps this is why what Jesus said hurt them so
badly.
c. They were left with nothing to do but attempt to
comprehend how long a little while was and that, I
think, is why they keep repeating the phrase.
B. But the after the second "little while," Jesus would return.
1. Like I said. They probably never understood the first
"little while." I know that did not comprehend the
second one.
a. The second "little while" has been over 2,000 years so
far and is still counting!
b. So far, the ratio of the time Jesus was on the earth
to the time He has been gone is 3.5 years to 2,017 or
for 1 year that Jesus was on the earth, He has been
gone for 576 years.
c. And while it looks to me like Jesus will likely return
at any moment, it could be another 2,017 years before
He comes—or even longer.
d. That does not sound like so "little" of a time, does
it?
2. But we should not compare how long Jesus was here to how
long Jesus has been gone.
a. Instead, we should compare how long Jesus has been
gone to eternity!
b. 2,017 years doesn’t even measure compared to eternity.
3. Why should we compare how long Jesus has been gone to
eternity?
a. Because when Jesus returns, everyone that is His will
step into eternity—everyone.
b. According to \\#1Thess 4:13-18. 1Coor 15:20-58\\, two
things happen when Jesus returns:
(1) Those who are already dead in Christ will receive
their eternal bodies. That is the Resurrection.
(2) But all that are living in Christ will step into
their eternal form too. That is the Rapture.
c. From that time forward, there will be no more time;
but a timeless period will begin as Christ’s people
step out of time and join God in forever.
(1) If you want to give yourself a headache, try to
figure out how long forever is.
(2) If you want to go insane, try to figure out how
long forever has been for time is just a short
slice of temporariness dropped into the middle
of forever.
4. I had a thought. Those who are dead in Christ have no
body right now. Fear not. I believe they are enjoying
the state they are in; however, the only way we who are
living will ever know what that state is like is if we
C. The "little while" that Jesus spoke of is now.
II. \\#20\\ It is a time when those that are His will weep and lament.
John 16:20 Verily, verily, I say unto you, That
ye shall weep and lament….
A. Why?
B. Although not given, I see many reasons.
1. The obvious reason is that Jesus is gone.
a. That is hard for us, but imagine how hard it was for
the first generation Christians.
b. We have never seen Jesus. We often speak of the joy
that will be ours when our eyes FIRST behold Jesus.
c. Many in that first generation did see Jesus.
(1) Many walked with Him.
(2) I wonder how many times they went to bed at night
wishing they could relive those 3 1/2 years!
(3) Yes, for us all the little while is a time of
weeping and lamenting for Jesus is NOT here.
2. Evil will rule over us.
a. Evil has always been evil.
b. The difference is when we were lost, we were too blind
to see how evil evil was.
c. Evil is not just bad. Evil is unjust.
(1) Evil is bad because it does evil things to us.
(a) It hurts us, others, or both.
(b) That is evil.
(2) But evil is unjust because the more evil we are,
the more happy we should be. It doesn’t way.
3. Death will steal our loved ones.
a. Talking with some of our folks at the funeral
yesterday, it was pointed out to me that we have had
three men die from our church in the last 12 months.
(1) Brother McVea, Brother LaPrarie, and Brother
Turner.
(2) I believe that is the first time that has happened
since I have been the pastor of this church.
b. Why so many?
(1) Because the average and the median ages of our
people is rising.
(2) First, we are glad for all of the silver and bald
headed people in our church.
(3) However, we need our young people to win young
people to Christ so that the church will
continue on.
(4) Yesterday was a good step in that direction. We
had 5 young adults (all under thirty) passing
out tracts and candy bags.
4. Persecution will be our constant threat.
a. America is rapidly catching DOWN to the other nations.
(1) To preach and live right is now politically
incorrect.
(2) The PI is gradually become a crime.
(3) Crimes are punishable by the laws.
(4) Unjust laws being enforced is persecution.
(5) Persecution takes the form of confiscation,
arrest, beatings, and death.
b. Yes, America’s direction is DOWN.
C. The "little while" that Jesus spoke of is now.
III. \\#20\\ While we are sad, the world will be happy.
John 16:20 …but the world shall rejoice….
A. While we, the people of God are afflicted and weeping, this
world will rejoice and be happy.
B. What have they got to be happy about?
1. Actually nothing. The world should be fearful and
weeping, but they are not.
2. Why? Because they have a dark soul and a blind mind.
a. The world is ignorant and cannot see.
(1) They don’t know they are lost and headed for hell.
(2) They don’t know that they are serving the devil
right now.
(3) They can’t even understand that most of what they
consider pleasure is actually what is causing
most of their present pain.
(a) drunkenness
(b) drugs
(c) fornication
3. Such people know little responsibility, and they cannot
comprehend accountability, but it is coming.
4. The more evil this world gets, the happier they are.
C. The little while that Jesus spoke of is now.
IV. Jesus said more about "the little while," but let me continue on
to show you three promises and a command He left for those who
are His.
A. The Three Promises
1. \\#22\\ You will see Me again.
John 16:22 …"I will see you again…."
a. If Jesus is going to see me, I am going to see Him.
b. These days may be lonely, painful, hard, and tough;
but Jesus will return and I will see Him!
c. If that does not thrill your soul then something is
wrong with you spiritually.
(1) Maybe you are lost.
(2) Maybe you are saved but have fallen in love with
the world again.
d. For the Christian, these are the only lonely,
painful, hard, and tough days we will ever
experience.
2. \\#22\\ You will rejoice.
John 16:22 …and your heart shall rejoice, and
your joy no man taketh from you.
a. The joy that lies ahead will outshine all of the
pain and sorrow that this life contains.
b. That is saying a lot—not for you and me for we have
had a good life of comfort and ease.
(1) In our lives, our bellies have been full, our
backs have been clothed, our homes have been
both warmed in the winter and cooled in the
summer.
(2) We have had such wonderful medicines and health
care that we have known very little of disease
and suffering.
(3) Today for many, a short life is 70 years of age.
c. But the promise of a future joy that will outshine all
sorrow is also made to Christians who were born in
lands of drought, disease, oppression, homelessness,
hunger, cruelty, violence, and, murder.
(1) Their lives have known suffering that our worst
nightmares have not dreamed.
(2) Yet, when "the little while" is over, their joy
will outshine it all!
3. \\#23\\ You will understand.
John 16:23 And in that day ye shall ask me
nothing….
a. How many times have we said, "Well, I just have to ask
God about that when i see Him."
b. Not according to this verse.
c. All of the questions the confusions, and the
disappointments of this little while will be gone!
d. This is the only time such maladies will afflict us,
and I say good-bye to bad rubbish.
B. Let me close by saying "the little while" will end.
1. The very phrase itself means that this time period will
not continue for long, but its ending is only going to be
good for those who have trusted Jesus as their Savior
during that time period.
2. Have you?
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