"A little While"

“A little while”

When as a lad I heard my dad or mother tell relatives that we were visiting those three words in the title plus the following, it will be a little while before we see you again, we all understood what “a little while” meant.  It was a simple statement of fact, and it sure did not mean in a month, nor did it mean months, or even years, but it was built on a hope that at some point we would return.  But in our culture we have no understanding of those three words, we only lived in the moment, and so the words of Jesus found in verse 16, “A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see me.” 

Are we that much different from those who were present that day?  The account is recorded in verses 17-18, “So 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’?” So they were saying, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We do not know what he is talking about.”  How often in this life of instant everything, do I go to bed or awake in the morning with no thought of, is today the day of our Lord’s return, is this the day that the havens open and I see Jesus?

But it is written, and no man knows the day, but the apostle John is not talking about a “hope” of Jesus return, but a promise.  Jesus tells us that it is not going to happen when we expect it, “For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.  (Matthew 24:38-39 ESV), yes Jesus tells us His coming will be much like a thief, in Revelation 16:15.

This is what is going to happen in just a little while, and the apostle John lays it out for us: “Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.” (Revelation 19:11-16 ESV)

Someone told me as a small lad this saying, “a word to the wise is sufficient” and that’s a good word, but is a word from God even more so?  Jesus 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’? Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. 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.  (John 16:19-22 ESV)

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice