"Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also."
John 14:19
In our passage for today, Jesus and His disciples, minus Judas, are still in the upper room after eating His last Passover meal with them. He has already washed their feet, and instituted the Lord’s Supper, and is explaining to them what is going to happen to Him, and them. Jesus has just promised them that He would not leave them orphans[1] but will send His Holy Spirit to them (vv. 16-18). And then the beautiful words in our verse for today.
“Yet a little while and the world seeth me no more.”
Four times during their evening together, Jesus has said, “a little while,” while He talked with them. This is the second time.
“Little children, yet a little while, I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you” (John 13:33).
“A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me because I go to the Father” (John 16:16).
His men were not emotionally, mentally, or spiritually prepared for what was about to happen to their Lord. He was making it clear to them that in “a little while” everything will change, their world will be different. The next day He is heading to the cross, and after Jesus is raised from the dead, the world will not see Him anymore. That is until they stand before Him at the Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:11-15).
“But ye see me.”
The disciples, and all believers today, have the Spirit of Jesus Christ in them and always present. One of the Holy Spirit’s jobs is to point us (and the lost) to Jesus. Though we have not seen Him with our physical eyes, we see Him every day in the Word of God. We see Him in faith for the present.
“Because I live, ye shall live also.”
“Because I live,”
“This expression does not refer “particularly” to his “resurrection,” but his “continuing to live.” He had a nature which could not die. As Mediator also He would be raised and continue to live: and he would have both power and inclination to give them also life, to defend them, and bring them with him” (Barnes).
“Ye shall live also.”
Jesus is speaking to their future spiritual lives. As believers, their lives and our lives are dependent upon Jesus, because He lives, we live. And with His life, His promise is guaranteed to all who believe in Him, they shall be saved.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
[1] In verse 18, Jesus said: “I will not leave you comfortless.” The Greek word for “comfortless” here is our English word “orphans.”