ACC ~ John 16 v16

ALLUDING TO BETRAYAL, CRUCIFIXION AND BURIAL

BEDE: Since he spoke these words on the night on which he was betrayed, [1] it was “a little while,” that is, the [remaining] time of that same night and that of the following day, until the hour [came] when they would begin not to see him. For he was arrested on that night by the Jews, and he was crucified the next day when it was late. He was taken down from the cross and shut off from human sight within the confines of the sepulcher. “And again” it was “a little while” until they saw him again, for he rose from the dead on the third day and appeared to them with many proofs throughout forty days. [2] As to why there had to be “a little while” when they would not see him, “and again a little while” and they would see him, he added the reason, saying, “Because I am going to the Father,” as if he were saying unmistakably, “After a little while I am going to be hidden from your sight within the closed space of the grave, and again after a little while I am going to appear for you to look at, after the sovereignty of death has been destroyed. This is so that I may now return to the Father, since the divinely arranged plan of my taking mortality on myself has been fulfilled, together with the triumph of my resurrection.” HOMILIES ON THE GOSPELS 2.13. [3]

[1] 1 Cor 11:23.

[2] Acts 1:3.

[3] CS 111:117-18.

THE NEARNESS AND THEIR IGNORANCE TROUBLE THEM

AUGUSTINE: What troubled them is that he said, “A little while and you shall not see me, and again a little while and you shall see me.” For in the words that preceded this Gospel, he had not said, “A little while” but had said, “I go to the Father. And you shall see me no longer.” [1] And he appears as though he is speaking quite plainly, nor did they need to ask each other anything regarding this saying. But now, what was obscure to them and was soon after made plain to them is very plain to us also. For after a little while he suffered, and they did not see him. And again after a little while he arose, and they saw him. TRACTATES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 101.1. [2]

[1] Jn 16:10.

[2] NPNF 1 7:387*.

WORDS OF CONSOLATION

CHRYSOSTOM: But then, if one examines, these are words of consolation: “Because I go to the Father.” For they show that his death was only a translation. And more consolation follows, for he does not say merely, “A little while and you will see me no longer” but adds, “A little while and you shall see me.” In this way he shows that he would return, that his departure would be for a brief time only and that his presence with them would be everlasting. HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 79.1. [1]

[1] NPNF 1 14:291**.

DELIBERATELY VAGUE

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: Since he had said a little before this that he would reveal to them through his Holy Spirit all things that were necessary and profitable to them, he also tells them of his passion and that then would come his ascension into heaven. After this would follow the most necessary descent of the Holy Spirit. Returning now to the Father, there would be no more mutual conversing in the flesh with his holy apostles. He uses only a few words, lessening in this way the sharpness of their sorrow. For he knew that the fear his disciples were going to face would not be easy and that they were going to be tested by the most piercing grief, awaiting in dread grave and unendurable evils after the Savior had ascended to his Father in heaven, leaving them alone. Because of this, I believe, he does not openly tell them that he is about to die and that the fury of the Jews was about to break on him. Rather, sympathetically and mingling great delicacy with his words, he shows them that the sufferings of his passion will swiftly be followed by the joy of his resurrection, saying to them, “A little while and you shall not see me, and again a little while and you shall see me.” For the time of his death was now at hand, when the Lord would be taken from the sight of his disciples. And indeed, it would be for a little time until he destroyed the power of hell and opened the gates of darkness to those who dwelled there. Then he would again raise up his temple. [1] Once he accomplished this, he would again appear to his disciples, promising that he would remain with them all the days of this world, as it is written. [2] For though absent in the flesh, having placed himself before the Father for our sake and sitting at the right hand of his begetter, he dwells in the just through his Spirit and remains forever one with his saints. For he has promised that he will not leave them as orphans. [3] COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 11.2. [4]

[1] Jn 2:19.

[2] Mt 28:20.

[3] See Jn 14:18, or “comfortless.”

[4] LF 48:459-60**.

Jn