IN verses 17 and 18 we find the disciples confused and puzzled over what the words of Jesus meant. We may well feel confused also. What we need to keep firmly in our minds is the overall purpose of God in all he says in chapters 14 to 16 of John's Gospel.

The death, resurrection, ascension and glorification of Christ marks a monumental turning point in the lives and blessings of God's believing people. It was not until Christ had completed his great work of providing redemption for lost sinners that the great blessings of redemption were made available to those who are saved. In the Old Testament they looked forward to these blessings, were saved by them, but the full blessing of them was not made known until Jesus had completed his great work to save us. This is behind all that Jesus is saying here, which boils down to being restored into communion with God and fellowship with God by new birth and the gift of the Holy Spirit. This communion with God is only known by those who �have loved Jesus, and have believed that he came from God.� (v.27). So the seeing of Jesus again has its main focus in the coming of the Holy Spirit who makes Jesus known to us, and causes us to know Jesus dwelling with us.

Inevitably Jesus speaks enigmatically because he is speaking about events yet to happen and the resulting blessing from them i.e. the events of his death, resurrection, ascension and glorification.

The words of Jesus (v.19) �In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me� can have a threefold application, but in the context the second one is the true focus.

The first application is in Christ's death. When he died they did not see him. When he rose again they saw him again, and joy filled their hearts. Verse 20 certainly has this departure and return in mind.

The second application is Christ's leaving the earth at his ascension, and returning in the person of the Holy Spirit. This is surely the direction of thought in verse 22. The coming of the Holy Spirit brought great joy.

The third application is Christ's leaving the earth at his ascension, and his returning at his second coming, when those who truly believe in Jesus will see Jesus in the clouds and then be brought to be with him forever in his everlasting kingdom.

Jesus tells his disciples that they will grieve and have sorrow in the world. They were in great grief when he died. They sorrowed when he ascended. All disciples down the ages have grief in the world. Sometimes these sorrows, trials and griefs are very hard to bear, and it may seem that the cost of following Jesus is too high. Jesus is telling us that the cost can never be too high. The cross brought eternal blessings to those who believe. The presence of the Holy Spirit brings fellowship with God which is a joy the world can't ever match. Whatever we suffer in this life in being faithful to Christ can't possibly compare to the glory that awaits us in heaven.

The illustration Jesus uses to press home this teaching is the pain of child birth, which issues in such joy when the child is born. (v.21).

Jesus opens to his disciples something of the blessing made known when he comes again in the person of the Holy Spirit poured out and indwelling.

Prayer is revitalized and becomes entirely new. Because Jesus has won full reconciliation with God, new holy life is bestowed on the believer (New Birth). By this we think in fellowship with Christ and so pray in his name with what is compatible with the mind of Christ, and so prayer is wonderfully answered. (v.22-24).

We have access to God as Father freely by the blood of Jesus, that is by his atoning death, and so God loves us, and we can freely come into his presence in prayer. This is possible because Jesus has returned to the Father with the evidence of his perfect work of atonement for sin. (v.25-28)