Jesus Reveals His Death And Resurrection *J63)

“Are you asking what I meant when I said,
‘In a little while, you’ll see me no more;
heTn, after a little while, you’ll see me’?
You’ll weep and mourn, while the world rejoices!
You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy,
Like a woman in labor, when her time’s come—
She forgets the pain, when the baby’s born,
In joy at new life added to the world!
Now you’ll grieve, but I will see you again;
You will rejoice; none takes away your joy!
Truly, then you’ll not ask me a thing;
So long as you ask for it in my name,
My Father will give you whatever you ask;
Ask and you’ll receive; your joy’ll be complete!”

Scripture Quoted: John 16:25-31 (NIV)
“ ‘Though I have been speaking figuratively, a time is coming when I will no longer use this kind of language but will tell you plainly about my Father. In that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.’ Then the disciples said, ‘Now you are speaking clearly and without figures of speech. Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God.’ ‘You believe at last!’ Jesus answered.”

Commentary on: John 16:17-33 (NIV)
The poem is in blank verse and paraphrases closely what Jesus told His apostles in John 16:19-24. He perceived they were having difficulty comprehending His remarks about the events lying ahead. We human beings must always remember that Jesus’ perception is one of eternity; He always had to narrow His remarks down to fit the brief time and events of His incarnation as a man—narrowed down from a perspective covering before the beginning of time, throughout creation, human history, and the eternity following. Also, He was walking a slim tightrope in His remarks to mankind that took into consideration that He must be rejected and slain by the ruling Jews, while, at the same time, planting the seed of salvation in as many poor and common people as He could; and this in the limitations of God’s judgment dulling the spiritual insight of all Jews in Isaiah 6:9-10. His clarification, in this instance didn’t do much to clarify, but His disciples did seem to comprehend enough that He could say, “At last, you believe!”

In plain English, He was telling them that He would be crucified and buried the next day (Friday), be in the tomb three days (from Friday before 6 p.m. to Sunday before 6 a.m.(this was the time the disciples would grieve and the world rejoice); He would be resurrected Sunday (this was the time when their grief would turn to joy); He would remain on earth with them for forty days, after which He would ascend to heaven, where the Father was. (It was at that time, and from then until now, when they would not see Him, but they would have the Holy Spirit and be able to ask the Father whatever they wished, so long as it was in His name Jesus Christ), and His Father would give it to them.

Notice when Christians pray, they are instructed to do so in the name of Jesus. Yet some state congresses are forbidding chaplains who open daily sessions with prayer to say the name “Jesus” in the prayers. This means the prayers are useless, if not in the name of Jesus.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him will not die, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)