Thoughts on the Gospel of John (158) - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2026

Now Jesus knew that they desired to ask Him, and He said to them, are you inquiring among yourselves about what I said, a little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me? Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy.
John 16:19–20

Thoughts on the Gospel of John (158)
For the disciples it is a mystery: Jesus would soon no longer be seen by them, and after a short time they would see Him again. How are they to understand this? Before they have voiced their concern, the Lord takes up their question and gives supplementary explanations to His “riddle”.

We, too, may have questions again and again – questions that arise when we read the Bible, or come into situations that pose a riddle to us. Then we should not hesitate to submit these questions to the living God. He wants to help us further.

Jesus announces to His disciples here how these drastic events would cause them first sadness and then joy. The short time He lay in the tomb would be a time of deep sorrow for His disciples – a time of weeping and mourning for a dead man. All their hope for Israel was now buried with Him. The world, on the other hand, would rejoice, thinking they had defeated the one who had exposed them and their evil deeds.

But the Lord holds out the prospect of a time of joy for the disciples. Their sadness was to turn into joy after a short time. And so it came to pass: when Jesus showed Himself to the disciples after His resurrection and said to them “Peace be with you”, they were glad “when they saw the Lord” (ch. 20:20).

Today’s reading: 2 Kings 8:16-29 · John 19:25-30