Grace, mercy, and peace be with you all, from God, our heavenly Father, and Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen. The text for our consideration is the Gospel reading from St. John. May the Holy Spirit bless us to be patient . . . as we wait just a little while longer . . . for the coming of Jesus Christ.
It was Spring of 1993. I was working on a final paper for one of my classes at Seminary. The paper was worth at least 1/3 of my grade. My five year old son, Doug, came up to me and wanted me to do something with him. I told him, “Not right now, son. I have a paper to write. But I’ll be able to do something in just a little while.”
Not more than two minutes later, Doug came up to me to ask again for my time and attention. I said a bit more firmly, “Not now, son. I have to get this paper done. And it’s going to take more than just a few minutes.” Maybe about 5 minutes later, Doug came up one last time. This time I lost it. Stress from approaching finals, stress from having procrastinated on the paper, and my own sinful weaknesses thrown into the mix . . . and I yelled at my son. I told him how I had already told him . . . and asked him if he hadn’t listened to what I was saying. As I yelled, the tears started rolling down his cheeks . . . and I was justly humbled and convicted of my sinful failings at being a father.
I learned something from that situation, though. I learned that the definition of “just a little while” in a person’s mind varies. To an adult, a little while might be anywhere from a half an hour to maybe an hour or a little more. To a small child, anything over 5 minutes seems like a long time. Or, when a family is going on a vacation . . . mom and dad may say, “Oh my, we will be leaving in less than a month!,” while the children say, “It’s more than three weeks before we leave!”
In the Word of God before us, this morning, Jesus tells His disciples that He is going to be leaving them. He tells them that, “In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me.” The disciples are confused. Jesus says His disciples will mourn while the world rejoices. The disciples don’t understand. Among themselves the disciples asked, “What does He mean by ‘a little while’?”
There is still some theological debate regarding the answer to this question. For it could mean a couple of things. Certainly, the next day the disciples would see Jesus die. His body would be laid in a tomb. The corrupt religious leaders and the evil world would rejoice at His crucifixion; the disciples would grieve . . . deeply. Yet, on the third day they would see the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ . . . and they would rejoice . . . filled with the joy of seeing Jesus alive again . . . filled with the hope of life after death for themselves as well.
But was Jesus simply talking about the time between Good Friday and Easter morning? Or was Jesus talking about a longer “just a little while.” Two different things move me to believe that Jesus was talking about a much longer, “just a little while.” First of all, the Words that our Lord Jesus spoke prior to our text, He spoke of sending the Counselor, that is, the Holy Spirit, because Jesus was going to the Father. And the outpouring of the Holy Spirit did not happen on Easter, but 50 days later on the Day of Pentecost. Jesus taught that the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, would guide God’s people into all truth. The sending of the Holy Spirit was a part of God’s plan precisely because Jesus was going to return to the Father. Thus, this “little while” had to be more than just the three days.
Secondly, and just as important, if Jesus was only speaking of the three days, His Words would have no application to us. Without a doubt, these words of our Lord have a huge message for us, God’s people living nearly 2000 years after Jesus’ death and resurrection. So, when Jesus says, “In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me.” The little while must include all the time between Jesus’ first coming and His second coming. You and I, we are still living in that “little while” before Jesus returns in glory.
Now you might say, “but clearly, over 2000 years is not a little while.” However, I would remind you of my opening illustration regarding time when you are a child and time when you are an adult. It’s vastly different. So, what about when you are an eternal being, with no beginning or end?? What’s two thousand years to God??? A couple of days . . . just a little while. The apostle Peter proclaims this very thing in his second epistle:
But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
Jesus said that during this “little while,” that the world would rejoice at the very same time God’s people would be grieving. This remains true in our own generation. The world rejoices in immoral lifestyles; God’s people grieve. The world rejoices in greed and selfishness; God’s people mourn. The world rejoices in the freedom to choose to end a pregnancy; God’s people mourn the destruction of the unborn. The world actually rejoices in sinful deeds and sinful attitudes; God’s people grieve over sin . . . the world’s sin . . . and even their own.
And I’ll tell you something that grieves me to the depths of my heart and soul: young people falling away from Jesus Christ. A recent survey done by a Christian research firm reveals some startling statistics. The survey was given to 18-29 year olds; here are some of the statistics. 65% said they rarely or never pray with others. Almost 40% said they never pray at all. 65% said they rarely or never attend worship services; 67% said they don’t read the Bible at all. A full 50% said they don’t think that Jesus is the only way to God. And of those surveyed who do believe in Jesus, only 17% read their Bible daily. In another study, 70% of Christians who attended regularly growing up, quit attending church altogether in their mid-20’s.
Jesus said that our grief would turn to joy. It’s hard to be joyful faced with the spiritual challenges of living in this world and the spiritual apathy among so many of God’s people. Where is joy to be found. Jesus said that grief would be turned to joy . . . when His disciples saw Him. The grief of Jesus’ death on the cross was turned to joy when the first disciples literally saw Jesus resurrected from the dead. Joy still comes . . . only as we see Jesus . . . in His Word and in His sacraments. And spiritual resurrection still takes place in the lives of people in our generation. One reason to rejoice is that the Lord is patient. That’s why He hasn’t returned yet. There is still a “little while” left in Jesus’ “just a little while” statement. There is hope for those who have fallen away . . . to be restored to Christian fellowship.
If you know a loved one that has fallen away, write them a letter, tell them how much you love them . . . and tell them that trusting in Jesus is the only hope for this sinful world. If you know someone who has quit coming to church, invite them back . . . offer to pick them up on Sunday morning . . . share with them the joy of God’s grace, mercy, and forgiveness. There is a whole world out there . . . going to hell in a hand-basket. Share with them the hope you have even in the midst of a troubled world. Let them know that Jesus came to save them . . . and that He’s coming again.
For the joy we have in our hearts is the joy of knowing that Jesus died and rose again . . . and that He’s coming again, just as He promised. And the day WE get to see HIM face to face, we will experience a joy that will be undiminished and unending. Unending joy . . . or as Jesus said, “. . . no one will take away your joy.” As John heard in the Revelation:
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."
That’s all going to be ours . . . “in just a little while.” As we patiently wait for that grand day of resurrection . . . and the joys and glories that follow, let’s share our hope with others . . . because we only have . . . a little while left. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Pastor B
