Jesus and his disciples are still in the upper room, Judas has gone to get the arresting mob, and Jesus is left with the 11 disciples. As Jesus is talking, he revealed to them that the cross is for His glory and the glory of God. This information was meant to comfort them while they witnessed those events. As he continues, he speaks to them with comfort and care. They were not ready for His departure, but His time had come.
I am going to start with verse 33 because it goes with verses 36-38. When Peter speaks, he goes back to what Jesus said in verse 33 and wants to get more information about this.
“Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come… Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards.” (John 13:33,36)
As Jesus speaks, he calls them “little children,” a term of endearment. By it, He intended to communicate the tenderest of care for their well being like a parent feels for their children. We find, throughout the scriptures, these kinds of terms used for believers. We learn from these that God is our Father. ” For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.” (Romans 8:14-15). We are God’s children through adoption. We should feel security and closeness in that. We also understand that we are Babes in Christ. “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:” (1Peter 2:2), Showing that we need guidance, as foolish children need to learn from their father. Lastly, we understand that it is used as an expression of tenderness and affection. (Gal 4:19, 1John 2:1,12, 28; 3:7,18; 4:4; 5:21) The writers of the New Testament used it to express this tenderness many times. They shared a closeness with their followers, just as Christ had with them. They also made a point of comforting those they would leave behind as they took their place in glory.
Jesus told them that he would leave them, and they could not come with him. Six months prior, Jesus had told the Jew that they would not be able to follow him or find him. “Ye shall seek me, and shall not find me: and where I am, thither ye cannot come. Then said the Jews among themselves, Whither will he go, that we shall not find him? will he go unto the dispersed among the Gentiles, and teach the Gentiles? What manner of saying is this that he said, Ye shall seek me, and shall not find me: and where I am, thither ye cannot come?” (John 7:34-36) Jesus was telling them that he would go back to heaven, but they would not be able to follow because they had rejected him, and because of that rejection, they would never see him again. Those he spoke to were very confused about what he meant by that. Thinking he spoke of a long journey outside of their jurisdiction.
Now, Jesus told his close friends that he would leave and they could not come with him. These guys had spent the last three and ½ years with Jesus every day. He had a job to do on the cross that they could not assist him in. What was it like for them for the three days leading to the resurrection? For men who looked for an earthly kingdom right now, they would have struggled with the identity of Christ as the Messiah. A question that the resurrection solved. Then he would be with them for a short time, and he would ascend to glory. And leave them to the mission he had given them. ” And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matt 28:18-20)
The disciples could not go with him because it was not their time to die; they had much more to do. These men would preach to crowds and speak before kings. They would proclaim the message of Christ without fear of death. Because they knew who they believed in and fully persuaded that he was the Christ.
He assured them that they would join Christ at a later time in heaven when they have completed the job they were sent to do. Right there in the next chapter, he says, ” Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.” (John 14:1-2) I am going to prepare a place for you.
This message rings down through the ages to us today. It would be wonderful if, when we got saved, we were immediately caught up to heaven to begin eternity with Christ. How amazing that would be. But that is not the plan. We will join Christ and the apostles when we each have finished our course. Now is the time of our witness; it is our time to proclaim the gospel to the world. We must be the hands and feet of Jesus to those in need. We are now carrying the torch of those who have passed on before.