I came from the Father and entered into the world; again, I am now leaving the world and going back to the Father.
Commentaries
16:16 - 16:33
Joy After Sorrow
16:16-33 . Jesus speaks of a mysterious “soon.” That short time refers to the passion—a period of blindness and suffering. To explain this enigmatic saying, the Lord uses the image of childbirth: after the pains come the joy of birth. Similarly, the joy after the resurrection will be: once again, the Lord will see them, and his heart will rejoice with a joy that nothing and no one can take away. The Father’s love is also poured out on all the disciples (26-33) because they believe in Jesus, the Son who was sent. Jesus always presents his life as seen from the Father; he comes from Him, is in this world for a brief time, and now he is returning to the Father. Jesus is about to suffer the Passion, but he does not feel lonely. Even if his disciples abandon him, the Father is always with him. He ends these words with an encouraging cry. Despite the cruelty of the trials he has endured, he affirms: “I have overcome the world” (33).
Commentaries
Joy After Sorrow
16:16-33 . Jesus speaks of a mysterious “soon.” That short time refers to the passion—a period of blindness and suffering. To explain this enigmatic saying, the Lord uses the image of childbirth: after the pains come the joy of birth. Similarly, the joy after the resurrection will be: once again, the Lord will see them, and his heart will rejoice with a joy that nothing and no one can take away. The Father’s love is also poured out on all the disciples (26-33) because they believe in Jesus, the Son who was sent. Jesus always presents his life as seen from the Father; he comes from Him, is in this world for a brief time, and now he is returning to the Father. Jesus is about to suffer the Passion, but he does not feel lonely. Even if his disciples abandon him, the Father is always with him. He ends these words with an encouraging cry. Despite the cruelty of the trials he has endured, he affirms: “I have overcome the world” (33).