John 16:18
“They said therefore, “What is this that he says, ‘A little while’ ? We don’t know what he is saying.””
What does John 16:18 mean?
Jesus had just told his disciples he was going away for "a little while" before they would see him again, and they were confused and hurt. They didn't understand what he meant: Was he leaving temporarily or permanently? Where was he going? The disciples were so caught up in their confusion and grief that they couldn't quite grasp what Jesus was trying to prepare them for. This moment captures how hard it can be to hear spiritual truth when we're anxious or afraid. Sometimes when people we trust tell us something difficult is coming, we get stuck on the unclear parts rather than trusting them. Jesus was actually speaking about his death and resurrection and the comfort of the Holy Spirit that would follow, but his followers couldn't see past their immediate sense of loss.