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The text word for today reads conspicuously foreign.  The repetitions are unusual.  Other time Christ had often made very clear statements. The frequent use of not seeing and seeing seem almost puzzling, which is reinforced by the connecting, temporary paraphrase “and again for a little while”. The legible repetitions in the course of the text are, first of all, a very typical example of the methodology used by the rabbinical students. They conduct their discussions by repeating what they have heard in order to memorize Master’s words. Was what Jesus said to the disciples in this way enough for them to understand? Is it enough for us to understand?

“Just a little while longer…”. It will not be long before His execution. Jesus knows that those who believe in Him will fall into great distress, sadness and uncertainty. He does not omit that the world will celebrate His humiliation and mockery with joy and satisfaction. But His successors will be all the more oppressed and will suffer. He’s clearly preparing them for it. According to the Jewish understanding, the words “weep” and “lament” are closely related to lamentation, which underlines the seriousness and consequence of this announcement of farewell.

After this, Jesus speaks again of “a while…”, this time in reference to the disciples seeing him again. The meaning of the choice of word “while” has since been interpreted in many ways. With the different interpretations of this fact, I agree that Christ speaks of meeting the disciples after his resurrection. The Easter experience, also the statement “… I am going to the Father” and the Ascension, as well as the sending of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, lead the disciples into different forms of perception and presence of Christ. Through all images and events He promises His divine but: “I will see you again!” (Verse 22). After Easter in the flesh, at Pentecost in the form of the spirit – but always the same Jesus.

We are used to saying: we do not see Jesus Christ in person like the disciples, but we see Him because and as the Holy Scriptures testify to Him. Is that enough for us to understand?  “I will see you again” is His promise, which gives us joyful expectation and a living relationship with Him. How we see Jesus, what relationship we have to Him is individual, shaped by upbringing, knowledge gained and certainly also by our church attendance. We have very different experiences in which, for example, demands and suffering, but also joy and happiness shape our bond with Jesus and our view of Him. Our experiences sometimes lead us to doubt, lack of understanding, impatience and powerlessness. This should not give rise to false self-doubt, exclusionary theories of sin or mechanisms of repression that go as far as questioning the faithfulness and presence of our Lord. Need and sadness, fate of life and even threatened faith are the divine “but“, the promise of reunion, subordinate. “You too have sadness now; but I want to see you again, and your hearts shall rejoice, and no one shall take your joy from you. (Verse 22)

So we stand with the disciples, should always remain questioners in our discipleship and can rejoice in His promise from the refrain “I am with you every day”, also quietly in the questioning, listening and threefold repetition according to rabbinic care. The divine “but“: Jesus wants to see us again and is waiting for us until eternity. From belief in the resurrection to belief in the present – not only because belief in the present is placed in all time through the words and deeds of God and their acceptance, but because the living presence of our Lord characterizes Him in our time. “Jubilate” – Rejoice!

Let us always hold fast to His words “I will see you again”.