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John

John 
Day 
Day 240

John 16 : 16 - 33 "JUST A LITTLE WHILE MORE"

Day 240 – John 16

JUST A LITTLE WHILE MORE

As Jesus spoke to His Disciples, He must have realized once again, just how fleeting life on earth really was. His three years of public ministry was already up. In fact His earthly life was drawing to a close completely.


“A little while, and you will not see Me…”
John 16:16

How time flew! The years had sped by! Jesus had wisely made every moment count. His understanding of the concept of time was stable and complete. The Scriptures remind us of how we must understand that we are but mortal, and all too soon, our time on earth is over. Let us be reminded of that fact that our life on earth lasts for “a little while”. Moses’ statement on man’s brief sojourn on earth is most famous.


“For a thousand years in Your sight are like yesterday
when it is past, and like a watch in the night…

The days of our lives are seventy years…
For it is soon cut off, and we fly away.

So teach us to number our days,
That we may gain a heart of wisdom.”
Psalm 90:4, 10a, 12

This was Moses’ observation of man’s brief span of life on earth. He died at the good old age of 120 (Deuteronomy 34:7), but if it had been a thousand years, that would have been “like a watch in the night” too.

King David also lived an eventful life. The Kingdom of Israel was firmly established in his reign. Nevertheless, he felt the humbling weight of his mortality.

“Lord, make me to know my end,
And what is the measure of my days,
That I may know how frail I am.
Indeed You have made my days as handbreadths,
And my age is as nothing before You;
Certainly every man at his best state is but vapour.
Surely every man walks about like a shadow…”
Psalm 39:4-6a

In another Psalm, David observed once again just how brief life really was.

“As for man, his days are like grass;
As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.
For the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
And its place remembers it no more.”
Psalm 103:15-16

THE HOPE OF THE LIFE HEREAFTER

Jesus however did not speak in a tone of despair. As quickly as He spoke about how brief life was on earth, He spoke of how in a short while’s time, His Disciples would be able to see Him again.

“A little while, and you will not see Me;
and again, a little while, and you will see Me,
because I go to My Father.”
John 16:16

Life on earth is indeed very brief, no matter how long a span of life a strong and healthy person may have. All too soon, he will breathe his last! However, the hope of life hereafter was very real and strong in Jesus. Death was merely a gateway to His Father’s House in Heaven. After presenting Himself alive to His Father, He would return to see His Disciples. Death was not to be feared! Wherein was Jesus’ confidence found? Surely His trust in His Father was intact. His confidence was in the Scriptures! A special word of promise concerned the matter of Deliverance from Sheol (The grave).

“Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices;
My flesh also will rest in hope.
For You will not leave my soul in Sheol,
Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.”
Psalm 16:9-10

“But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave,
For He shall receive Me.”
Psalm 49:15

“For great is Your mercy toward Me,
and You have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.”
Psalm 86:13

A TRULY SIGNIFICANT LIFE

Jesus knew, from the very beginning that He had but a short while on earth. He determined that He would make full use of His brief spell of time on earth. Not a single day was wasted. Every opportunity was seized to teach people about God. There were needs everywhere. He lived His life to the full. The following text well exemplifies how Jesus utilized His time on earth. He was most conscious of doing His Father’s works!


“I must work the works of Him who sent Me
while it is day; the night is coming when no
one can work.”
John 9:4

How well are we managing and utilizing our short time on earth?