John 16:17-19

John 16:17-19

[17] Then  said  some of  his  disciples  among  themselves,  What  that  he saith  and  not  see  and  again,  and  Because  I  go  to  the Father?  [18] They said  therefore,  What  that  he saith,  we cannot  tell  what  he saith.  [19] Jesus  knew  that  they were desirous  to ask  him,  and  said  unto them,  Do ye enquire  among  yourselves  of  I said,  and  not  see  and  again,  and 

What does John 16:17-19 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

This announcement prompted the disciples to voice their confusion again (cf. John 13:36; John 14:5; John 14:8; John 14:22), though this time they kept quizzing (Gr. imperfect tense) one another rather than Jesus. They still did not understand what He meant by His departure (cf. John 16:12). Evidently they did grasp that Jesus had been talking about returning to His Father ( John 14:28), but how could He do that and then reappear in a little while?
Jesus" references to "a little while" especially perplexed them ( John 16:18). The fact that John recorded the repetition of "a little while" five times in these three verses shows that he regarded it as very significant.