Vs. 16–19: A Little While
• The phrase “a little while” is repeated five times in verses 16–18
• “A little while, and you will no longer see Me” refers to Jesus’ death.
• “A little while and you will see Me” refers to Jesus’ resurrection appearances.

Vs. 20–22: Grief Turned to Joy
• The disciples will weep and lament when Jesus is crucified, but the world will rejoice.
• The disciples’ grief will turn to joy when Jesus is resurrected.
• The woman in childbirth motif is used many times in the Old Testament.
o Isaiah 21:2–3, Jeremiah 13:21, Micah 4:9–10
o Isaiah 26:16–21 mentions a woman in the pangs of childbirth, resurrection, and the phrase “a little while”.
o Jesus was reminding His disciples of these Old Testament promises.
o Isaiah 66:14a has the same phrase that Jesus uses to encourage His disciples, “your heart will be glad/rejoice”.

Vs. 23–28: Ask Anything in My Name
• In what day?
o The context shows “in that day” refers to when the disciples rejoice (vs. 22).
- This is referring to the time after Jesus’ resurrection and ascension.
o In that day, the disciples would not ask Jesus questions anymore. Why?
- Because Jesus would be bodily absent from them after His ascension.
- They would now pray directly to the Father, which is what we see them doing after Jesus’ ascension in Acts 1:13–14
• Jesus reiterates the promises for answered prayer He already expressed in John 14:13–14, 15:7, and 15:16.
• Are these promises just for the disciples or are they also for us?
o John 14:12–14 helps us to know that the promises for answered prayer are for “whoever” believes in Jesus.
• Asking is a big part of showing our dependence on God.
o There is nothing wrong with asking.
• We should expect answers to our prayers.
o Paul and James teach this.
- Romans 8:31–32, James 1:5–6
• John 15:7 is a conditional statement
o IF you abide in Me
o And (IF) My words abide in you
o (Then) ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
o Are we abiding?
• In Jesus’ Name?
o This is not an incantation that we add on the end of our prayers so they work.
- No New Testament prayer ends by saying “In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen”.
o The name of someone, in the way that the Biblical authors used this concept, conveys the authority of the person, what the person stood for, and the substance of their character.

Vs. 29–33: Take Courage
• Was Jesus speaking plainly?
o No, Jesus had told the disciples this would come in the future (vs. 25–26).
• The disciples claim to believe in Jesus based on His knowledge of all things.
o If the disciples truly understood what Jesus was saying, and what would happen in the next few hours, would they all abandon Him? No. They didn’t really understand.
• Jesus asks, “Do you now believe?”
o Jesus tells them that they will all abandon Him.
o Why does Jesus warn them of their impending failure?
- If He didn’t they might have fallen into despair after they abandoned Him.
• Jesus ends this teaching with encouragement. Take courage, I have overcome the world.
o Romans 8:18