Jesus Predicts His Return to the Disciples

¹⁶ “A little while and you will see me no more, and again a little while and you will see me. ¹⁷ So some of his disciples said to one another, “What is this that he is saying to us, ‘A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me,’ and ‘Because I am going away to the Father’?” ¹⁸ So they kept on saying, “What is this that he is saying, ‘A little while’? We do not understand what he is speaking about!”

¹⁹ Jesus knew that they were wanting to ask him, and he said to them, “Are you deliberating with one another about this—that I said, ‘A little while, and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me’? ²⁰ Truly, truly I say to you, that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; you will become sorrowful, but your sorrow will change to joy. ²¹ A woman, when she gives birth, experiences pain because her hour has come. But when her^[a] child is born, she no longer remembers the affliction, on account of the joy that a human being has been born into the world. ²² So you also are experiencing sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy from you. ²³ And on that day you will ask me nothing. Truly, truly I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give you. ²⁴ Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.

Jesus’ Victory Over the World

²⁵ “I have said these things to you in figurative sayings. An hour is coming when I will speak to you in figurative sayings no longer, but I will tell you plainly about the Father. ²⁶ On that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf. ²⁷ For the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. ²⁸ I have gone out from the Father and have come into the world; again, I am leaving the world and am going to the Father.”

²⁹ His disciples said, “Behold, now you are speaking plainly^[b] and are telling us^[c] no figurative saying! ³⁰ Now we know that you know everything and do not need for^[d] anyone to ask you questions.^[e] By this we believe that you have come from God.”

³¹ Jesus replied to them, “Now do you believe? ³² Behold, an hour is coming—and has come—that you will be scattered each one to his own home,^[f] and you will leave me alone. And I am not alone, because the Father is with me. ³³ I have said these things to you so that in me you may have peace. In the world you have affliction, but have courage! I have conquered the world.”