That is was. And I think we could have gone on for even longer. LOL!!

Jim

Mikey,

Thanks so much for jumping in with such a confirming testimony. Yes, Christ, and his life, is found in simplicity! :)

Jim

Yes, what a freedom! All striving does is to make it appear that something is really happening.

Jim

Hello dear friend,

I am so glad you took the time to write this encouraging note! Thank you.

Jim :)

I know much has been made of this verse by some, but I have regarded it in the same way as most of what Jesus told the disciples on the night before the crucifixion — as something they would not understand until the reality of the words came to pass on Pentecost. Consider the following:

Jesus answered and said to him, “What I do you do not realize now, but you will understand hereafter.” John 13:7

These things I have spoken to you while abiding with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. You heard that I said to you, ‘I go away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced because I go to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. Now I have told you before it happens, so that when it happens, you may believe. John 14:25-29

But these things I have spoken to you, so that when their hour comes, you may remember that I told you of them. These things I did not say to you at the beginning, because I was with you. John 16:4

“These things I have spoken to you in figurative language; an hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language, but will tell you plainly of the Father. In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I will request of the Father on your behalf; for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed that I came forth from the Father. I came forth from the Father and have come into the world; I am leaving the world again and going to the Father.” His disciples said, “Lo, now You are speaking plainly and are not using a figure of speech. Now we know that You know all things, and have no need for anyone to question You; by this we believe that You came from God.” Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? Behold, an hour is coming, and has already come, for you to be scattered, each to his own home, and to leave Me alone; and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” John 16:25-33

During the period of time between the resurrection and the day when the Spirit was given on Pentecost, the disciples may have thought they understood what Jesus was about, but in truth they were still viewing him according to the flesh. There is no doubt that they had seen and believed that Jesus had come back from the dead, but they were still seeing it all in an earthbound sense. The statement you’re asking about took place after they heard the report of Jesus’ resurrection from Mary:

So when it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” And when He had said this, He showed them both His hands and His side. The disciples then rejoiced when they saw the Lord. So Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained.” John 20:19-23

I mean, they were all excited at having seen Jesus after his death, but their minds were still set upon his earthly existence. They figured that was the basis upon which everything with him and themselves was going to continue. So he does something that would become imprinted in their minds, and it would haunt them with confusion until the thing spoken actually came about. The last chapter of John leaves off with the rather unsettling account about how seven of the disciples decided to go fishing at Peter’s suggestion. There is no resolution at the story’s end because it was merely a prelude to the beginning when on that day the Spirit — who was yet to come — would make those words come alive. :)