John 16:17,18 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

What is this that he saith,— There are so many passages in the preceding discourse relating to Christ's goingto the Father, that it is a strange instance of the dulness of the apostles at that time, that they did not understand him. Perhaps it is recorded on purpose to shew us what an alteration the teaching of the Spirit made in them afterward. It is indeed difficult to imagine what could perplex them, unless it were that they suspected the words in John 16:16 might intimate, that after Jesus had gone to the Father, and made a short stay there, he would come again, and settle an earthly kingdom;—and they might desire an explication in this view. Accordingly, after having told them, that though they were sorrowful,he would come and see them again after his resurrection, John 16:20-22 and would introduce them to a state of comfortable converse with the Father by prayer and holy communion with him, and a joy of which none could deprive them, John 16:22-27. He adds, John 16:28 that he was quickly leaving the world to go and reside with the Father from whom he came; thereby gently intimating, that no temporal reign, the constant object of their hopes, was to be expected: and if we suppose him thus to have glanced obliquely at the most secret sentiments of their hearts,it will account for that confession of his omniscience which immediately follows the 28th verse, (John 16:29-30.) the reason of which would not appear merely from his discovery that they doubted about something, as their countenances andwhispers might shew this. Some one, considering our Lord's words as referring to the life of glory, a sense which is evidently implied in them, beautifully observes, that believers may sometimes think this little while of a tedious length; they are almost apprehensive that it will never end: but let them animate their hopes, by reflecting that the Master calls it a little while. It will be found a short time indeed, compared with the happy eternity, to which it is the passage.