Hide and Go Seek?

People might think that Jesus was talking about the game “hide and go seek” if they didn’t know better when Jesus says “In a little while you will not see me and then again in a little while you will see me.” Or maybe Jesus is playing “peek-a-boo!” Jesus is clearly not playing games. He is deadly serious: serious about his own death.

It’s Jesus who is going to suffer by far the greatest. It is his hands and feet into which the nails will be driven. It’ll be his back that receives the 40 lashes minus one. It was on his head that the crown of thorns would be placed. Jesus will hang from the cross, not his disciples. Yet Jesus talks not about his own grief or suffering, he talks about his disciples’ grief.

You now have grief but I will see you again and your hearts will rejoice and no one will be able to take your joy away from you.” (John 16:22) That’s the way our Lord operates. He takes up our infirmities and carries our sorrows. He takes up our sins and dies the death we ought to have died. Cast all your worries on him for he cares for you!