18 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. 19 “A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also.
The apostles thought that Jesus might abandon them and leave them with all the crisis that would shortly come upon them. Jesus here anticipated their problem.
14:18
I will not leave [abandon] you orphans;
An “orphan” is someone bereft of support. With Jesus’ departure in death and resurrection, He would not leave the apostles alone without divine help. There was no need for them to be orphaned. Apart from Jesus the apostles would be orphans without the coming of the Holy Spirit.
I [emphatic] will come to you.
Jesus would visit the apostles after His death and resurrection. This also involved both the post-resurrection appearances and contact with them throughout the period leading to Pentecost. This took place over a number of weeks.
The words “will come” do not refer to the Rapture or the Second Coming. For an argument that contrasts the Rapture and the Second Coming, see this study: https://versebyversecommentary.com/articles/doctrine/rapture-vs-the-second-coming/
14:19
“A little while longer
It would be but a few hours before Jesus’ death. Jesus did not speak here of a remote future of years but in terms of His crucifixion the next day.
and the world will see Me no more,
The world would no longer see the bodily presence of Jesus after the crucifixion. He would show Himself to only believers after His resurrection. Jesus’ absence was only in reference to the world, not the apostles.
but you will see Me.
Believers would “see” Jesus in their interactions with Him between the resurrection and ascension. They would have stark person-to-person interaction with Him between the crucifixion and His ascension.
Because I live [in His resurrection],
Jesus would live after His crucifixion in three days from this point. He would rise from the dead.
you [emphatic] will live also.
Jesus’ resurrection had implications on the apostles. Because Jesus rose from the dead, it is a guaranteed that His followers would live eternally (1 Co 15:20-21). Jesus’ life means life for them (Jn 6:57).
PRINCIPLE:
The resurrection of Jesus is the forerunner of our resurrection.
APPLICATION:
Because Jesus rose from the dead, Christians will have eternal life in our soul and subsequently live forever physically.
The resurrection body comes from the natural body that died. This new body will not succumb to disease and decay. The resurrection body is grander than a reanimation of the present body; it is a complete glorification of the old body.
The soul dominates our entire body before the resurrection. After the resurrection, the spirit dominates the body completely. It will never know sickness or pain, will never grow old or die. It will never again submit to death. It will not yield to lusts again. It will never tire, and there will not be a need for night.
