16. “After a little while you will not see me, and then after a little while you will see me again.”
17. Some of the followers said to each other, “What does Jesus mean when he says, ‘After a little while you will not see me, and then after a little while you will see me again’? And what does he mean when he says, ‘Because I am going to the Father’?”
18. They also asked, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We don’t understand what he is saying.”
19. Jesus saw that the followers wanted to ask him about this, so he said to them, “Are you asking each other what I meant when I said, ‘After a little while you will not see me, and then after a little while you will see me again’?
20. I tell you the truth, you will cry and be sad, but the world will be happy. You will be sad, but your sadness will become joy.
21. When a woman gives birth to a baby, she has pain, because her time has come. But when her baby is born, she forgets the pain, because she is so happy that a child has been born into the world.
22. It is the same with you. Now you are sad, but I will see you again and you will be happy, and no one will take away your joy.