The words that Jesus spoke to His disciples during that meal, including the prayers that He prayed for His disciples and Himself, have become known as the Last Supper Discourse (John 13-17).
He told about His imminent death, which disheartened His disciples. He also described the hostility and persecution that they would face for being His witnesses.
But He also told them of the comfort they would receive, and great things that they would accomplish in bringing the message of salvation to the world. He told of the ultimate joy that would be given to them, and all who believe as a result of their preaching.
Then He said:
"I still have many things to say to you, but you can not bear them now" (John 16:12).
We may readily imagine that He was referring to sad, and discouraging things. And perhaps He was. But the prophet Isaiah and the apostle Paul wrote:
"'What no eye has seen,
what no ear has heard,
and what no human mind has conceived' -
the things God has prepared for those who love Him -" (1st Corinthians 2:9, Isaiah 64:4; NIV).
Paul was also moved by the Spirit to say:
"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us" (Romans 8:18).
At times it can actually be painful to hear glad things. There have been times when I could not stand to listen to joyful music or glad songs. So perhaps when Jesus said what He said, He was also referring to things too wonderful, and marvelous for us to bear while we live in this broken world of sin, trouble, and strife.
C.S. Lewis once remarked about Tolkien's books:
C.S. Lewis once remarked about Tolkien's books:
"Here are beauties which pierce like swords or burn like cold iron here is a book which will break your heart".
Certainly, the things which God has prepared for those who love Him can be no less, but more even more beautiful.
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