Charles Spurgeon Commentary John 16:16-19

"A little while, and ye behold me no more; and again a little while, and ye shall see me. [Some] of his disciples therefore said one to another, What is this that he saith unto us, A little while, and ye behold me not; and again a little while, and ye shall see me: and, Because I go to the Father? They said therefore, What is this that he saith, A little while? We know not what he saith. Jesus perceived that they were desirous to ask him, and he said unto them, Do ye inquire among yourselves concerning this, that I said, A little while, and ye behold me not, and again a little while, and ye shall see me?" — John 16:16-19 (ASV)

A little while, and you shall not see me: and again, a little while, and you shall see me, because I go to the Father. Then said some of his disciples among themselves, What is this that he says to us, A little while, and you shall not see me: and again, a little while, and you shall see me: and Because I go to the Father? They said therefore, What is this that he says, A little while? We cannot tell what he says. Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him.

And that is a very sweet thing. Sometimes we are afraid to pray; sometimes we feel as if we could not bring ourselves to the prayer.

But it is so sweet. Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him. There is the essence of prayer in the desire to pray. There is really a request which Jesus Christ can read in the heart that longs to make a request and scarcely dares do it.