We’re in a section of John’s Gospel commonly called the Farewell Discourse. Jesus has been preparing his disciples for his departure. Soon he’ll be arrested and crucified. After that, he’ll rise from the dead and ascend to heaven. 

For three years, the disciples have walked with him, listened to his teaching, witnessed his miracles. But now he’s leaving.

And then Jesus says something shocking in verse 7:

“It is to your advantage that I go away."

We’ve learned to be skeptical when someone tells us something disappointing is actually “for our benefit.”

You get an email from a company about their rewards program: “In an effort to serve you better…” Which usually means: fewer rewards, higher prices, or benefits disappearing. 

I remember Starbucks changed their rewards program a few years ago. I had one of their gold cards. The email basically said, “This is going to be better for you.” And everyone reading it thought, “No it isn’t.”

We’ve gotten used to people trying to convince us that a loss is actually a gain.

But when Jesus says, “It is to your advantage that I go away,” he isn't spinning bad news. He says, “I tell you the truth.”

So how could that possibly be true? How could it ever be better for Jesus to leave? Wouldn’t it be better to have Jesus physically present with us right now?

Imagine if Jesus were still on earth. Imagine hearing him preach with your own ears. Watching him heal the sick with your own eyes. Seeing him walk into this very church. Being able to ask him your questions face to face.

So why does Jesus say that his departure is actually for our good?