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John 13:33
ESV Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going you cannot come.’
NIV "My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come.
NASB Little children, I am still with you a little longer. You will look for Me; and just as I said to the Jews, now I also say to you: ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’
CSB Children, I am with you a little while longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so now I tell you: ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’
NLT Dear children, I will be with you only a little longer. And as I told the Jewish leaders, you will search for me, but you can’t come where I am going.
KJV Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you.
NKJV Little children, I shall be with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come,’ so now I say to you.

What does John 13:33 mean?

Jesus is in the process of setting up His "new" commandment: that Christians are to be distinguished by love (John 13:34–35). He has made multiple references to the glory which God will receive from what is about to happen (John 13:31–32).

In this statement, Jesus uses a term which John, the writer of this gospel, will repeat often in his letters (1 John 2:1; 3:7; 4:4; 5:21). The word is teknia, which very literally means "little children." In this context, Jesus is preparing the disciples to endure what is to come. The end of Jesus' time on earth is only hours away. Before this night is over, the disciples will face outrageous fear, doubt, and uncertainty. After that, they will be sent out into a hostile world to proclaim the gospel. Referring to them as "little children" is an expression of Jesus' love and concern.

John uses the phrase "the Jews" in reference to the religious leaders of Jerusalem and their followers. Twice before, Jesus commented that those resistant to truth would be unable to go where He was going, though they would seek Him (John 7:34; 8:21). In both of those remarks, Jesus told the unbelievers that they would not find Him. Here, however, Jesus only tells the disciples that they will seek but cannot follow where He goes. He does not tell them they'll fail to find Him.

When Jesus said these words to His critics, they assumed He was either planning to leave the region or commit suicide. What Jesus is actually referring to is His impending death, resurrection, and ascension. Over the next few hours, He will die a sacrificial death no other human being could accomplish (John 19:30). Within days, He will be raised into a glorified body (John 20:17). Within weeks, He will ascend to heaven (Acts 1:6–9).

As Jesus will state, His absence is not permanent: He will return and those who trust in Him will be with Him in eternity (John 14:2–3). The disciples cannot follow Jesus by going along with Him, but they can know "the way" to one day be reunited: through Jesus Himself (John 14:4–6).
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