“In a little while” is similar to what He has already told them (7:33; 13:33; 14:19). He is speaking of His impending death and later resurrection. He is encouraging them ahead of time that this is not His final farewell. Note that the words Jesus uses to say this begs a question from them. He is giving them the opportunity to ask Him whatever they wish about the upcoming events.

John 7:33  Jesus said, “I am with you for only a short time, and then I go to the one who sent me.

John 13:33  “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.

John 14:19  Before long, the world will not see me any more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.

There is also application for us in this promise from Jesus. Yes, the disciples did “see” Him with their physical eyes after His resurrection, but they also continued to “see” Him ever after that and after His ascension just as we can because the Holy Spirit, Whom He sent, will reveal Jesus to us (John 16:14). That is personal Christianity.

John 16:14  He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you.

According to Maclaren, there are three things we must do to “see” Jesus:

1. Think about Him; fix our minds upon Him.
   Psalms 16:8  I have set the LORD always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.
2. Shut out competing things.
   Colossians 3:2  Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
3. Do His will.
   John 14:21  Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.”