Jesus solemnly assures his disciples that he will not leave them as orphans. With him as teacher, things are different than when earthly rabbis die. When they die, contact is forever lost. Not so with Jesus. He tells them directly, I will come to you.
So contact is restored.
What is Jesus referring to here? Is he referring to the appearances after his resurrection? Indeed, they do meet him again. On the evening of the first day of the week, Jesus suddenly stands among them (John 20:19). Some time later, he appears to them at the Sea of Galilee (John 21:1–25). But that is only incidental, and it also ends with him being taken up to heaven (Luke 24:51; Acts 1:9–11). Some interpreters think of his bodily return at his second coming when they read this. This aligns well with what Jesus said in John 14:3: And when I have prepared a place for you, I will come again.
However, his words, I will not leave you as orphans,
raise questions. After all, Jesus is not physically with them until his second coming. Therefore, it is best to think of Jesus' presence with them through his Holy Spirit. What we read in Matthew 18:20 speaks in favour of this: For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.
Jesus' words spoken to his disciples just before his ascension also speak in favour of this: And remember this: I am with you always, to the end of the age
(Matthew 28:20b). Truly, Jesus never leaves his own as orphans.
18 Je ne vous laisserai pas orphelins, je viendrai à vous.