You heard Me say, ‘I am going away, and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved Me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I.
You should not mourn Christ's departure in the flesh but rejoice, seeing that all the body's blessing depends on the head's glorifying. The Father is greater than Christ in that Christ is the Mediator, He that makes the request is less than He to whom it is made.
AI summary
This is not a rebuke of their love but of its imperfection, they had low views of His office, Jewish prejudices, slow faith. Had they trusted His words fully, they would have rejoiced that He was leaving this state of suffering to resume the glory He had with the Father, so the Spirit might descend and greater blessings flow to them.
AI summary
The disciples truly loved Christ, but their sorrow at losing His bodily presence showed too much regard for themselves, not enough for Him. Pure love would have rejoiced that He departed to His greater advantage, and to theirs, since returning to the Father meant the Holy Spirit's descent and greater blessings for them.
AI summary