The disciples will no longer receive direct teaching from Jesus. But the Counselor, the "Spirit of Truth" will teach them further. And for that to happen, Jesus must leave....
John 16:16‑23, Childbirth
Jesus went on to say, “In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me.”
17 At this, some of his disciples said to one another, “What does he mean by saying, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me,’ and ‘Because I am going to the Father’?” 18 They kept asking, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We don’t understand what he is saying.”
19 Jesus saw that they wanted to ask him about this, so he said to them, “Are you asking one another what I meant when I said, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me’? 20 Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. 21 A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. 22 So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. 23 In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.
The disciples didn't understand Jesus's timetable. The timetable is still unclear, but the temporary defeat, followed by victory, is described by John later in his gospel.
Two statements, seemingly contradictory, appear together here. "You will grieve..." and "ask me anything." The disciples are alerted to a pending time of grief, while assured that this is all part of a plan.
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