I have said all this to you in figures of speech; the hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures, but will tell you plainly of the Father — Jesus acknowledges that his teaching has been metaphorical (en paroimiais—in figures of speech, parables, veiled language). The metaphors of vine and branches, the woman in labor, the little while—these are figures that veil as much as they reveal. Yet the promise is that a time will come when Jesus will speak plainly (parrēsia—openness, bold directness) about the Father. This plainness may refer to the resurrection appearances, to the gift of the Spirit, or to the eschaton when God is seen face to face.

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