John 14:1-12
INTRODUCTION: We all have times in our lives when we are troubled by something we have heard or experienced. Times when God seems to have left the building. Times when our theology doesn’t fit with our reality.
This morning the disciples are feeling just this. Jesus had just informed them that he will be leaving soon and they become unhinged. Peter wants to know where Jesus is going and if he could go with him to which Jesus responds:
“You can’t go with me now, but you will follow me later.”
“But why can’t I come now, Lord?” he asked. “I’m ready to die for you.”
Jesus answered, “Die for me? I tell you the truth, Peter—before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.” Chapter 13
TEXT TO TEACH FROM:
14 “Do not let your hearts be TROUBLED. You believe in God; believe also in me.
2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”
5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”
8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”
9 Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves.
When we are troubled and feel like Jesus has left the building we must lean into three things:
1. WHEN WE ARE TROUBLED IN LIFE WE MUST LEAN INTO OUR RATHER THAN OUR .
The word “believe” is the key word in John’s gospel. John uses the word 85 times in his writing.
But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. John 20:31
- Believing and faith are synonyms (pisteuo) means to believe and trust in God rather than anything else.
- Christians throughout history are known as believers!
FEAR IS “WHAT IF.” FAITH IS “EVEN IF.”
- Believe ALSO in Me! The disciples wanted Jesus to show them the Father, and his response makes it clear that they were clueless. After all, that is exactly what he had been doing with them all along.
- His teachings were God’s truths.
- His miracles were God’s actions on display.
- His character was in keeping with that of God’s.
“He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.” Heb.1:3 ESV
2. WE MUST REMEMBER WHEN WE ARE TROUBLED THAT JUST BECAUSE CHRIST IS NOT (PHYSICALLY) DOESN’T MEAN HE IS NOT BEHIND THE.
2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to PREPARE a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
- The word prepare means to make ready. Jesus is getting our place ready for us. Jesus is not just sitting around in the heavens listening to harps as he spits on a latte. No, he is actively making preparations for us to join him on the other side.
- Rooms: (Mone) Residences, abodes or mansions
“Jesus is making our place ready while the Holy Spirit is making us ready for our place.” TDM
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. Romans 8:28-29
3. WHEN WE ARE TROUBLED IN HEART, WE MUST REMEMBER THAT JESUS WILL TO TAKE US WHERE HE !
Jesus returning to take us home and this truth is all over the New Testament.
- The word “take” is paralambano, means to take with oneself.
“For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be CAUGHT UP TOGETHER with them in the clouds to MEET THE LORD IN THE AIR, and so we will ALWAYS BE WITH THE LORD“. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
“Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed”. 1 Corinthians 15:51-52
CONCLUSION: Jesus understood that his disciples were struggling in their understanding of His true identity as well as his plans for their lives. His message: Refuse to let your feelings cloud your faith. Continue to be faithful knowing that He is for you, with you and in you.