1 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 

John 14:1-3 (ESV)

Jesus has just dealt with betrayal and denial (by Judas and Peter), yet He keeps his focus. For four more chapters He’ll continue this discourse with His disciples. Then the real, final, test will come. For now, He continues prepping them for His departure. This passage is often used at funerals to comfort mourners that their dearly departed (if a believer in Christ)  is with Christ and (if they also trust in Christ) they are headed to the same place.

Control your heart

Jesus’ way of saying v1 is quite intentional. He might have said, “Don’t worry. You believe in the Father, believe also in me.” But He says, “Let not your hearts be troubled.” What strikes me about this is: where is the control? Often we think that our environment controls us and makes us anxious, worried and troubled. Surely it does create the opportunity. However, it’s up to us to decide how to respond. Will we allow circumstances to control us or will we decide to rise above the circumstances? If so, how?

Antidote

The antidote for a troubled heart, the power for overcoming the circumstances is faith. What we choose to believe is the deciding factor. Will the disciples focus on the negative news or will they focus on Jesus? They all believe in God. He challenges (even commands) them to decide to trust and believe. “The verb believe both times is imperative.” (Alford quoted in enduringword.com) What do we believe? The truth. We’ll see that tomorrow.

Hope to hang your hat on

Jesus provides them with hope to hang their hat on. The disciples are dreading Jesus’ departure – even though they don’t fully understand yet where He’s going. Jesus re-states where He’s going while comforting them with the hope of being with Him again. When the circumstances prove overwhelming, even unbearable, we have this hope (Hebrews 6:19-20) as an anchor for our soul: we will yet be with Him.

RЯeflection

• What are the struggles you are facing now? Have the circumstances of life hemmed you in and cut off your hope? “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation 6 and my God. (Psalm 42:5-6 ESV)