Nathan Smith Funeral: John 14:1-7

Intro:

Thank you for being here today.

I had the opportunity to talk with Cobie and Kim this week and reflect on Nathan’s life. It became evident that he was a hard worked, he gave 120% to what he did, even if it was too much at the time. He racked leaves, shoveled snow so his kids could skate, and rip up flooring with the best of them. He loved music and could be heard from afar when he sang, even when he was in the shower! All genres of music. He played the guitar and taught his girls. He loved making his kids laugh, being outdoors and being a part of a big family.

When I asked Cobie about passages of Scripture that were the most meaningful she gave me 3 from the writings of John. Today lets focus on hearts on John 14:1-7 and from what I understand, the number 7 was important to Nathan.

In the midst of betrayal, broken promises, and bearing fruit, Jesus gives hope to troubled hearts. I am so glad that Jesus knows how to address hearts that are troubled.

Read the Text

Outline:

Troubled Hearts: “” (vs. 1-4)

How Can we Know the Way: “” (vs. 5-65)

Summary: Follow Jesus!!!!

Prayer:

Troubled Hearts: “” (vs. 1-4)

The Commands (vs. -)-

Let not your hearts be troubled-”to stir up or disturb” . This is a command! Wow, Jesus aren’t you being a little unsensative? That would be a fair assessment, if we did not know the context. After dropping the weight of His coming death, betrayal, denial, and desertion He did not want His disciples to be overcome with sorrow. Well if this is where He stopped it would be. Keep reading...

Believe in God- The negative command is given with the possitive one in it’s place

Believe also in me- this is Jesus speaking. In the middle of the tearing of your heart put your faith in God, put your faith in Jesus. Well, why should I do that? How do I know I can trust you? He is not saying there is no reason for you heart to be torn, quite the opposite.

The Assurance (vs. -)

In my Father’s house

are many rooms- there is no place like home. Regardless of what home was like, however disfunctional, loving, or transient, we all want a place we can call home. Jesus cares for His disciples, He wants them to be with him even though He is going to be torn from their presence, isolated, and put to an imbarassing death. He does not want them to be consumed by the trouble in their hearts. He wants them to take comfort in what is prepared for them.

if it were not so- Jesus is going to appeal to their logic

would I have told you that

I go to prepare a place for you? Even in the midst of troubled hearts, Jesus is offering comfort

Hope (vs. - )

and if I go and prepare a place for you

I will come again

and take you to myself

that where I am you may be also

You know the way

to where I am going

Application/Implications:

As we come together today, maybe your heart is troubled. Jesus acknowledges that there are going to be times when you are torn inside. But this is not where you have to stay

In the middle of your circumstances, in the conext of your life, in the stirring of your heart, Jesus is calling you to trust Him. You nay not have it all figured out, the disciples sure didn’t. But God does.

I am so glad that the bible never tells us just to stop doing something without giving God’s gracious solution in its place. In moments of intense turmoil when our hearts are disrupted what we truly believe often comes to the surface. I encourage you over the next few days to talk to someone or write out what is troubling your heart.

Allow the steady love of God to calm your stirred heart today. He cares greatly for you. He wants to prepare a place of comfort for you not just in this world but for all of eternity. The truth of His promises give us hope in the midst of challenging circumstances.

Transitional phrase: When our hearts are troubled, we need the commands of God to give assurance of where to place our hope. So, how can we do that?

How Can we Know the Way?: “” (vs. 5-7)

Confusion (vs. -)

Thomas said to Him: Thomas, listed as one of the Apostles. He shows great courage in John11:16 when Jesus wants to go to Judea after Larazus dies but the people had tried to stone him the last time he was there. Thomas says that they all should go that they may die with him. he doubts the resurrection, will end up going fishing with Peter when Jesus comes to them after the resurrection

Lord

We do not know where you are going

How can we know the way- Thomas is a bit confused, are you talking about your home in Nazareth, you are going, then coming, what is going on? You said that one of us will betray you and then we all will desert you? Where are you going?

Clear Directions (vs. -)

Jesus said to him

I am the way

and the truth,

and the life

No one comes to the Father except through me

if you had known me

You would have known the Father also

From now on

you do know Him

and Have seen Him

Application/Implications:

Even in the midst of confusion there can be clear directions.

Maybe you, like the disciples, came to today with a troubled heart over the circumstances that brought you here, and you still have some questions in your mind. Can I encourage you to follow the clear directions of Jesus. When it came to the order of the service today we put together clear directions of what was going to happen. In the same way, God has given us clear direction through His Son Jesus on more than a troubled heart, the way to the Father.

I would hate for anyone to leave today being confused about God’s love for you and what He has done through Jesus so that you can have a place to call home in heaven.

Jesus is the only way- He is the only currency that God accepts

Jesus is the truth on all matters of life and practice. We can trust what He says

Jesus is the life- it is only through Him that we can be set free from the slavery of our sin. No one experiences true life without Jesus. Not in this life, or the one to come.

Transitional phrase:

Prayer

Song: