Paw Paw's Funeral Service

Background Information

John chapters 13–17 take place in one evening, the last evening Jesus would spend with his disciples

The disciples were people who were saved by Jesus Christ (John 3:16–17)

Jesus just told them that he would be betrayed by Judas (John 13:18)

Jesus also told them that Peter would deny him (John 13:36–38)

The hearts of the disciples were troubled, like a pot of boiling water, their hearts were rumbling with grief, heart ache, perhaps even a desperation. And I imagine we are all feeling troubled in our hearts.

But Jesus, being the kind and compassionate shepherd that he is, begins to encourage the disciples. He begins to shift their focus away from the trials and difficulties, or causes of a troubled heart to the only One who can help: our Gracious God.

There are two commands in this one verse, followed by an encouragement to obey the second command.

LET NOT YOUR HEART BE TROUBLED

The first command Jesus gives to His disciples: “Let not your heart be troubled.”

Those words may initially cause you to backup. Doesn’t Jesus know the trials they are facing? Doesn’t Jesus care about their breaking hearts?

Jesus is God in the flesh, after all, and He does know all things, and there is no doubt that the disciples faces betrayed their breaking hearts. How could the One Who describes Himself as “meek and lowly in heart” tell them, “Let not your hearts be troubled.”

Notice that Jesus does not say “Don’t be sad,” or “Don’t grieve,” or “stop hurting,” but “Let not your heart be troubled.” The Man of sorrows and the man acquainted with grief knows the aches and pains of your hearts better than you do.

Paul tells us that we grieve, but its a different grief (1 Thess. 4:13).

The Scriptures abound with sweet passages that remind us that Jesus cares. 1 Peter 5:7

1 Peter 5:7 KJV

Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

No, our Savior is not callous or hardhearted when he tells them to not let their heart be troubled, He is reminding them of just how loving and kind He is.

But how do we not let our hearts be troubled? Jesus tells us in the second command: believe in me.

BELIEVE ALSO IN ME

He makes a statement before giving this command: ye believe in God. His disciples believed in God the Father.

They had a Bible that recorded the wonders of this gracious God. They had psalms to sing of God’s deliverance and care. They had history reminding them of the unimaginable power of this God.

They also had example after example, time after time, of this God who describes Himself to Moses this way, Exodus 34:6–7

Exodus 34:6–7 KJV

And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.

Do you feel your hearts not being troubled? Do you believe in God? This God created the heavens and earth, everything both seen and unseen. And this God is a God who is merciful, and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant or overflowing in goodness and truth.

This unimaginable God is, as David so sweetly reminds us, Psalm 34:18

Psalm 34:18 KJV

The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.

“You believe this, disciples,” Jesus tells them, and He tells us this today.

Since you believe in God, believe also in Me. Trust me! Don’t let your hearts be troubled, though grieving and sad they may be, don’t let your pot spill over with trouble, instead, trust Me! Look to Me! Think about Me! Think about all the demons I have cast out, all the illnesses I have healed, all the sinful and lost souls I have saved.

One of Paw Paw’s favorite songs is “Jesus Loves Me.” Jesus, the KING of kings and LORD of lords, the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, who’s voice stills the raging storms and through His power casts out demons and overcomes all illnesses, the One who is high and lifted up, the thrice holy God, loves me.

Oh, let not your heart be troubled. Believe in this unimaginable, loving Jesus!

Let not your heart be troubled, believe. Jesus will go on to tell His disciples, and all who believe, that He is preparing them a place, that as He goes to the cross He is purchasing a dwelling place for them with this great God. But more than that, He is coming again.

Jesus, through his suffering, death, burial, and resurrection, has overcome death. Let not your heart be troubled.

I GO TO PREPARE A PLACE

Now Jesus gives them the encouragement. He tells them why they should not let their hearts be troubled: I am going to prepare a place for you.

Paw Paw is now with Jesus. That thought alone should help our hearts not be troubled.

But Jesus tells us that He is preparing a place for us. “That where I am, there ye may be also.”

This hope is ours, Christians, and it can you all of yours, if you know Jesus, the way, the truth, and the life. If you believe (John 3:16) you too will enjoy a placed prepared for you with Jesus and Paw Paw.