5 Reasons to Trust in Christ

John 14:1-11

1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.

5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?

6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

8 Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.

9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?

10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.

11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake.

John 13:21 eating the passover meal!

When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.

Notice;

“Jesus was troubled in his spirit.”

there is, a holy turmoil of soul —

a righteous unrest—

not caused by Unbelief But love.

But here in John 14:1 we see an unholy heart-turmoil. Jesus said “Let not your hearts be troubled.” This is a failure to trust God fully for the problem we are facing.

At first it may look like Jesus is speaking about problem that is different than the one you’re dealing with.

But hold on, because Jesus takes a unexpected turn in the middle of this scripture.

John 20:31 tells us what his goal is for you :

“These are written so that you may believe (trust, be assured, treasure the reality)

that Jesus is the Christ (the promise-fulfilling Messiah),

the Son of God (the presence of God ,the God the Son—among us), and that by believing you may have life in his name.”

And when he says “life” he means the connection with God’s life, through a connection with Jesus.

And that life includes the power not to have this unholy turmoil of soul.

So what we encounter in John’s Gospel is the living God, the creator of the world, present among us humans,

in our world and in his Son—

the infinitely loved,

The eternal, image, and radiance of God and through faith—

through believing and receiving him as the son

we are connected to this through christ to the Father,

and so we share a eternal, supernatural life, even now!

How do we overcome this Unholy Turmoil?

In our text, John 14:1–11, show’s us how Jesus and the Father team up to overcome our unholy turmoil of the soul and give us strength and peace to carry on.

And he does this by calling us to trust Jesus and the Father. He gives us five reasons why we should trust in God.

So first notice verse 1 and verse 11— they

make the main point. Verse 1: “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.”

Verse 11: “Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.”

What he is his point? Belief. Faith.This is the opposite of your hearts being troubled.

Verse 1: Don’t be troubled: Trust me. And Trust God.

And twice in verse 11: “Believe me.” “Believe.”

Trusting Jesus for who he is, the son of God

and trusting God, are one and the same.

John 12:44, “He that believeth on me, believeth not on me but on him that sent me.”

The point is: Don’t be troubled. Trust me, and in trusting me, trust God.

He told them at the last supper that he was going away (John 13:36).

He told them that they could not go with him.

And he told Peter he was going to deny Jesus 3 times before the night is over (John 13:38).

In other words, I’m leaving you.

And you’re not even able to make it through the night without me.

This is good reason for all of them to be troubled.

And Jesus says in the next verse “Don’t be troubled.” Even Peter! That’s amazing. “Instead, trust me. Trust God.” And he is saying the same thing to you right now.

Why should they—not be troubled?

and why should we—not be troubled?

Why should we trust you in a situation like this?

Or in our own unique situation?

Jesus now gives five reasons.

#1. Don’t be troubled, but trust me, because my Father has many rooms in his house and each of you will have one.

Verse 2: John 14:2–3

2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

3 And if I go and prepare a place for you,

I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

Pause there and let that sink in. .

God’s house is a big big house. It has many rooms “mansions”. He won’t run out of space. (see verse 2) there is a place for you. “I go to prepare a place for you.”

The 1st Point for trust is based on three things:

#1) This is God’s house, it is not a hotel its a permanent abode. His children live with him in his house.

#2) It is spacious so that he never runs out of room.

#3) There is a room designed for us, . And that means you too, if you trust him.

Trust Jesus. Trust God. And you will have a place in his house

John 1:12

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

Yes. Jesus said I’m leaving.

No. You can’t come with me now.

Yes, you will be scattered tonight when they strike the shepherd, and I must do this work alone.

But don’t let your sorrow …

Don’t let your fear …

Don’t let your shame …

produce an unholy turmoil in your soul.

Let not your hearts be troubled. Trust me. Trust God. Why? There will be a place for you in my Father’s house, as my Father’s children, forever.

#2. Don’t be troubled, but trust me, because I myself am going to make ready the place of dwelling with God.

Verses 2–3: “In my Father’s house are many mansions. If it were not so, would I have told you I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you …”

So twice Jesus says, “I go to prepare a place for you.” What does that mean?

Does it mean that things in heaven are not finished ?

Does it mean that Jesus say’s in

Matthew 25:34, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world,”

but that he can’t say, “the rooms have been prepared from the foundation of the world”?

I don’t think so. This dwelling place near the heart of God has been designed and ready for God’s redeemed sinners from before the creation of the world.

But there are two senses in which things are not yet ready as Jesus speaks.

The Way There Is Not Yet Prepared!

What is not yet ready—not yet prepared—

#1 The way to get your Mansion in God’s presence. Sin has not been atoned for yet!

And Jesus is the Lamb of God about to be slain John 1:29, 36 Behold the lamb of God,

#2 The wrath of God, the condemnation, the curse of God, is still unsatisfied, and Jesus is about to become a Cure for the curse of death for us.

Galatians 3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

and he bear our condemnation

Romans 8:3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

and he endured the bruising of the Father

Isaiah 53:10

Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief:

When thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin,

He shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days,

And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.

Jesus is about to give his life and take it back up again Right from the jaws of death

John 10:18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

Every obstacle between us and our Place in the Father’s house is about to be removed in the next three days.

That’s the first thing I think Jesus means when he says: I am going to prepare a place for you.

I’m preparing it not in the sense that’s it’s defective or incomplete But that the way there is not yet prepared.

I think Jesus confirms what he’s thinking in verses 4–6,

4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.

5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?

6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

In other words: I go to prepare a place for you.

#1 And as I go I become the way you get there.

#2 I am the truth that you hold onto to get there.

#3 I am the life—the eternal life that you will enjoy when you get there.

When I say, “I go to prepare a place for you,”

I mean: I open up the way. Because I am the way.

I confirm the truth. because I am the truth. And

I purchase the life. because I am that life.

In other words, Peter and the other disciples,you don’t need to worry have an unholy turmoil of our soul because we are imperfect, and undeserving Why?

Because Jesus, this same night, goes to purchase our forgiveness and become the way to the Father. He makes our room not only available, but certain for his redeemed. So let not your hearts be troubled. Trust in Jesus!

But that is not all he means when he says “I go to prepare a place for you.”

The third reason for why we should trust Jesus explains another meaning. There is a second sense in which things are not yet ready as Jesus speaks.

#3. Don’t be troubled, but trust me, because I myself will be your dwelling, and I will get you there.

Verse 3: “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will receive G( paralambano) you unto myself, that where I am you may be also.”

Paralambano- To take, to seize,

Genesis 5:24 (KJV 1900)

And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him. H (Laqah)

I think this is one of the most important phrases in this passage:

I will take you unto myself. This shifts the focus, Its not just a place but a person. Heaven is Where Jesus is. What is the essence of heaven? It is the very presence of Jesus. So when he says, “I go to prepare a place for you,” what he is saying:

I go this night through death for you, and I rise Easter Sunday morning out of death for you,

so that I myself might be your living dwelling place.

I am your room in my Father’s house. And I am not yet prepared to receive you there.

I must die. I must rise. I must be glorified. I must intercede for you. And when I have done that, then I will be ready. I will come and take you unto myself.

We will meet him in the air, And so we will forever be with the Lord

1 Thessalonians 4:16–17

16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

What this text focuses on is the Second Coming “I will come again and will take you to myself.” Therefore, my beloved disciples, let not your hearts be troubled. Trust.

Trust me that I am coming for you. I will come. I will take you.

And trust me because the dwelling I have prepared for you is my crucified, risen, and glorified self

Don’t be troubled, I will come and take you to myself.

You might feel: Those comforts are wonderful.

But they are so far away.

At death or at the Second Coming. That is whats causing the turmoil in my soul now

I don’t know what’s best for my children.

Or my marriage is broken.

Or: my health is failing.

Or: I can’t stand my job.

Or: I am so lonely.

If Jesus doesn’t want my heart troubled now, is there some encouragement for faith closer than the second coming?

This is where Jesus takes the unexpected turn in the passage.

Look at what Philip says in verse 8:

8 Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.

 ” Not: Show us the Father someday. But now. We want to see the Father now. And if we do, that will be “enough”. That will be sufficient.”

It’s the same word Paul uses in

2 Corinthians 12:9, “My grace is sufficient for you.”

Show us the Father now, and that will satisfy our troubled heart. Is God near to us now? Show us.

#4. Don’t be troubled, but trust me, because the very Father, who has a place for you in his eternal presence, is with you right now.

The emphasis of verses 7–11 is crystal clear. Six times Jesus virtually say’s the same thing: that he and the Father are one, that his presence is the presence of the God the Father.

1. Verse 7a: “If you had known me, you would have known my Father also.”

2. Verse 7b: “From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

3. Verse 9a in response to Philip’s request to see the Father:

Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip?”

4. Verse 9b: “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say,

‘Show us the Father’?

5. Verse 10a “Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?

6. Verse 11a: “I am in the Father and the Father is in me.”

Therefore, Philip, is it enough?

“Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.

” I have showed you. He is here. As close to you as I am.

Is it enough? Is it enough for you?

But you may say to Jesus, “But you went away. You were there. And when you were there God was there. The Father was there in you. But now you’re gone.”

Which brings us to the last point for why our hearts should not be troubled. This time he has you in mind specifically, not just the apostles.

#5. Don’t be troubled, but trust me, because I will be with you always, not just at my return.

How can that be? He has left. He is in heaven with the Father interceding for us at God’s right hand. To see this reason we need to drop down five verses after our text—to verses 16–18.

16 I will pray the Father, and he will give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever,

17 Even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not neither knoweth him. Ye know him, for he dwelleth with you and shall be in you.

18 I will not leave you comfortless; I will come to you.

I will not leave you, I will come to you.

When , the Holy Spirit, came, Jesus came. When it says at the end of verse 17,

“He dwells with you, and will be in you,”

he means, I am with you now physically. And I will be in you spiritually—when the Spirit comes.

This is why Paul talks the way he does about the Holy Spirit, and the Spirit of Christ, and Christ himself. Listen to these amazing words from

Romans 8:9–10,

9 You are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwells in you.Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his.

10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

That Spirit of God dwells in you. That is, the Spirit of Christ. That is, Christ! This is not the Second Coming—as glorious as that will be—this is for the now.

He has gone away physically, precisely so that he can be near to all of his own, not just the disciples. He has not left you comfortless. He has come to us.

He is right now more interested in,and more caring about,

your parenting, your marriage,

your failing health, your job, your loneliness More than you can imagine. He did not come to us as an observer, but as a Helper a comforter, a a saviour

Summary: Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled …

Those, who trust the Lord Jesus:

1. Let not your heart be troubled, because there’s a place for you in my Father’s house.

2. Let not your heart be troubled, because Jesus has prepared the place for you. He has opened the way. And He is the way.

3. Let not your heart be troubled, because Jesus himself is your dwelling place and he is coming again and He will take you to himself.

4. Let not your heart be troubled, because Jesus and the Father are one, so that if have Jesus you have the Father.

5. Let not your heart be troubled, because Jesus is come in the Holy Spirit. He is with you now, and will be with you always, not as an observer, but a Helper a comforter!