LET NOT YOUR HEART BE TROUBLED

John 14:1 NIV84

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.

John 13:21–38 NIV84

After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “I tell you the truth, one of you is going to betray me.” His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, “Ask him which one he means.” Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?” Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, son of Simon. As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. “What you are about to do, do quickly,” Jesus told him, but no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him. Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the Feast, or to give something to the poor. As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night. When he was gone, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once. “My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come. “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Simon Peter asked him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus replied, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later.” Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” Then Jesus answered, “Will you really lay down your life for me? I tell you the truth, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!

BETRAYAL

Jesus makes a very serious and surprising statement

John 13:21 NIV84

After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “I tell you the truth, one of you is going to betray me.”

He has been saying this for some time, before, but now H e makes it very clear

This statement is very confusing to the disciples, who could ever betray Jesus?

It later becomes clear that Judas was the one who would betray Jesus

ABANDONMENT - Jesus was going to leave

John 13:33 NIV84

“My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come.

This is devastating. They have been with Jesus for three years.

Some of them have left jobs to follow him.

Jesus is their world. He is the figurehead. Without him they are nothing.

DENIAL - What will happen to Peter (v 37–38)?

John 13:37–38 NIV84

Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” Then Jesus answered, “Will you really lay down your life for me? I tell you the truth, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!

Peter, for all his boasting, is going to deny knowing Jesus. Not just once, but repeatedly.

This, too, is very discouraging, not just to Peter, but to all the disciples

Betrayal

Abandonment

Denial

Despite these three very discouraging events

Jesus Says “Let not your heart be troubled”

John 14:1 NIV84

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.

These three areas of disappointment, heartache and discouragement are the reason why Jesus said “Let not your heart be troubled”

The disciples were completely disappointed and discouraged.

Jesus had said He was going away

that He would die

that one of the Twelve was a traitor

that Peter would disown Him three times (John 13:38),

that Satan was at work against all of them (Luke 22:31–32),

and that all the disciples would fall away (Matt. 26:31).

The weight of these revelations must have greatly depressed them.

We can now see why the hearts of Jesus’ friends are deeply troubled.

Their world has fallen apart in the space of a few minutes.

Jesus was deeply troubled about his own betrayal and crucifixion, yes He concerned himself more with his disciples’ distress.

He said to them, Do not let your hearts be troubled.

Trust in God; trust also in me..

Troubled people need peace and affirmation.

“Troubled people trouble people”

The problems of the disciples were as real as our problems.

Have you ever felt as though God had abandoned you? Many Christians have.

There are times when we feel spiritually alone—when God seems very distant and far removed.

What does Jesus tell them to do?

“trust in God, trust also in me”

Faith in God isn’t enough, it must be faith in the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus is. So they, and we, need to listen carefully to all that he’s about to say.

Help me to understand Jesus and to be changed by what He says

John 14:27 NIV84

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

THE END