"Jesus Prepares Us with a Promise of Heaven"

Tangled Emotions

INTRODUCTION:

When we are all stirred up it is a time of confusion and questioning. This is exactly what we see happening for the disciples. The disciples are being forced to deal with the coming death of Jesus. The night before Jesus’s crucifixion has been set aside for him to prepare them for life after the cross. He tells them he’s leaving, and they cannot follow where he’s going. They are confused. Simon Peter in chapter 13 and Thomas and Philip in chapter 14 pepper him with questions, trying to cut through the haze that has descended on them. His departure is also met with resistance. Peter proclaims his undying allegiance to Jesus, in effect saying Jesus is wrong and they will follow him wherever he goes.

I. Jesus Beckons us to Trust.

In verse 1 He sees our need and our struggle and commands us to do what is needed when we are so stirred by a cavalcade of feeling and emotions that affect us so powerfully.

Jesus begins chapter 14 by acknowledging the disciples’ feelings. He understands his announcement is causing their hearts to be “troubled” (v. 1). Earlier in the Gospel of John, this same word troubled is used to describe what happened to a pool of water; it’s translated “stirred up” (5:7). The disciples’ hearts are stirred up. Like ingredients in a mixing bowl, doubt, confusion, uncertainty, and fear are being stirred around inside their hearts. This potent mixture of emotions is motivated by Jesus’s departure. How can he leave them? Why can’t they follow him? You take those questions and add them to the fact that one disciple will betray him and another will deny him, and you have a recipe for FEARFULNESS AND anxiety strong enough to paralyze the most mature disciple.

In this emotionally trying moment, Jesus comforts the disciples. It’s remarkable he can even think of them at this time. Here he is about to take upon himself the sin of the world. He’s on the verge of experiencing the wrath of God for our sin. Yet he compassionately reaches out to comfort his disciples.

Where can I go if not following you?

What can I do when my emotions are so stirred? When I feel paralyzed! We desperately seek freedom from the fear of this paralyzing stirring.

We try to find someone who has gone through a similar experience and look to his or her success as grounds for our hope.

We seek some type of calming or soothing emotion: “Things are too up and down, I just need to get away from it all for a little while.”

In this time when the disciples’ hearts were stirred up, Jesus reminds them to look to him. He gives his disciples two commands: “Believe in God; believe also in me” (v. 1).

The focus of these commands is that they need to continue to do that which they’ve already done. Jesus is not telling them, “For the first time, you need to believe in me.” He’s saying, “You have believed in me; now keep believing, keep trusting, and keep relying on me.” The antidote for the virus of anxiety and fearfulness is trust in Jesus. Not emotions, experiences, or others, but Jesus, first.

In her quiet moments of despair, a single mother often turned to the book of Job. While her life felt chaotic and unmanageable, she found encouragement in Job’s perseverance amidst suffering. Like Job, who clung to his faith despite losing everything, she learned to trust in God’s purpose for her trials. This powerful biblical example ignited her hope and strengthened her resolve, reminding us that our struggles can lead to unexpected grace and growth.

II. Jesus Becomes Our Confidence

Exalting Jesus in John (Jesus Gives His Disciples Confidence: Here’s Why You Can Trust Me! (John 14:2–3))

I love what C. S. Lewis writes about heaven in his timeless work Mere Christianity:

Creatures are not born with desires unless satisfaction for those desires exists. A baby feels hunger: well, there is such a thing as food. A duckling wants to swim: well, there is such a thing as water. Men feel sexual desire: well, there is such a thing as sex. If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world. If none of my earthly pleasures satisfy it, that does not prove that the universe is a fraud. Probably earthly pleasures were never meant to satisfy it, but only to arouse it, to suggest the real thing. (Lewis, Mere Christianity, 136–37)

Entering into the eternal kingdom of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior is not an idea but really exists and he has prepared us to live with Him in it!

Jesus who gave us the promise of heaven so we would never doubt his perfect plan for us as His disciples on earth.

In today’s fast-paced world, you may often feel anxious about your future. The constant pressure to succeed can take away your peace. In your church challenge yourself to explore the promises of heaven with your others. Join in on a discussion on how focusing on eternal life can change your perspective on current worries. This is not a I can’t wait to get to heaven and escape all this craziness conversation. That will not impact your perspective very much and certainly not in the direction of peace. Consider keeping a journal where you can write down fears, then alongside it, record scripture that speaks of peace and hope in heaven, the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Return to these writings during times of doubt.

III. Jesus builds our Hunger for Heaven

The preparation

The unique term only used here and in verse 23 in the whole New Testament is not referring to Jesu building rooms with a hammer and nails. The instruments are a cross and a grave. The way Jesus prepares this special home for his disciples is by laying down his life so their sins can be forgiven. This promise should arouse in us a greater appetite for heaven. However, a few earthly snacks can spoil our appetite for heaven. The more we avoid them, the stronger our appetite for heaven grows.

The first threat to our appetite is an unhealthy attachment to earthly things.

We can grow so attached to the things of this life that heaven seems like a punishment. The constant consumption of earthly candy has diminished our appetite for the transcendent feast promised in eternity. We need a better perspective on earthly things.

Earthly joys are just a foretaste of the full and complete joy we will have in heaven. Why do we love family vacations? Is it the rest and fellowship? That’s a small, imperfect taste of our heavenly rest and fellowship. Why do we love sports? Is it the feelings of exultation and triumph and sharing that with others? That’s a small sliver of the triumph and exultation we’ll enjoy together in heaven. The pleasures we experience on this earth are gifts from God, but they are designed simply to whet our appetite for the eternally satisfying joys of heaven.

Randy Alcorn, author of a book on heaven, writes,

Many assume heaven will be unlike earth. But why do we think this? God designed earth for human beings. And nearly every description of heaven includes references to earthly things—eating, music, animals, water, trees, fruits, and a city with gates and streets. The Bible speaks of the new heavens and a new earth—not a non-heavens and non-earth. “New” doesn’t mean fundamentally different, but vastly superior. If someone says, “I’m going to give you a new car,” you’d get excited. Why? Not because you have no idea what a car is, but because you do know. (In Light of Eternity, 31; emphasis original)

Don’t allow earthly things—joys and pleasures—to diminish your appetite for heaven. Ask God to use them to prime your taste buds for heaven’s glory.

A second appetite spoiler is a wrong perspective on Jesus.

Exalting Jesus in John Jesus Gives His Disciples Confidence: Here’s Why You Can Trust Me! (John 14:2–3)

romise is that they will be with him. Nothing would ever separate them from Jesus Christ. Think of every word that describes what is good: beautiful, peaceful, joyous, wonderful, great, amazing, happy, spectacular. Heaven will be all of these things but only because Jesus is there. Sin will no longer separate us from his presence. We will forever enjoy the one we were created to enjoy.

Jonathan Edwards wrote,

The redeemed have all their objective good in God. God himself is the great good which they are brought to the possession and enjoyment of by redemption. He is the highest good, and the sum of all that good which Christ purchased. God is the inheritance of the saints; he is the portion of their souls. God is their wealth and treasure, their food, their life, their dwelling place, their ornament and diadem, and their everlasting honor and glory. They have none in heaven but God; he is the great good which the redeemed are received to at death, and which they are to rise to at the end of the world. The Lord God, he is the light of the heavenly Jerusalem; and is the “river of the water of life” that runs, and the tree of life that grows, “in the midst of the paradise of God.” The glorious excellencies and beauty of God will be what will forever entertain the minds of the saints, and the love of God will be their everlasting feast. The redeemed will indeed enjoy other things; they will enjoy the angels, and will enjoy one another: but that which they shall enjoy in the angels, or each other, or in anything else whatsoever, that will yield them delight and happiness, will be what will be seen of God in them. (“God Glorified,” 74–75)

Heaven is heaven because Jesus is there. At the apex of their distress, the disciples could remember this promise from Jesus: “You will be with me where I am.” That promise sustained Abraham as he left his own country and looked for a new city. It was on the lips of David as he wrote: “You reveal the path of life to me; in your presence is abundant joy; at your right hand are eternal pleasures” (Ps 16:11). When an aged Peter took pen in hand to encourage suffering disciples, he reminded them of this promise:

The God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, establish, strengthen, and support you after you have suffered a little while. To him be dominion forever. Amen. (1 Pet 5:10–11)

The presence of Jesus is the promise that sustains us in the midst of difficulties. Like the disciples, we need to cling to the words of Jesus as our hope and our confidence while we walk through this fallen, sin-plagued world.

A. W. Tozer called heaven “the long tomorrow” and reminded the church to “look to the long tomorrow” (quoted in Alcorn, In Light of Eternity, 160). Many days feel like they will never end. You wake up with a headache, the car doesn’t start, your boss is grumpy, your lunch is cold, traffic is bad, the kids are out of control, and bedtime can’t come soon enough. On those days, those never-ending days, we need to remember there is only one day that will never end, and it’s a good day. Only the long tomorrow in heaven with Jesus will go on forever.

Finding Hope in the Promise of Heaven

Bible Passage: John 14:1–14

Summary: In this passage, Jesus reassures His disciples of His continued presence and the promise of eternal life in heaven, emphasizing that He is the way, the truth, and the life.

Application: This message offers comfort to those facing fear, uncertainty, or loss, reminding us that our hope is grounded in Jesus and His promise of eternal life, which can transform our struggles and grief into hope and anticipation.

Teaching: The sermon illustrates the significance of faith in Christ as the only way to a relationship with God and eternal life, underscoring the importance of trusting in Him amidst life's challenges.

How this passage could point to Christ: The passage points to Christ as the fulfillment of God's promises throughout Scripture, where He is revealed as the way to salvation and eternal life, echoing themes found in the entire biblical narrative.

Big Idea: True hope is found in Jesus, the way to heaven, which offers peace and assurance in our earthly journeys.

Recommended Study: As you prepare this sermon, consider diving into the original Greek of key terms like 'way,' 'truth,' and 'life' in John 14:6 to uncover deeper meanings. Utilize Logos to compare parallel texts in the Synoptic Gospels that discuss faith and eternal life. Additionally, explore commentaries on eschatology to better articulate the promise of heaven in the Christian faith.

1. Promises of a Prepared Place

John 14:1-3

You could explain how Jesus begins with a comforting assurance to His disciples, urging them not to let their hearts be troubled because He is preparing a place for them. This sets the stage for hope amidst turmoil by emphasizing His trustworthy promise of an eternal dwelling with God. Encourage your audience to find solace in this promise, transforming their anxiety about the future into confident hope.

2. Path of Truth and Life

John 14:4-7

Perhaps explore how Jesus identifies Himself as the way, the truth, and the life, underscoring the exclusivity of Christ as the path to the Father. Highlight the importance of knowing and trusting in Jesus for eternal life. Challenge your audience to examine where they seek truth and direction, aligning their lives with the truth found only in Christ.

3. Presence Revealed in Christ

John 14:8-11

Maybe delve into Philip's request to see the Father and Jesus' response. Use this dialogue to emphasize the revelation of God through Christ. Encourage your audience to deepen their understanding of Jesus as the full embodiment of God's character and presence. This point could strengthen their faith in Jesus as the full revelation of God.

4. Power through Prayer and Faith

John 14:12-14

Consider discussing Jesus' promise that His followers will do greater works because of His intercession with the Father. Challenge your audience to embrace the empowerment for service through faith in Jesus. Highlight prayer's significant role, underscoring how asking in Jesus' name aligns our hearts with God's will, emboldening believers to act in faith.

Have you ever spoken to someone who said he had no desire to go to heaven, sit on clouds, and strum a harp for all eternity? Some think heaven is endless boredom, like being a monk or nun forever. No, heaven is about Jesus. Our view of heaven reflects our view of Jesus. The less we think of Jesus here on earth, the less excited we’ll be for heaven. If we think of Jesus as a boring, dull, cosmic killjoy, or if we view him as someone who is only to be tolerated, then we will have no appetite for heaven. It’s no wonder some of us don’t want to spend eternity in heaven with Jesus since we don’t take the time here on earth to discover what an inexhaustibly delightful, satisfying, and magnificent Savior Jesus is. We should view our years here on earth as preparation for an eternity with Jesus. Use the seventy or eighty or one hundred years God gives you to prepare for an eternal retirement. Invest right now in your relationship with Jesus.

Jesus gives living water. He is the all-satisfying source of eternal refreshment. He is not only profoundly happy himself, but he created happiness. Not only is he beautiful, but ugliness flees from his presence. When we come to this realization, our appetite for heaven will grow, and we will no longer be content with the cotton candy of this world. The more our love for Jesus Christ grows, the more our appetite for heaven grows.

In the book of Revelation, we get a glimpse of heaven, and every scene centers on one person: Jesus. The worship of Jesus Christ to the glory of the Father is the defining characteristic of heaven. Heaven is not great because there is no sickness, death, or pain. It’s not great because the streets will be made of gold and every tear will be wiped away. All those things are true, but heaven is great because Jesus is there. As Jesus makes this promise to his disciples, he doesn’t promise the coolest bachelor pad in the sky where we can do whatever our hearts desire. Though heaven will comprise wonders we can barely imagine here on earth, the promise of heaven is that Jesus will be there. He tells them, “If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to myself, so that where I am you may be also” (14:3). The promise is that they will be with him. Nothing would ever separate them from Jesus Christ. Think of every word that describes what is good: beautiful, peaceful, joyous, wonderful, great, amazing, happy, spectacular. Heaven will be all of these things but only because Jesus is there. Sin will no longer separate us from his presence. We will forever enjoy the one we were created to enjoy.

Jonathan Edwards wrote,

The redeemed have all their objective good in God. God himself is the great good which they are brought to the possession and enjoyment of by redemption. He is the highest good, and the sum of all that good which Christ purchased. God is the inheritance of the saints; he is the portion of their souls. God is their wealth and treasure, their food, their life, their dwelling place, their ornament and diadem, and their everlasting honor and glory. They have none in heaven but God; he is the great good which the redeemed are received to at death, and which they are to rise to at the end of the world. The Lord God, he is the light of the heavenly Jerusalem; and is the “river of the water of life” that runs, and the tree of life that grows, “in the midst of the paradise of God.” The glorious excellencies and beauty of God will be what will forever entertain the minds of the saints, and the love of God will be their everlasting feast. The redeemed will indeed enjoy other things; they will enjoy the angels, and will enjoy one another: but that which they shall enjoy in the angels, or each other, or in anything else whatsoever, that will yield them delight and happiness, will be what will be seen of God in them. (“God Glorified,” 74–75)

Heaven is heaven because Jesus is there. At the apex of their distress, the disciples could remember this promise from Jesus: “You will be with me where I am.” That promise sustained Abraham as he left his own country and looked for a new city. It was on the lips of David as he wrote: “You reveal the path of life to me; in your presence is abundant joy; at your right hand are eternal pleasures” (Ps 16:11). When an aged Peter took pen in hand to encourage suffering disciples, he reminded them of this promise:

The God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, establish, strengthen, and support you after you have suffered a little while. To him be dominion forever. Amen. (1 Pet 5:10–11)

The presence of Jesus is the promise that sustains us in the midst of difficulties. Like the disciples, we need to cling to the words of Jesus as our hope and our confidence while we walk through this fallen, sin-plagued world.

A. W. Tozer called heaven “the long tomorrow” and reminded the church to “look to the long tomorrow” (quoted in Alcorn, In Light of Eternity, 160). Many days feel like they will never end. You wake up with a headache, the car doesn’t start, your boss is grumpy, your lunch is cold, traffic is bad, the kids are out of control, and bedtime can’t come soon enough. On those days, those never-ending days, we need to remember there is only one day that will never end, and it’s a good day. Only the long tomorrow in heaven with Jesus will go on forever.

QUESTIONS:

What emotional state are the disciples in during the night before Jesus's crucifixion? What causes the disciples' hearts to be troubled?

How can we apply Jesus's command to 'Believe in God; believe also in me' in our daily lives?

According to the sermon, why is trusting in Jesus essential during times of emotional turmoil?

In what ways can earthly pleasures serve as distractions from our spiritual appetite for heaven?

What does Jesus promise to his disciples about their future and his presence?

How can we cultivate a greater appetite for heaven in our lives?

What does it mean when Jesus refers to himself as 'the way, the truth, and the life'?

How can prayer align our hearts with God's will according to the sermon?

What role do Jesus's promises play in overcoming feelings of fear and anxiety?