It's a Real Place

I. The Call to Trust in Troubled Times

A. The Command: "Do Not Let Your Hearts Be Troubled"

This passage takes place before Jesus’ death and resurrection, so it is a little out of the chronology considering we are after the resurrection. But this passage is a testament to the daily renewal of peace offered by Jesus and it is a reminder of the exclusivity of Jesus as the way to heaven.

Jesus acknowledges their distress but calls them to faith.

John 14:1 HCSB

“Your heart must not be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me.

Peace begins with trusting His word despite circumstances.

The problem that prevents peace in a person’s life is the circumstances. See, Jesus is looking deeply inward at their hearts, and he sees the agitation.

One’s heart is the center of their personality and each believer is responsible for the condition of their heart.

Their circumstances are heavy, but the heaviest of them all would be whether their faith in Jesus was proven to be futile.

B. The Remedy: Believe in God, Believe Also in Me

So he provides them the remedy -

Believe in God and also in Me.

Faith in the Father and Son is the antidote to fear.

Illustration: Like a child trusting a parent in the dark.

Jesus’ great concern was the continuation of the Gospel being preached, and for that to happen, the disciples needed an increased faithfulness.

C. The Promise: A Secure Future (vv. 2-4)

So, He takes them into the future.

John 14:2 HCSB

In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if not, I would have told you. I am going away to prepare a place for you.

This is an incredibly inclusive statement. Nobody’s left out who has the personal relationship with Christ, and He reiterates the strength of His personal nature

John 14:3 HCSB

If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come back and receive you to Myself, so that where I am you may be also.

He’s the one doing the work.

He will return, ensuring our hope is certain.

Transition: Peace comes not just from future hope but from present relationship.

II. The Way to Peace is Through Jesus

John 14:5 HCSB

“Lord,” Thomas said, “we don’t know where You’re going. How can we know the way?”

Well, Thomas, here we are again...

Like Thomas, we often seek visible roadmaps in trials.

Ya know, downtown St. Paul is a disaster to drive in. You need a map at this point.

B. Jesus’ Answer: "I Am the Way" (vv. 6-7)

John 14:6 HCSB

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

He doesn’t give a path—He is the path.

We may not appreciate or understand the way of Jesus, but our focus is on intimacy not information.

John uses this literary device of “non-understanding” with a shoutout back to Isaiah. It makes sense that in Jesus’ immediate lifetime there were those who followed “the way.” That isn’t probably what John is referencing here.

Isaiah 30:20–21 HCSB

The Lord will give you meager bread and water during oppression, but your Teacher will not hide Himself any longer. Your eyes will see your Teacher, and whenever you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear this command behind you: “This is the way. Walk in it.”

It is impossible to exhaust the meaning of the truths in John 14:6.

That He would die, be resurrected, and come again at the end of the age.

But He has to give their hearts and minds a sense of peace.

C. Philip’s Request: "Show Us the Father" (vv. 8-11)

Jesus reveals that seeing Him is seeing the Father.

John 14:8 HCSB

“Lord,” said Philip, “show us the Father, and that’s enough for us.”

Peace comes from trusting His divine nature—He is enough.

We have to live in the assurance that we can swap our worry for His peace.

We live in days of “worrying about enough.” Everywhere you turn there is a temptation regarding what I call enoughness - the worry of enough.

Enough money, time, treasure, attention, social clout, order, rules, relationships etc.

Transition: Not only is Jesus the way to peace, but He empowers us to live in it.

III. The Power to Live in Peace

A. Greater Works Through Faith (v. 12)

Troubled hearts become bold when we believe in His power at work in us.

Jesus says believers will do “greater works” (v. 12) because He goes to the Father. This doesn’t mean bigger miracles, but greater kingdom impact—millions saved through the Gospel!

Prayer in Jesus’ name (v. 13-14) isn’t a magic formula; it’s praying in alignment with His will.

Application: Are we boldly praying and laboring to bring others to the only Way?

John 14:13–14 HCSB

Whatever you ask in My name, I will do it so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.

B. Prayer as the Pathway to Peace (vv. 13-14)

Jesus ends his words of comfort and encouragement to his disciples here with a promise that he will continue to work powerfully in their midst through the Spirit (John 14:12) and will answer their prayers to God (vv. 13–14)—if their requests are made with a pure heart and are spoken in accordance with the will of God.

We can have this same assurance today, finding peace and comfort in a God who continues to work in our midst and answers our prayers in the name of Jesus.

God may not always answer in the way we would want, or with the swiftness we would prefer, but he is always faithful to give an answer in accordance with his perfect timing and his good purposes for our lives.

Asking in Jesus’ name aligns us with His will and releases His peace (Phil. 4:6-7).

The works of faith can only be accomplished when we ignore the figures and math, and focus on the peace that is revealed to us in Christ.

Challenge: Are others seeing the peace of the Father revealed through your life and testimony?

Jesus’ peace is a Person (His presence), a Promise (His word), and a Power (His Spirit).

Invitation:

Troubled? Trust His promises.

Confused? Follow Him as the Way.

Weak? Pray in His name and see His power.

Closing Scripture: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid." (John 14:27)

4. Amid distress, Jesus encourages the disciples to trust in his words and deeds (John 14:8–11). He will be faithful to finish the work that he started in them. Jesus will bring them safely to their eternal home. Jesus will guide them and lead them to God, for Jesus is God (John 1:1; 10:30; 14:9). No matter what you’re going through, Jesus is faithful to bring you to safety, to bring you home. Trust in Jesus. He is trustworthy. His name says as much (Yeshua: “he will rescue, deliver, save”).

Conclusion: Two Urgent Calls

For believers: Hold firmly to the truth of Christ as the only Savior. Don’t apologize for the Gospel—proclaim it!

For unbelievers: Today is the day to trust Jesus. Heaven is real, and He is the only way.