Comforting God’s People

Good morning. It’s wonderful to see everyone who was able to make it out on this chilly May morning. If you have your Bibles with you, which I sure hope you do because we will be using them quite a bit this morning, you go ahead and be turning to John Chapter 14. Lately there have been many of our congregation that have been experiencing trials in many forms, and because we know that we are all one family in the body of Christ, then we know that when our brother or sister in Christ is hurting or struggling, that we hurt and struggle with them. This morning I would like us to look together at what our Savior had to say about this subject of trials and tribulations that come up in life, and we can overcome all of them- no matter how heavy or unmovable they may seem.

John 14:1

“Let Not Your Hearts Be Troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.”

I feel like sometimes we can very easily take the things that Christ says out of context. To be sure, there so many of these beautiful nuggets of wisdom and hope that we can take and hold as memory verses throughout our lives that help to support our spirit throughout the day pr troubling times, but to better understand this passage I think we need to go back to Chapter 13 and see get the full context of why Christ is saying this to the Apostles right now.

In Chapter 13, verses 21-35, we see 3 major things revealed to the Apostles that I think we can easily see as being rather disheartening.

Number 1:

“One Of You Will Betray Me”

We have just spent the last 3 YEARS together. You have seen me perform miracles unlike anything that has ever happened in history. We have come at last to Jerusalem where you saw me met at the gate with palm leaves laid before me and crowds screaming for my arrival. And earlier this same night I have shown you a new level of expression of my love for you, and the servant I have always claimed to be. I lowered myself, in a way that is in no way acceptable for a rabbi, or teacher, of this time to do and I washed your feet. And now I’m telling you that one of you will betray me.

They have such trouble understanding this, John tells us, that even when Christ denotes Judas by handing him the wine soaked bread, they still can’t even imagine what is happening.

This is definitely a troubling thing to deal with.

Number 2:

“Where I Am Going You Cannot Come”

Ok, so, not only am I about to be betrayed by one of our closest friends, but I am also leaving. Again, for the last 3 years you have followed me faithfully and learned from me always, but now at what you perceive to be this triumphant moment of my ministry, I tell you that I am going somewhere and it is somewhere you cannot follow me to.

Now this is incredibly odd for a rabbi as well. When you went to study at the feet of a rabbi in Jewish culture you did exactly as the Apostles have done: you eat, sleep, and breathe with your teacher. Day in and day out, until they deem you properly educated in their understanding that you might go and teach others. So for Christ to tell the Apostles that HE will be the one that is going to leave them, even though this is not the first time He has said this but it is the first time they are truly hearing it though they still don’t fully understand- this would have been world shattering.

Number 3:

“You Will Deny Me”

Now here in John we see Christ tell this directly to Peter, foretelling his denial 3 times before the rooster crows, but if we look at this same place in Matthew 26:31 we see Christ quoting Zechariah Chapter 13.

Zechariah 13:7-9

English Standard Version (Chapter 13) The Shepherd Struck 7  “Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, against the man who stands next to me,” declares the LORD of hosts. “Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered; I will turn my hand against the little ones. 8  In the whole land, declares the LORD, two thirds shall be cut off and perish, and one third shall be left alive. 9  And I will put this third into the fire, and refine them as one refines silver, and test them as gold is tested. They will call upon my name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘They are my people’; and they will say, ‘The LORD is my God.’ ”

“You Will Deny Me”

Now again, the Apostles would have known this quote, they would have seen what Christ was alluding to. He continues to paint a more and more vivid picture of events to come that will continue to fulfill prophecy, but these will not be pleasant for them to witness.

And again we see Peter, jumping to say, “NO! That won’t happen, it’s not possible!”

Now I will say that this is the same one of the twelve who asked to be called out onto the waters to walk with Christ, and there’s a whole other sermon to be had talking about the faith it takes to step out of the boat, but we’ll leave that for another time.

I’d like to briefly point out three other interactions we see with Peter in the days leading up to this night of Passover in John Chapter 13.

Christ tells the Apostles that He will be killed when they are in Jerusalem, but that He will rise again on the third day. But Peter says “that won’t happen,” and we see Christ’s response in

Matthew 16:23

“But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.””

Now let’s jump to earlier in the night of Passover to something we already touched on, the washing of the feet.

John 13:6-9

“He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!””

Again, Christ says one thing, and Peter again pushes back against the Lord.

Satan pushes back against the Lord.

So again we come back to verses 36-38

“Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus answered him, “Where I am going you cannot follow me now, but you will follow afterward.” Peter said to him, “Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow till you have denied me three times.”

Now that is direct. Christ has said they will all flee from Him, but in response to Peter’s third denial that what Christ says will in fact happen, He tells Peter that, he specifically, will deny Him 3 times. Truly, 3 more times, and we do not see in any text another response from Peter, which I think is fair for us to glean that there probably wasn’t one. I’m sure being told that he would deny his Lord 3 times that very night was incredibly troubling for Peter, and for all of the other Apostles too.

And so here we are again, John Chapter 14, verse 1.

John 14:1

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.”

One of you will betray me, I’m leaving to go somewhere that you cannot come, and not only am I leaving, but all of you will flee from me this night and deny me multiple times.

BUT,

“Let Not Your Hearts Be Troubled”

Now, I don’t know about y’all, but I think I would be pretty tore up if I was one of the Apostles trying to process everything that had happened in the few hours.

Of course Christ doesn’t stop there, He continues on, like the perfect teacher He is, and explains how they will be able to overcome these trials.

He explains how WE are able to over come any trials we face in life.

“Believe In God; Believe Also In Me”

He sets, their minds at ease. Because believing in God is the answer to all of life’s trials.

One Of You Will Betray Me:

Believe in God; believe also in me.

Where I Am Going You Cannot Come:

“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”

Believe in God; believe also in me.

You Will Deny Me:

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it. If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”

Believe in God; believe also in me.

And here we see a new promise to be fulfilled that will solidify our ability to overcome any and all trials this life can throw our way:

John 14:16–21

“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.””

Now the ESV translates the Greek word “paraklētos” to helper, but it can also be translated as Advocate or Comforter- as it is in the KJV.

And to see again the Lord’s fulfillment of prophecy we can look back to

Isaiah 40:1–5

“Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.

A voice cries:

“In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.””

And also-

Isaiah 51:3

“For the Lord comforts Zion; he comforts all her waste places and makes her wilderness like Eden, her desert like the garden of the Lord; joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the voice of song.”

These line up perfectly with Christ’s words continuing in John 14

John 14:25–29

“These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper (the Comforter), the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. 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. You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe.”

And we have to turn but a few pages in our Bibles to see this promise fulfilled.

Acts 2:36–47

“Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.”

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.

If you have not met Christ in the waters of baptism, or if you have let the worries of the world come between you and the peace that can come only from Christ,

If there is any need you have at all, we ask that you come and let it be known so that we can pray with you and support you as your brothers and sisters in Christ.

If you have a need please come, as together we stand and sing.