Do not Let Your Hearts be Troubled

Dearly loved people of God,

Cancer does a number on someone’s body. It does a number on a person’s mind and their ability to communicate. Norm was surrounded by people looking for ways to express their love over the past number of weeks, but his ability to respond got weaker and weaker - that hurts.

It’s a bold statement. There are many things that trouble us.

Dear grandchildren, family, friends,

Dearly loved people of God,

That process is over now, but grief will continue on. There’ll be an empty chair at Thanksgiving, at Leena’s wedding, and when Shawna, Victoria, Caitlin, Brooklyn, Lucas, Zachary, Noah, Christian, and Ava graduate Grandpa will be missing. For many of you, this is a new experience. You told me you haven’t had anyone this close to you pass away before now. It hurts.

Death sucks. It hurts to watch someone you love get sick, get weaker, and finally take their last breath.

And now, the preacher has the audacity to read a Bible verse that says, “Don’t let your hearts be troubled.” Jesus has the audacity to say, “Don’t let your hearts be troubled.” As a family, you have the audacity to ask the preacher to speak from this verse.

The disciples who first heard Jesus’ words were in a position like you were this summer. The disciples had been hearing Jesus warn that he would be betrayed and tried and killed for several weeks now. Just before Jesus tells them not be to troubled any longer, he reveals that Judas is about to betray him to the Jewish leaders and the Romans.

Cancer does a number on someone’s body. It does a number on a person’s mind and their ability to communicate. Norm was surrounded by people looking for ways to express their love and care for him, but over the past number of weeks, his ability to respond got weaker and weaker – that hurts.

That’s not all. Peter - the Rock - is going to deny even knowing Jesus in order to save his own skin. All the disciples are left reeling.

Jesus will be betrayed. He’ll be killed. After his resurrection, he’s going to return to his heavenly Father.

That process is over now, but the hurt continues. The sadness and unfairness will rise up and hit you:

After dropping that bombshell in the conversation, Jesus offers hope, comfort, and assurances. Yes Jesus is going away. Yes, Jesus is about to die. But it’s part of the plan so that Jesus’ disciples, Jesus’ followers, and all who believe in God will be able to come to the Father.

· There’ll be an empty chair at Thanksgiving dinner,

· no father to walk the bride down the aisle at Matt and Elaine’s wedding,

See on our own, we cannot get close to God. ‘Way back in the beginning, people rebelled against God. Sin and brokenness entered God’s good world. As a result, all kinds of things have fallen off the rails: cancer, mass shootings, and all kind of conflict have their root in humanity’s fall into sin. God said it from the beginning: Sin results in death.

Our sin drives a wedge between friends, neighbours, or family members. Sin cuts us off from each other. It cuts us off from God.

· and when grandkids graduate, Grandpa will be missing.

We have been affected by sin to such an extent that our best efforts don’t do good enough. Even if I were successful in doing great today, it doesn’t make up for yesterday’s shortfall. I’m still in debt to God. Our guilt cuts us off from God. In his goodness and justice, our heavenly Father cannot put his arms around sinful people. To be apart from God is death.

But God is also good. Jesus’ comfort to his disciples, to his followers, isn’t just empty words and a pat on the back. Jesus offers a real alternative. He points to himself and says, “I am the way and the truth and the life.”

For many in the family, this is a new experience. You told me you haven’t had anyone this close to you pass away before now. It hurts. I’m sorry.

And now, the preacher has the audacity to read a Bible verse that says, “Don’t let your hearts be troubled.” Jesus has the audacity to say, “Don’t let your hearts be troubled.” As a family, you have the audacity to ask the preacher to speak from this passage.

He goes further, “No one comes to the Father except through me.”

The disciples who first heard Jesus’ words were in a situation like yours. John and the others heard Jesus warn them that he would be betrayed and tried and killed for several weeks now. In John’s gospel chapters 13-17, John recorded the events that happened on the night Jesus was betrayed. Everyone in the room is discouraged and upset, because just before Jesus told them not be to troubled, he revealed that Judas is about to betray him to the Jewish leaders and the Romans.

Jesus died, taking our sin and guilt. He rose again, demonstrating that is WAS finished. The punishment was done. He is the life of those who believe.

That’s the encouragement that Pastor Mark read from the letter to the believers in Thessalonica:

1 Thessalonians 4:14 NIV

For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.

So, in our grieve and anxiety, in our confusion and anger, Jesus gives himself as this assurance, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.”

That’s not all. Peter – the Rock – will deny knowing Jesus in order to save his own skin. All the disciples are reeling.

So, in our grieve and anxiety, in our confusion and anger, Jesus gives himself as an assurance, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.”

It is through faith in Jesus, that we can talk confidently about what happens to believers when they die. Jesus says he has gone to prepare a place for his followers. He says, “I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”

Jesus will be betrayed. He’ll be killed. After his resurrection, he’s going to return to his heavenly Father.

After dropping that bombshell in the conversation, Jesus offers hope, comfort, and assurances. Yes, Jesus is about to die. Yes, Jesus is going away. But it’s part of the plan so that Jesus’ disciples, Jesus’ followers, and all who believe in God can come to the Father.

Norman Jamison professed faith in Jesus’ assurances and promises. So we can comfort each other with the confidence that when Norm breathed his last on Tuesday morning, Jesus brought him into God the Father’s presence. To be with God is life. That’s the hope and comfort we gain by faith in Jesus.

See, on our own, we can’t get close to God. ‘Way back in the beginning, people rebelled against God. Sin and brokenness entered God’s good world. As a result, all kinds of things have fallen off the rails: there’s cancer, mass shootings, and all kind of conflict. All this brokenness has its root in humankind’s fall into sin. God said it from the beginning: Sin results in death.

I know Norm would have liked to live in his home in Port Rowan for many more years, with Sharon, and surrounded by his girls and their families, but the place he has in his Father’s house is an even sweeter retirement home.

You’ve experienced this. Sinful words, actions, and thoughts drive a wedge between friends. They pull neighbours apart. Sin causes divisions within families. Sin cuts us off from each other. Worse yet, it cuts us off from God.

We have been affected by sin to such an extent that our best efforts to do better aren’t good enough. Even if I were successful in doing great good today, it doesn’t make up for yesterday’s shortfall. I’m still in debt to God.

Guilt cuts us off from God. In his goodness and justice, our heavenly Father cannot put his arms around sinful people. To be apart from God is death.

But God is also loving and merciful. Jesus’ comfort to his disciples, to his followers, isn’t just empty words and a pat on the back. Jesus offers a real alternative. He points to himself and says, “I am the way and the truth and the life.”

He goes further, “No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Jesus died on the cross, taking our sin and guilt upon himself. But death doesn’t have the final word. Jesus rose from the tomb, demonstrating that is WAS finished. The punishment was done. He gives life to all who believe.

That’s the encouragement that Pastor Mark read from the letter to the believers in Thessalonica:

We believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.

NIV

In the face of death, Jesus’ resurrection is the encouragement we’re given. In the face of Norm Jamison’s death, this is the reassurance Jesus gives to all of us. It’s the reason Jesus can tell his followers, “Do not let your hearts be troubled.”

So, in our grief and anxiety, in our confusion and anger, Jesus gives himself as this assurance, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.”

It is through faith in Jesus, that we can talk confidently about what happens to believers when they die. Jesus says he has gone to prepare a place for his followers. He says, “I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”

Norman Jamison professed faith in Jesus’ assurances and promises. So we can comfort each other with the confidence that when Norm breathed his last on Tuesday morning, Jesus brought him into God the Father’s presence. To be with God is life. That’s the hope and comfort we gain by faith in Jesus.

I know Norm would have liked to live in his home in Port Rowan with Sharon, for many more years, surrounded by his girls and their families, but the place he has in his Father’s house is an even sweeter retirement home: in our heavenly Father’s presence with an ever-growing circle of believers in glory!

One of the things Jesus says really catches our attention:

My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?

My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?

(NIV)

So what’s that going to be like?

Maybe you know that the sequel to the Gospel of John is the book of Revelation. John records a vision of Jesus. He sees the New Jerusalem as an enormous city with massive gates, streets of gold, and trees bearing leaves for the healing of the nations. The best part of that vision that John receives, in my opinion, is that people like you and me get to live close to our Creator and Redeemer. What’s more, many of the things that make life on earth uncomfortable are going to be set straight. King Jesus will achieve everything that our best politicians strive for. Listen to the way John describes it:

I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

(NIV)

With that prospect in store, I feel comfortable telling you, “Don’t let your hearts be troubled.”