The Cross Before Me: I go away...I will come again

Purpose of our meetings this week is to focus our attention on the words Jesus spoke to his disciples a few hours before He was to be crucified, and also on the words of Jesus on the cross. From Monday- Thursday we will look at Jesus’ Farewell Discourse in . Please track with us in daily reading the relevant chapter in John - for today you would’ve read as indicated on the card and social media.

Pray: I was glad when they said to Me, Let us go to the house of the Lord. Lord, tonight we enter through the gates with thanksgiving, we enter your presence with songs of praise. You are the Lord God, you are our Creator, we are your people, the sheep of your pasture. We thank you, we bless your name, for you are good, your lovingkindness is everlasting and your faithfulness spreads through all generations. Let us praise His name!

Read

Pray: I was glad when they said to Me, Let us go to the house of the Lord. Lord, tonight we enter through the gates with thanksgiving, we enter your presence with songs of praise. You are the Lord God, you are our Creator, we are your people, the sheep of your pasture. We thank you, we bless your name, for you are good, your lovingkindness is everlasting and your faithfulness spreads through all generations. Let us praise His name!

Sing 2 worship songs

Hebrews 12:1–2 ESV

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Read

Jesus, from the beginning of His ministry until the week before His crucifixion, knew that the hour for His glorification had not yet come. But He always knew that death on a cross awaited Him - He, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. The turning point in Jesus’ ministry came after Lazarus was raised from the dead. Because many of the Jews believed in Jesus, the Jewish religious leaders were then plotting to kill him. A week before Passover,Jesus, as the son of David, the king of Israel, entered Jerusalem on a donkey, with the crowds shouting their loud hosannas.

Jesus, from the beginning of His ministry until the week before His crucifixion, knew that the hour for His glorification had not yet come. But He always knew that death on a cross awaited Him - He, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. The turning point in Jesus’ ministry came after Lazarus was raised from the dead. Because many of the Jews believed in Jesus, the Jewish religious leaders were then plotting to kill him. Jesus, as the son of David, the king of Israel, entered Jerusalem on a donkey, with the crowds shouting their loud hosannas. Shortly after this Jesus declared: The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Jesus knew that to be glorified and to glorify His father, He would have to die on a cross. So, during His last week with his disciples, whilst his opposition was growing, Jesus, nevertheless, set His face like a flint, knowing that a cross awaits Him. He used this last week to curse a fig tree, to cleanse the Temple and to teach His disciples about the future of Israel and the times of the end. On the Thursday, as pilgrims flooded Jerusalem for the Passover feast, Jesus and His disciples made their way to the Upper Room to celebrate the feast.

Week before: On this Monday, more than 2000 years ago

Jesus, from the beginning of His ministry until the week before His crucifixion, knew that the hour for His glorification had not yet come. But He always knew that death on a cross awaited Him - He, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. The turning point in Jesus’ ministry came after Lazarus was raised from the dead. Because many of the Jews believed in Jesus, the Jewish religious leaders were then plotting to kill him. Jesus, as the son of David, the king of Israel, entered Jerusalem on a donkey, with the crowds shouting their loud hosannas. Shortly after this Jesus declared: The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Jesus knew that to be glorified and to glorify His father, He would have to die on a cross. So, during His last week with his disciples, whilst his opposition was growing, Jesus, nevertheless, set His face like a flint, knowing that a cross awaits Him. He used this last week to curse a fig tree, to cleanse the Temple and to teach His disciples about the future of Israel and the times of the end. On the Thursday, as pilgrims flooded Jerusalem for the Passover feast, Jesus and His disciples made their way to the Upper Room to celebrate the feast.

Shortly after this Jesus declared: “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified”. Jesus knew that to be glorified and to glorify His father, He would have to die on a cross. So, during His last week with his disciples, whilst his opposition was growing, Jesus, nevertheless, set His face like a flint, knowing that a cross awaits Him. He used this last week to curse a fig tree, to cleanse the Temple and to teach His disciples about the future of Israel and the times of the end. On the Thursday, as pilgrims flooded Jerusalem for the Passover feast, Jesus and His disciples made their way to the Upper Room to celebrate the feast.

Thursday: Jesus washes the feet of His disciples, Eats the Passover Supper/Last Supper with them. After supper Judas leaves to betray Jesus to the Jewish religious leaders. Jesus’ hour had come. It was time for the Son of Man to be glorified.

Jesus eats the Last Supper with them and then, washes the feet of His disciples. After supper Judas leaves to betray Jesus to the Jewish religious leaders. Throughout this week, Jesus had spoken of his imminent departure and now, His hour had come. It was time for the Son of Man to be glorified.

John 13:33 ESV

Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going you cannot come.’

John 13:36–38 ESV

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.

John 14:1 ESV

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

John 13:36-38

John 14:27 ESV

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.

,

Heavy, troubled, distressed, Upset, afraid, worried, fearful hearts. We can understand their emotions: Their Messiah, their Rabbi, their Lord is going away, he is leaving them, they cannot follow, even if they want to. Their hopes for the kind of Messiah they were expecting are dashed. They are feeling like orphans - who will care for them, who will love them, who will lead and guide them, who will protect them? They feel Forsaken by Jesus.

English Standard Version Chapter 13

Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going you cannot come.’

English Standard Version Chapter 13

33 Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going you cannot come.’

Heavy, troubled, distressed, Upset, afraid, worried, fearful hearts. We can understand their emotions: Their Messiah, their Rabbi, their Lord is going away, he is leaving them, they cannot follow, even if they want to. Their hopes for the kind of Messiah they were expecting are dashed. They are feeling like orphans - who will care for them, who will love them, who will lead and guide them, who will protect them? They feel Forsaken by Jesus.

English Standard Version Chapter 13

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.” 37 Peter said to him, “Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” 38 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.

English Standard Version Chapter 13

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.” 37 Peter said to him, “Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” 38 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.

English Standard Version Chapter 14

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

English Standard Version Chapter 13

Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going you cannot come.’ 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Jesus Foretells Peter’s Denial

36 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.” 37 Peter said to him, “Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” 38 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.

I Am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life

14 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God

John 16:33 ESV

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

English Standard Version Chapter 14

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

Jesus

Sorrow-filled, Heavy, troubled, distressed, Upset, afraid, worried, fearful hearts. We can understand their emotions: Their Messiah, their Rabbi Teacher, their Lord is going away, he is leaving them, they cannot follow, even if they want to. Their hopes for the kind of Messiah they were expecting are dashed. They are feeling like orphans - who will care for them, who will love them, who will lead and guide them, who will protect them? Is He forsaking them? What will life be without Him, how will they cope?

Heavy, troubled, distressed, Upset, afraid, worried, fearful hearts. We can understand their emotions: Their Messiah, their Rabbi, their Lord is going away, he is leaving them, they cannot follow, even if they want to. Their hopes for the kind of Messiah they were expecting are dashed. They are feeling like orphans - who will care for them, who will love them, who will lead and guide them, who will protect them? They feel Forsaken by Jesus.

His departure:

Because of their heavy and troubled hearts, Jesus comforts them with an explanation regarding His departure and then He lays out what he expects of them in His absence and also what is promised to them while he is away.

It is into these troubled hearts that Jesus speaks His peace, His comfort by calling them to a life of faith:

John 14:1 ESV

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

John 14

John 14:27 ESV

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

John 16:33 ESV

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Let not your heart be troubled, believe in God, believe in Me, Trust in God, trust also in Me, Have faith in God, have faith also in Me. This was no new teaching, from the outset of Jesus’ ministry He has called them to believe in Him and as a result have life in His name. In the midst of their sadness and sorrow, when their hearts are troubled Jesus says that the cure for a troubled, anxious heart is faith. The key that unlocks the inner sanctum of peace is faith. Heart peace is the result and consequence of faith, of believing. Paul says it this way

Romans 5:1 ESV

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Rom 5:1

What is Peace: a much deeper meaning than the absence of conflict, turmoil and war. The Shalom of God refers to an inward sense of completeness, soundness, security, prosperity, tranquility and wholeness. It is undisturbed, untroubled well-being. It carries with it the idea of permanence. It is a goodness of life that is not touched by what happens on the outside. As a result of this sustained sense of well-being and internal peace we have joy.

Throughout the new testament peace and joy are connected:

Romans 14:17 ESV

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Rom14:

“Joy is peace dancing. Peace is joy at rest.” FB Meyer

Romans 5:1 ESV

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

John 14:27 ESV

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.

Do you want peace? do you want joy? Then Believe in God, believe also in Jesus.

John 14:27

Romans 15:13 ESV

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

My peace I give to you

Let’s unpack Jesus command to believe from John 14

Troubled hearts:

Now, after the Passover supper Jesus is talking of His betrayal by one of them, also Peter is told that he would deny Jesus. On top of this, Jesus is telling them that He is leaving. We can understand their emotion: Their Messiah, their Rabbi, their Lord is going away, they cannot follow, even if they want to. Their hopes for the kind of Messiah they were expecting were perhaps dashed. They are feeling like orphans - who will care for them, who will love them, who will lead and guide them, who will protect them? Forsaken by Jesus.

1. His Peace/ comfort: Believe God, Believe Jesus - called to a life of faith

Believe that He will come again to take you to be with Him and Father God. This is His promise to you, whether you are alive or dead at the time when He comes again.

John 14:2–3 ESV

In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 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.

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 ESV

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.

We have hope, We can trust Him with our future, a future with Him in the Father’s house. Jesus will come again and take us to the Father.

You have a hope, You can trust Him with your future, a future with Him in the Father’s house. Jesus will come again and take you to the Father. He is preparing you a place with the Father.

When your heart is troubled...

Father God sent Jesus to this world, to take away your sin and to give you eternal life. He wants you with Him.

John 14:6–12 ESV

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves. “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.

You Come to the Father through Jesus - He is the only way, the truth and the life. Believe in God, believe also in Me

Where? to the Father’s house ( heaven)

Jesus is God. You must believe that HE IS to have eternal life.

Why? to prepare a place/room for disciples

His Words and Works prove that He is God. He only did and say what God did and said.

Jesus promise that if you believe in Him, as God, you will do His works, and greater works, because He go to the Father. Believing Jesus, doing His Works, brings peace to a troubled heart.

Promise: He will come again to receive you to Myself - to be with Him

When your heart is troubled...

John 14:13–14 ESV

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.

John 14:13 ESV

Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

John 14:13

The Father delights to answer prayers prayed in the name of Jesus or another way to say this, The Father is glorified in the Son, when you pray according to His will. God is Jehova-Jireh, your provider. When your heart is troubled/anxious, draw near to your Father in prayer. He will whisper His peace to you. Remember this hymn?

What a Friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry Everything to God in prayer! O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, All because we do not carry Everything to God in prayer!

The Father delights to answer prayers prayed in the name of Jesus or another way to say this, The Father is glorified in the Son, when you pray according to His will. When your heart is troubled/anxious, draw near to your Father in prayer. He will whisper His peace to you.

2

Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere? We should never be discouraged, Take it to the Lord in prayer. Can we find a friend so faithful Who will all our sorrows share? Jesus knows our every weakness, Take it to the Lord in prayer.

When your heart is troubled...

Know that you are never alone

John 14:15–18 ESV

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 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.

John 14:15-18

John 14:26 ESV

But the Helper, 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.

John 14:

Believe that Jesus, because He went away to the Father, sent you the Holy Spirit so that you will never be alone. The Spirit of Truth, who is your Comforter, your Helper, He will be with you, He will abide with you. He will be in you. When your heart is troubled, the Spirit will teach you all things and He will bring Jesus’ words and promises to your remembrance. He will always be with you.

Hebrews 13:5 ESV

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Heb 13:5

When your heart is troubled...

John 13:1 ESV

Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

John 13:34–35 ESV

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

John 14:15 ESV

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

John

John 14:21 ESV

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.”

John 13:1

John 14:23 ESV

Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.

John 13:34–35 ESV

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

John 14:23

John 14:23–24 ESV

Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me.

John 14:21,23

John 13:

John 14:15 ESV

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

John 13:34–35 ESV

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

JOhn 13:

So when your heart is troubled, know that the love of Jesus has been poured into your heart through the Holy Spirit that He gave you. God demonstrated His love to you, that when you were a sinner, Jesus died for you. Now put your faith in action, love Jesus, love His children and show your love for Him in your obedience to His Words and commands. Faith without works, without loving obedience to God is dead. His promise is that if you lovingly obey Him, He will manifest Himself to you, that the Father will love you and that Father and Jesus will make their home with you. God will be with you: Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit with you forever.

Jesus’ last words to His disciples after His resurrection, before He ascended to the Father: was a commissioning to go and disciple the world by teaching them to be obedient to Jesus’ commands and ending with this promise:

Matthew 28:20 ESV

teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Mat 28:

So when your heart is overwhelmed, troubled, anxious, fearful, afraid…Believe in God, believe also in Jesus. He will never leave you nor forsake you, He will never abandon you. He is your Helper. What can man do to you?

Hebrews 13:5–6 ESV

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”

John 14:28 ESV

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.

Believe Jesus promise that He is coming again to take you home to the Father’s house. When He comes, will He find faith on the earth?

Dear friends, Believe God. Believe Jesus. His Peace be with you.

7. My peace be with you

On this night, as Jesus is speaking peace and comfort to His troubled disciples, he knows that there is a cross before Him, not many hours away, a time when God will put all the sin of the world on Him, as the sinless, perfect Lamb of God, where He will become sin for us. It is at this time that the world turns dark and Jesus cries out Eli, Eli Lama sabachthani: My God, My God, why hast thou forsake Me? Jesus, forsaken, abandoned by His Father, because of my sin, so that If I believe in Him, will never, ever, no never be forsaken by Him.

Song: Christine

The LORD bless you, and keep you; The LORD make His face shine on you, And be gracious to you; The LORD lift up His countenance on you, And give you peace.’

Song: Christine

May the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. May His peace rule in your hearts. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing. so that by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and may the Lord of Peace himself give you peace at all time in every way. The Lord be with you all. Shalom

The LORD bless you, and keep you; The LORD make His face shine on you, And be gracious to you; The LORD lift up His countenance on you, And give you peace.’

May the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. May His peace rule in your hearts. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing. so that by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and may the Lord of Peace himself give you peace at all time in every way. The Lord be with you all. Shalom

Phil 4:7

Philippians 4:7 ESV

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

“Joy is not the absence of suffering. It is the presence of God.

Rom 15

Romans 15:13 ESV

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

"Joy is a sustained sense of well-being and internal peace - a connection to what matters." ~ Oprah Winfrey

The Cross Before Me: I go away...I will come again

The Cross before Me: I will come again...

Welcome

Introduction: the Cross before Me

Troubled Hearts

Heart Peace through Faith

When your heart is troubled...

1. Believe that Jesus is with the Father and He is preparing a place for you in the Father’s house

2. Believe that Jesus is the way to the Father and one with the Father

3. Believe that God answers prayer in Jesus’ Name

4. Believe that Jesus will never forsake you:

5. Believe that Jesus loves you and that His love is in you

Monologue