Sermon Tone Analysis

Present Comfort

!

Text:   John 14.1-6

 

Introduction:        *Much of what passes for Christianity is nothing more than religion.*

Let me clarify what I mean.

Religion as is exhibited in our day is something that takes place in one’s life on Sunday as a duty.

It is in stark contrast to true Christianity which is a life changing event.

A Christian is one who is born from above.

Jesus said to Nicodemus, “You must be born again!” *The operative word is must.*

It is not something that you or I can do, but it is of necessity in order to see the Kingdom of God.

A Christian is no longer his own person, but a bondservant of Christ.

Paul said, “You were bought at a price, therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

Jesus makes an even more startling demand of His disciples; “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.”

We may gingerly pass by this demand because we have not seen anyone crucified and do not know the horror of the event.

If anyone took up a cross, he was not coming back.

He was going to his death.

Jesus demands that all that follow Him do just that.

You see being a Christian is a far cry from just any old religion.

Of necessity things must be something new from above.

The position is one of slavery and the demand is one of death to self.

The Christian life is a life totally sold out to Jesus.

Anything less is simply not Christianity.

The reality of whether or not what we are involved in is truly Christianity or just another religion is discomfort, sorrow, grief, suffering or pain.

When the tough times come, then you know who is really trusting Jesus and who is just involved in another religion.

Too much that passes for Christianity is just another religion.

The climax of this whole journey as a Christian is the return of Christ.

Sometimes we think that is all Christianity is about.

That it is something futuristic and of no consequence at the present time.

That is fine and dandy if this life were one with never any trouble or tragedy.

This is one thing that troubles people about Christianity.

Yeah, Jesus is coming back, but does He offer any comfort now?

This whole chapter is one that answers that question.

Not only is Jesus Christ returning and not only do we have the anticipation of His return, but He promises His children present comfort.

This is the scene of the upper room.

It is the last discourse between Jesus and His disciples.

Their world is very shortly going to collapse.

They are perplexed, confused, disturbed and worried.

They are filled with anxiety.

They have been told that their beloved Master is going away.

He even set His path of destruction to Jerusalem.

I imagine they could not comprehend how He was seemingly on a death wish.

*But, Jesus anticipates their troubles.*

He understands their problems with losing Him.

This is the remarkable thing.

Jesus demonstrates His uniqueness.

No other man in these circumstances of facing being nailed to a cross, bearing the sin of every single person who ever lived, cursed with a curse of God, suffering the full measure of the wrath of God for that sin, mocked, beaten, slaughtered, no other man would focus all his attention on the needs of someone else at a time like this.

Look at *Chapter 13; verse one* at how John begins his account of the upper room, */“He loved them to the end.”/*

Their world is beginning to unravel.

They have just been told that one of them would betray Him.

Peter has been told that he would deny Jesus three times.

Jesus is visibly troubled and tells them He will now leave them.

They had left all to follow Him and now everything is falling apart.

The Lord knowing all of this and anticipating their great trouble and sorrow comforts them.

This is not just a few words.

This is not just a little help.

This is monumental!

If you ever find yourself at the end of your rope or it seems that life as you know it is over, be really comforted.

Turn to this chapter and lose yourself in it.

*I want to preach to you under this topic: Present Comfort.*

We must first be aware of just how true comfort comes.

*It will not come superficially by just some little words.*

You know this in one or two ways.

Either you have been through some great tragedy or trouble and nothing anyone says will give you the comfort you seek.

Or you have found yourself with a loved one knowing there is nothing you can say.

*The true basis of real comfort only comes in trust, trusting Jesus.

*The reason you find yourself anxious, bewildered, discontent, confused, and perplexed is you don’t trust Christ.

Yet, Christ is pointing this out, and it is what I want to bring out, “Trust Me!” It is that magnificent beginning statement, */“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.”/* Or it could be translated, *“Trust in Me.”*

This is really what it is to believe in Christ, to trust Him.

Let’s work this out.

There are three things Jesus says about trusting Him: 

! I.                   Trust in Me because of Who I Am

!! “You believe in God, believe also in Me.”

!! A.                  “You believe in God, believe also in Me.”

What is He saying here?

He is saying believe in Me, trust in Me for who I am.

He is putting Himself in equality with God: You trust God, trust also in Me.

Is there anyone we should trust as we do God?

Jesus says, trust Me.

He puts Himself on an equal basis with God.

He is telling them He is God – “now trust Me!”

!! B.                  This really works out in the light of what Jesus just told them in chapter 13, verse 33 – /“Little Children, I shall be with you a little while longer.

You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, where I am going, you cannot come.”/

In other words, I am going and you will not see Me.

But keep trusting Me.

You trust in the invisible God, whom you have not seen, Trust in Me, whom you soon will not see.

!! C.                  This is obviously something the Lord anticipated.

The apostles tell Thomas that He has risen and Thomas says, “Yeah, sure.

I’ll believe that when I see it.”

That is right where Jesus meets Thomas and quickly Thomas understands.

But that is the lowest of faith, what is visible to the physical eye.

Jesus tells Thomas, /“Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed.

Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”/

That is truly trusting Jesus as who He is – God.

Listen to Peter in his first epistle – 1 Peter 1.6-9.

!! D.                  We are prone to think, “It would sure be wonderful if Jesus were visible right now.” No! If He were visible as He was then, He would not be where I need Him to be.

The Christ among these disciples was in their realm like them, not able to be in more than one place at a time.

The Risen Christ is like God, everywhere.

John 16.6-7.

The Helper, the Holy Spirit, is also known as the Comforter!

Trust Me because of Who I am.

I am the invisible, omnipresent God.