Separation Anxiety
Notes
Transcript
Please turn in your Bible to , as we consider SEPARATION ANXIETY.
Those of you who know our family will remember the bout we had with separation anxiety last year. These two precious boys, who we had raised for over three years, were leaving our home and going to live with their mommy. I have to admit that the anxiety over losing those boys was greater than the anxiety of losing my parents. Not that I didn’t love my parents, but because they had both experience a prolonged illness, and so their home-going was a blessing, as hard as it was on us. And the fact that they were both dynamic believers certainly made it easier for us to cope with. But for these boys, we thought we were going to adopt them. They had become an integral part of our family. But our hopes were dashed by the court’s decision to send them home.
I wanted to hop in my car and drive straight to the hospital to see my dear friend, but I couldn’t without first getting word that I would be allowed to see him. And when I finally reached someone at the hospital by phone, they didn’t answer my question about a pastoral visit. Rather, they just connected me to his room. And we talked for a few minutes, and I prayed with him, etc.
You’d probably have to take the level of our anxiety and multiply by a million-fold in order to approach the level of separation anxiety the eleven faithful apostles were feeling when they came to the realization that they were going to be separated from the One who brings to them the word of life!
All of this set the stage for my wondering if this nasty virus wasn’t going to bring a sad end to our little congregation. Even though I had preached a message over the weekend about not needing to fear since God is our refuge, etc., I found myself in the position of not practicing what I preached! And that is never a position that I want to be in!!
When we find ourselves with a troubled heart, we should look to God’s word for instruction in how to deal with a troubled heart. And our text for today is one of the classics for dealing with a heart or life that is in turmoil.
Before we delve into our text, let’s consider the context for a moment.
It took place on the night in which Jesus was betrayed
After Judas had been dismissed to do his dirty deed Jesus spoke these words: .
When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once. 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.’
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.’
Then Peter and Jesus went back and forth about Jesus’ coming departure, and why the apostles could not follow Him. And of course this discussion didn’t end real well for Peter: .
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.
As we take a birds-eye view of this morning, we are going to focus on various reasons why we, as believers, should not give in to fear — in particular the fear of separation, or separation anxiety as I have titled this message: because of our faith in the work of Christ, our faith in the promise of Christ, and faith in our union with Christ.
If you are looking for a more detailed study of this passage you can go to our church’s website: www.brittonbethelbaptistchurch.com and listen to a series of recorded sermons on , which are found on the recorded sermons link for 2015, during the months of April -July.
Because we are going to cover a lengthy passage this morning, I will not read the passage in its entirety as is my normal practice. But we will read the applicable verses as we come to them.
Let’s look first at
Faith in the Person and Work of Christ
Faith in the Person and Work of Christ
Look at verses 1-7.
As we have already seen, the disciples had troubled hearts because of Jesus’ announcement about their coming separation. That first phrase of verse 1 could be translated like this:
The New American Commentary: John 12–21 (1) Preparing for Both Loneliness and Ultimate Reality (14:1–3)
“Do not let your hearts be overcome with turmoil” or perhaps, more colloquially, “Don’t allow yourself to be intimidated by the situation.”
D.A. Carson pointed out:
The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Gospel according to John 2. The Promise of a Place Where Jesus Is Going (14:1–4)
However appropriate it may be to cite the words Do not let your hearts be troubled at Christian funerals, they were first addressed to disciples who under substantial emotional pressure were on the brink of catastrophic failure.
We are in the midst of an intimidating situation, to say the least! We are told that the best way to keep from this deadly pestilence that is ravaging our land is to stay in our house. But that is easier said then done. On Monday afternoon my wife informed me that I needed to go to our local Dollar General to see if they had an item that was needed for the meal she was making for supper. On my way out the door she told me to be careful. What an odd thought that was! It is only a half mile drive to the store; not much of a chance of an accident (or so one would think). But she was referring to being careful around other people who may be in the store.
Notice the last statement in verse 1: “Believe in God; believe also in Me.”
I should point out that the N.T. term translated “believe” is the verb form of the term that is translated as “faith.” The term for faith is most often in the form of a noun. As many have said, believe is faith in action.
I’m gonna refer to this as a double edged command. The one edge is to believe in God. To believe is more than mere mental ascent, although it certainly includes that. It is a complete trust or reliance.
The second edge of this double edged sword is to believe in the person and work of Christ. By this point in time the disciples had already given a mental ascent to both God and to Jesus. So there must be something deeper for them. And that is the amazing thing about faith — there is always room for growth and increasing of our faith.
In the following verses, Jesus goes on to describe both His work and His person. And if I’m not careful I will get bogged down here because this is such a wonderful presentation of both. But, I’m going to try to keep this to the highlights.
Let’s look first at:
The Work of Christ
The Work of Christ
And the first aspect of His work is the reason for their coming separation.
Christ is preparing a place for His own
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?
This preparation is through the cross of suffering
Christ is coming again
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.
Christ is the way to God
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Let’s look next at:
The Person of Christ
The Person of Christ
There is a point in which Christ’s work and His person overlaps, since the statement that He is the way, the truth and the life apply both to His works as well as His person.
But in an interview with a man named Philip He reveals more about His person.
Look at verses 8-11.
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.
Time will not allow us to delve into the fulness of this wonderful statement. But for now we will note that Jesus is telling His disciples that He is God.
The turmoil that the disciples were going through with the understanding that they were going to experience a physical separation from their beloved Lord is far different than the turmoil that we are going through during these present times. But the principle remains the same:
During times of distress and turmoil we need to rely on the person and work of Jesus Christ.
So far we’ve been looking at the importance of faith in the person and work of Christ as it relates to separation anxiety. Let’s look next at:
Faith in the Promise of Christ
Faith in the Promise of Christ
I love the old hymn that goes like this:
Standing on the promises of Christ, my King! Thro’ eternal ages let His praises ring; “Glory in the highest!” I will shout and sing, standing on the promises of God.
Standing, standing, standing on the promises of God, my Savior; standing, standing, I’m standing on the promises of God.
There are a lot of promises of Christ that we can stand firm on. The one that Jesus mentioned in this passage is His promise not to leave His followers abandoned by His absence.
“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.
Look with me at verses 15-18.
Though Jesus will be leaving He is going to send another Helper of the same kind
The term translated Helper in our text could also be translated Comforter, Advocate, or Intercessor
This Helper well be with them forever
This Helper is the third person in the Godhead — the Holy Spirit of truth
This Helper is already known by them because He dwells with them
But after Jesus’ departure He will dwell in them
These grieving men will not be abandoned like orphans, for Christ will come to them in the person of the Holy Spirit
We learn a little more about the H.S. in verses 25-26.
“These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. 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.
This Helper will be their new teacher
His teaching will employ the power of repetition — bringing to remembrance what Christ has already taught them
This brings us to another principle:
During times of distress and turmoil the primary source of comfort, for the believer in Jesus Christ, is the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit.
As it relates to separation anxiety we have looked at the importance of faith in the person and work of Christ, and faith in His promises. Finally, let’s look at:
Faith in our Union with Christ
Faith in our Union with Christ
Look with me at verses 19-20.
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.” Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?” 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.
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.
Notice the statement at the end of verse 19: Because I live, you also will live. There is a lot to this statement which we will not have time to explore. But for now we will explore the implication regarding the believers unity with Christ.
For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.
We who are believers in Jesus are united with Him in His death
We are united with Him in His resurrection
We are united with Him (to an extent) in His inheritance — joint heirs
We are united with Him in glory (to an extent)
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
This brings us to our last principle:
During times of distress, the believer in Jesus Christ finds comfort in the union we have in Christ.
My friends, we are living in troubled times. But these times have not taken our God by surprise. As we persevere through these times let’s remember to cling to our faith in the person and work of Christ, our faith in His promises, and our faith in the union we have with Him. These, for us, are a true comfort.
Perhaps you are listening this morning and you have never embraced Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. I invite you to do so today. Understand that there is a God to whom you are accountable. Understand that we all, as members of the human race, have rebelled against this God to whom we are accountable. Understand that God became man in the person of Jesus Christ. He lived a perfect life. He died a cruel death which satisfied God’s wrath for all who receive Jesus as their Savior. Understand that all who embrace Jesus as their Savior become united with Him in His death, resurrection, and life. They are transferred from the domain of Satan and into the glorious kingdom of Christ.
Let’s pray.
For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.