Jesus Comforts His Disciples

HOOK

Yesterday right here at “The Message”, we came to to the end of chapter 13 with the narrative of the Lord’s prediction of Peter’s denial— from that we learned one thing very important from what we now call as the “Great Commandment”

I WILL LOVE OTHERS THE WAY HOW JESUS LOVED ME

From that, we’re also led to ask ourselves the question..

WILL I REALLY LAY DOWN MY LIFE FOR JESUS?

Now let’s begin with Chapter 14— Open your Bible to JOHN 14:1-4

CHARACTER, COMMAND, PROMISES, CONVICTIONS, EXAMPLES, CHALLENGES AND ENCOURAGEMENT

Read JOHN 14:1-4

BOOK

John 14:1–4 NIV

1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2 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? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”

Keep in mind that this happened after Jesus predicted his betrayal and after he predicted that Peter will deny him three times

Keep in mind also that, though the disciples was already foretold that Jesus will leave them, they do not know how the manner of his death would be

So if you’re there with the disciples, I cannot blame you when you feel uncertain about a lot of things— the fear of persecution and alienation— the fear that their group may be disbanded after the Lord’s departure

And Jesus know all of that— He knows how they felt— and right now, Jesus knows how we feel

And that’s why Jesus said these words to comfort (patahanin) us and to assure (bigyang kasiguruhan) us

Let’s take a look on what Jesus actually said..

LOOK

DO NOT LET YOUR HEARTS BE TROUBLED

Do not let yourself be intimidated by the situation

A lot of times we face situations like this— we feel abandoned

Fear vs. Faith— Will you surrender to your fear [False Expectation Appearing Real]? Or hold on to your faith?

I AM GOING THERE TO PREPARE A PLACE FOR YOU

The traditional Jewish wedding is God’s real life illustration of the Bride (church) and the groom (Jesus)

Once the the couple are betrothed (engaged)— this is part of the marriage process— the groom will take the time to prepare a home for his soon to become wife

And then after some time, the groom will come back for his bride— keep in mind that the very first miracle that Jesus performed during his ministry here on earth was the turning of water into wine at the wedding in Cana

I WILL COME BACK TO TAKE YOU TO BE WITH ME

Jesus assured his disciples and us, that he will return— and that’s the second coming— HEBREWS 9:28

We don’t now when— MATTHEW 24:36, MATTHEW 24:44 [that’s why if you notice, I am not so much into understanding when the Lord is coming back— I’d rather focus on what shall we do while waiting for Him]

But, we know how— 1 THESSALONIANS 4:16-17 [Rapture]

TOOK

I WILL REMAIN FAITHFUL, NOT FEARFUL

JESUS IS COMING BACK FOR US

I DON’T KNOW WHEN, BUT I KNOW HOW