No troubles for us

Introduction

John 14:1-6

There was a little boy one time that was waiting for his father. A storm had come up and he was at school and the father was coming to get him. All of the other children's fathers had come for them except this little boy's. Yet, the little boy was not alarmed.

It was getting dark but he seemed to be rather cheerful about it. The teacher said to the little boy, "Son, are you sure? Do you think maybe we need to make arrangements for someone else to take you home?" The little boy said, "Oh, no, my dad will be here."

"How do you know your dad will be here?" He said, "My dad said he would come and my dad always keeps his promises."

No matter how dark He things look; Consider his promise

Prior to the verses we read this morning, a lot had happened in the past few weeks with Jesus and his disciples and now they are finally in Jerusalem.

Look at some of the events that had happened in the past few days. Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead, he had triumphantly ridden into town on a donkey with the crowds waving palm branches and crying Hosanna and hailing him as the coming King. Incidentally, this would have been the Sunday before his crucifixion and is where we get Palm Sunday. However, not everyone was happy, these actions had made the Pharisees furious; Jesus was taking away their people.

But as the crowds gathered around Jesus, he proceeded to tell them that that his hour had now come and that he would be leaving this earth in death. The crowd was in shock and disbelief, why would he talk about dying, the reason they has worshipped him and cried Hosanna was they thought he was coming to be their Messiah and Earthly King, and now he was telling them he is going to die.

Now as we begin in verse 1, the scene had changed to the Upper room where he’s preparing to eat the last supper with his disciples. However, his time with the disciple’s turns out to be almost as eventful as the past few weeks. He tells Judas to go and do what he must do, that is to betray him; he then tells Peter that even though he believes he will lay down his life for Jesus, he will, in fact, deny Jesus 3 times before the rooster crows.

As the time for Jesus’ time on earth to be completed drew closer, things were beginning to happen incredibly fast, coming even faster than his disciples probably realized. Because he knew his time was getting short, Jesus wanted to make sure that they understood that he had to leave (John 13:33 ) and he also wanted to provide some reassurance that everything would turn out as planned and that he not forgotten them.

He begins to tell them that they should not let their hearts be troubled. Don’t let the things you have seen and the things you have heard trouble you. Basically telling them, these things that will happen and I have told you about should not cause you to be anxious or distressed in your mind or soul.

He knew what was going through their minds. In John 12:27, he had admitted to the crowd that he was troubled. In John 13:21, it says that Jesus was troubled in his spirit as well. So he completely understood how these things could trouble their hearts and minds.

Trust God Jesus did

Jesus put aside his own troubles to help the disciples through what would be his hardest time of his life, he put aside his worries to help those closest to him,

Jesus then said not only should you not let your hearts be troubled but you should trust in God and also trust in him. He said you believe in God, believe also in me. Trusting God was what got Jesus through his time of trouble; he knew that his father was able to be trusted, even with his very life. Jesus was trying to help the disciple understand that their faith in God and his promises is the key to get through the coming days ahead.

Why the heart

The writers tell us the heart is the very center of our ability to trust, not your mind , spirit or soul your heart. Heart when mentioned in the NT it doesn’t mean the physical organ in your body it means our physical , moral , spiritual side of our very being.

Why were they anxious

He’s old them he is leaving

Up to this point for 3 years he has been the literal center of their world.

One writer referred to this as a child losing a parent

He had asked for an investment in him and they had made their commitment to him

They had assumed a Earthly kingdom and place beside him in that kingdom

They had heard him say Peter would fail him - what hope did they have to remain faithful however, It’s that faith and trust that also allows you and I to face those times when things seem to be going too fast or get out of hand.

John 14:1-6

Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.

Psalms

When I am afraid, I will trust in you.

Proverbs 3:5

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding

Even when we can’t or don’t understand we still trust, that’s the message Jesus was trying to get across to his disciples. But much more than that, he was saying that when you trust God you are trusting in me, we are one and the same in the spirit.

Then Jesus says something he believes will take their minds off the present circumstances.

He has to leave to make ready their new home

He says in my Father’s house are many mansions, room enough for everyone. He told them that he was leaving, but he was leaving to go and prepare a home for them to live in. But he wasn’t just leaving to prepare a place for them, he would also return to specifically take them back to the place. He made it a point to tell them that the place he was going to was so special that he wanted them and us to be there with him.

His love for you and I wasn’t just about his preparing a place for us though, but it was about being a place that you and I would also live with him. The NLT version says it best: When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me.

What’s waiting - Simply put it’s home

The place he is preparing for us is literally out of this world. Imagine the most wonderful place to live and then imagine living there with the one who gave his life for you

What is this place like he’s preparing for us? Let’s talk about it for just a few minutes.

It’s far and away above anything you can imagine. It’s big and bright. How big? If placed on top of America, it would reach from New York City to Denver and from the Canadian border to Florida. If it was round, it would be slightly larger than the moon.

It has a crystal river, and streets of purest gold.

It has 12 gates, each gate a single pearl, walls made of Jasper and 216 ft high.

There is no need for light, because God’s radiant glory lights up the city.

There is no death or sorrow, and no sin. No pain, no crying, and no night.

What will be doing when we get there? The Bible provides us some hints.

We will be learning new things, we will be singing, worshipping, serving God, providing leadership to people, and my personal favorite; eating.

We will be in daily fellowship with God. We will be working, but our labor will no longer bother us. No arthritis, no pains, and no achy muscles.

We will also continue to grow in the Lord.

So how do we get there?

As Jesus finished telling him that he was leaving, but would return he said And you know the way to where I am going.

His disciples are still thinking of someplace here on earth, a place where he would be going to, to setup his kingdom after all, he was the Messiah. Their minds could only see the physical world not the kingdom that Jesus had in mind.

Thomas says “We have no idea how we are going to get to this place you have talked about with us. How do we get there since you believe we know the way? Jesus says I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the father except through me.

But in the end it’s not as much a place as being in the presence of God

The key phrase is to be “With me” in our home

Directions are simple

There are 5 main points that you can get from this statement.

These points are: Jesus, The Way, The Truth, The Life and The Father.

#1 There is only one way to get to God, and that is through his son, Jesus.

#2 Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent" (John 17:3). It’s an exclusive path or road. It’s not an all roads lead to God. It’s one way and one way only.

Matthew 7:13-14

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life and only a few find it.

This may seem like a narrow minded to some, but it’s clearly wide enough for the whole wide world to take advantage of. It’s the entrance requirement of a saving faith in Jesus Christ that makes the doorway seem narrow.

He is our guide he came from God to lead us back to God or he said to find my house you need me to lead you to it - Kind of like going to my house in Bella Vista

#3 He is the truth, He is the fulfillment and evidence of God’s keeping his promises to us.

God promised to send us a savior,

2 Samuel 7:12-16

13 He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with the rod of men, with floggings inflicted by men. 15 But my love will never be taken away from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. 16 Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.

Isaiah 9:6-7

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this

Because he cannot lie, he sent his only son to die for us, a promise that was made by God the father and kept by his Jesus his only begotten son.

# 4 He is life.

He literally blasted open the roadway to eternal life

John 1:4

In him was life, and that life was the light of men.

John 3:16

John 6:35

Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.

John 10:10

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

John 11:25

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies;

By his death, burial and resurrection we have been given a gift of new life in him. It’s a matter of trusting him for who he says he is and believing that he is the only son of God. Believing that he died for us and that we may have life and have it more abundantly. A new life that we can have here on earth and in that place he is preparing for us.

#5

They wanted to be with him but weren’t sure how, a place we can be in sometimes.

It’s simple as scripture says in:

John 14:6

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.

Closing

John Todd was born in Rutland, Vermont in October of 1800, and shortly afterward his family moved to Connecticut. When John was six years old, both parents died, and a kindly aunt agreed to give John a home. There he lived until he left to study for the ministry. Eventually his aunt became seriously ill and feared she would die. In her alarm, she wrote her nephew with questions about death. Here’s a portion of his reply:

It is now thirty-five years since I, as a little boy of six, was left quite alone in the world. You sent me word that you would give me a home and be a kind mother to me. I will never forget the day when I made the long journey to your house in North Killingworth. I can still remember my disappointment when instead of coming for me yourself, you sent Caesar to fetch me.

I well remember my tears and anxiety as, perched high on your horse and clinging tight to Caesar, I rode off to my new home. Night fell before we finished the journey, and, as it grew dark, I became lonely and afraid. “Do you think she’ll go to bed before we get there?” I asked Caesar anxiously. “Oh, no,” he said reassuringly. “She’ll stay up for you. When we get out of these here woods, you’ll see a candle shining in the window.”

We did ride out into the clearing, and there, sure enough, was your candle. I remember you were waiting at the door, that you put your arms close about me and that you lifted me – a tired and bewildered little boy – down from the horse. You had a fire burning on the hearth, a hot supper waiting on the stove. After supper you took me to my room, heard me say my prayers and then sat beside me till I fell asleep.

You probably realize why I am recalling all of this to your memory. Someday soon God will send for you to take you to a new home. Don’t fear the summons, the strange journey or the dark messenger of death. God can be trusted to do as much for you as you were kind enough to do for me many years ago. At the end of the road you will find love and a welcome waiting, and you will be safe in God’s care. I shall watch you and pray for you till you are out of sight and then wait for the day when I shall make the journey myself and find my Savior and you waiting at the end of the road to greet me.

Action point

John Todd in that story knew something that each of us as believers know: One day, all of us, short of be called away from our earthly home through his coming in the clouds we will leave this Earth. But the good news is that if we have placed our faith in him we have a glorious homecoming and reunion awaiting us in heaven. A place that simply can’t be described in earth term because it’s a place he prepared. SO if you have trusted in his amazing and unending grace don’t let you hearts be troubled.

Let me end as I begin :

Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

Closing

An old missionary couple had been working in Africa for years, and they were returning to New York City to retire. They had no pension; their health was broken; they were defeated, discouraged, and afraid. They discovered they were booked on the same ship as President Teddy Roosevelt, who was returning from one of his big-game hunting expeditions.

No one paid much attention to them. They watched the fanfare that accompanied the President’s entourage, with passengers trying to catch a glimpse of the great man.

As the ship moved across the ocean, the old missionary said to his wife, "Something is wrong. Why should we have given our lives in faithful service for God in Africa all these many years and have no one care a thing about us? Here this man comes back from a hunting trip and everybody makes much over him, but nobody gives two hoots about us."

"Dear, you shouldn’t feel that way," his wife said.

"I can’t help it; it doesn’t seem right."

When the ship docked in New York, a band was waiting to greet the President. The mayor and other dignitaries were there. The papers were full of the President’s arrival, but no one noticed this missionary couple. They slipped off the ship and found a cheap flat on the East side, hoping the next day to see what they could do to make a living in the city.

That night, the man’s spirit broke. He said to his wife, "I can’t take this; God is not treating us fairly."

His wife replied, "Why don’t you go into the bedroom and tell that to the Lord?"

A short time later he came out from the bedroom, but now his face was completely different. His wife asked, "Dear, what happened?"

"The Lord settled it with me," he said. "I told him how bitter I was that the President should receive this tremendous homecoming, when no one met us as we returned home. And when I finished, it seemed as though the Lord put his hand on my shoulder and simply said, ‘But you’re not home yet!’"