Down and Out

TEXT: John 14:1-6; John 12:13,19

A. Have you ever had one of those days when everything goes wrong? It doesn't make any difference how hard you try, it just seems that everything backfires on you? The harder you try, the worse it gets. I'm convinced that all of us have had days like that.

APPL. There are times, I suppose, when things really start to go wrong. Your whole world seems to be crumbling around you.

B. That is probably about the way the apostles were feeling as we look at the 14th chapter of John. Their week had begun gloriously with Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem.

The people had waved palm branches & shouted, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the King of Israel!" (John 12:13) And many in that crowd had wanted to crown Him their King right then & there!

Even the Pharisees & the chief priests who had been plotting against Jesus had cried out in despair, "See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after Him!" (John 12:19)

But Jesus had not come to establish an earthly kingdom, & He refused their crown. Disappointed & thwarted in their dreams of a Jewish kingdom with Jesus as their miracle?working king, the fickle crowd began to change.

And soon the priests were once again seeking someone who would betray Jesus into their hands.

C. So as the 14th chapter of John begins, we see Jesus & His apostles in the upper room where they have eaten the Passover meal together. Jesus knew exactly what the next few hours would bring.

He knew Judas would betray Him. He knew of the cross & the borrowed tomb. And He tried to prepare the apostles for all that. So He begins to comfort them.

APPL. I wonder, is there anyone here who needs to be comforted this morning? I know there must be. We lose loved ones. People lose jobs. We have physical problems. Some are lonely & depressed. We experience all kinds of troubles.

PROP. But Jesus says that part of the solution to a troubled heart is trust, & in the first 6 verses of the 14th chapter of John He tells His apostles to trust in 3 things: #1 - Trust in HIM. #2 - Trust in My promises. #3 - Simply trust in Me."

I. TRUST IN MY HIM

In Vs. 1 Jesus begins by saying, "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in me."

A. What is Jesus saying? Well, I think He is telling them, "I know you trust in God, & you also trust in me. But remember, when you can no longer see me, don't stop trusting in me."

You see, we have always found it easier to trust in things that we can see & touch. But the Bible teaches us that those things are only temporary.

JOBS ARE TEMPORARY

FRIENDS ARE TEMPORARY

FAMILY IS TEMPORARY

MONEY IS TEMPORARY

BUT JESUS CHRIST IS ETERNAL AND WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN

SUM: This is a hard lesson to learn. Yet it is an important lesson, because when we face troubles & difficulties in life, we need to remember as Christians that Jesus has promised, "I will be with you always. I will never leave you nor forsake you. Trust in My presence." CANNOT TURN TO THINGS OF THE WORLD

BUT WE OFTEN DO AND TURN TO JESUS CHRIST LAST

II. TRUST IN HIS PROMISES

Then Jesus tells them, “You can trust in My promises.” In vs’s 2 & 3 Jesus says, "In My Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.

"And if I go & prepare a place for you, I will come back & take you to be with me that you also may be where I am."

A. God made many promises both in the Old & New Testaments. He promised the children of Israel a land where there would be milk & honey. It took a while, but finally this promise was fulfilled.

He promised a Messiah, & that also took a while. But it, too, was fulfilled. Jesus the Savior was born.

Now God promises that He is coming back for us. Someday we'll be with Him forever & ever. Sometimes we grow impatient, but the scripture says, "You can trust the promises of God. This promise will be fulfilled, too."

B. The Bible uses a lot of different words to describe heaven. In one place it is called "a country" indicating the vastness of heaven. In another it is called "a city" indicating a large number of inhabitants.

It is called "a kingdom" indicating that there is a governmental structure to it all. It is called "paradise" indicating its beauty & desirability. But here Jesus calls it, "My Father's house," & that is another way of saying, "It is home."

Home is where you can be yourself. Home is where you can take off your necktie & kick off your shoes. Home is where you can say what you're thinking.

Home is where you're accepted & loved. You're not just a guest. You live there. That is home!

Jesus is saying, "I'm going to take you to my Father's house, & it will be your home, too. You'll be a part of the family. You'll be home where you belong."

C. He also says, "In My Father's house are many rooms." The King James version says, "many mansions." We like that word. But "mansion" is not the best translation of the Greek word Jesus used. Probably the best is "dwelling place" or "rooms."

You see, the word Jesus used comes from the mid-eastern custom that when a son grows up & gets married, he brings his bride back home with him. And together they live in the rooms (or apartment) that he & his father have added on to the father's house.

Then when another son gets married, they add another room. The house just keeps getting bigger & bigger, as the family stays together.

D. "In My Father's house," Jesus said, "are many rooms… I am going there to prepare a place for you… I will come back and take you to be with me…." We're almost there, people. Don't become discouraged or fainthearted.

Stop & think about heaven. Much of me is already there. My name is written there. My citizenship is there. My God is there. My Savior is there. My inheritance is there. My parents are there. So much of me is already there.

Soon His promise will be fulfilled, & we'll be in our Father's house. We'll get new bodies, & we won't have to worry about getting old & sick & all the other things that plague us here. "Trust My promises," He says.

III. TRUST IN JESUS!

Thirdly, Jesus says, “Trust in Me.” In vs’s 4-6 Jesus says, "'You know the way to the place where I am going.' Thomas said to Him, 'Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?'

"Jesus answered, 'I am the way & the truth & the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.'"

ONLY WAY IS BY JESUS CHRIST

CROSS OF JESUS AND GOSPEL OF JESUS

WE CAN TRUST IN HIM, CAN CAST OUR CARES UPON HIM, CAN DEPEND ON HIM....WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS JESUS WILL NOT!

What a wonderful promise! He is saying, "I'm not just going to show you the way, or tell you the way, or write out instructions on how to get there. I'm going to come & take you by the hand to My Father's house. Then you'll be home."

CONCL. Do you have burdens this morning that you think you cannot bear? Are you troubled? Are you worried or anxious? Do you feel empty inside? Do you feel lonely? Do you feel lost or confused?

Whatever your burdens are this morning, the solution to a troubled heart is still the same - to trust Him. "I'll never leave you," He said. "I'll always be beside you. Don't forget My presence."

Secondly, "Trust My promises. When everything seems dark & gloomy, when everything seems to be falling apart, remember My promises."

"Then trust in Me. You won't get lost. You won't go astray. I'm the way, & I'll take you by the hand & lead you to My Father's house."

INVITATION: Jesus invites us this morning, & He waits for you to respond to His invitation, as we stand & as we sing.