Where I Am_
“WHERE I AM: A Place Prepared”
John 14:1-6
Theme: “WHERE I AM: A Place Prepared”
Goal: That the hearers be comforted by the truth of who Jesus is and what he has done for all people, including our departed brother, Theodore Martin Hafner.
It was a particularly scary time for the disciples of Jesus. Their master and friend had already demonstrated his love for them by washing their feet of the dust that had accumulated on their feet from walking. It was a custom usually reserved for servants, not teachers, or kings, or lords. But as they tried to understand what he was teaching them, Jesus puts his servant role into a whole new context. He told his disciples he was going to be betrayed and killed. You know how Peter reacted to that news, “I will lay down my life for you,” he crowed, only to be told by Jesus that he, too would disown his master. It was a particularly scary time. So when Jesus says, “Do not let your hearts be troubled,” it might have seemed rather odd that he would say this in view of what they were facing.
It might be a particularly scary time for you, Ted’s family and friends. Facing death is never an easy thing for us. That’s because we were not created for death, but for life. And yet, here we face death, realizing that what we really want is life. It might be a particularly scary time for you especially, Elsie. It probably just doesn’t feel right having your life with Ted disrupted by death. I’m sure you remember your wedding vows of over 66 years, “Until death us do part.” And I’m sure you didn’t want it to ever come, but it has. However, it is just at this kind of time that the Savior comes to you to say, “Do not let your hearts be troubled.” Why not? Why shouldn’t we be troubled? Are we more than those first disciples that we can even help it? No. It is simply because of the truth of who, Jesus is that, “Where I AM, a place is prepared.”
Please note that I am not asking a question when I use the words “Where I Am.” Instead, this is a statement. The statement that Jesus made to his disciples, “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.” The point that I’m trying to make here is that wherever Jesus, the great “I AM” who spoke to Moses, is, there is a place prepared; A special place where there is no more sin and death, no more dreaded diseases, no more pain and suffering. It is a most wonderful place already prepared for our occupancy.
You see, that is the promise of God given to all who believe that Jesus said exactly what he meant. He would have no one left out. Elsie, as you go from one place to another at this time in life, you might wonder if there is a place for you, a real place, a place like home where everything is right where you expect it, even the presence of Ted. According to Jesus’ own words, there most assuredly is such a place. Ted is enjoying it now. And if I might be provided a little visionary license about this, I’ll just bet that he’s having quite a bit of fun there. Can’t you just imagine him surrounded with a host of children playing, maybe even fishin’, just like he did with his own child and grandchildren? And isn’t that what Ted would just love? In fact, when you think about it, that place might even remind you of those wonderful days when a vigorous young man came to impress and court you. It might even remind you of wonderful days at Clifford lake.
But for all the blessings that God gives we are still faced with a problem. Why does it have to end? Why did Jesus have to die? Why do we pass through death? Why is there such suffering in this world that brings death? Hard, difficult questions for sure. But God is very explicit in his word, “sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned—thus death reigned.” It is sad but true that we live in a world not infected by sin death, but now ruled by sin and death. That means everything, and everyone, is prone to sin and death. Therefore we suffer, but not as those who have no hope. Jesus says: “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.” And wherever Jesus is, there is a place prepared.
Therein is our hope. You see, Jesus, though he died on that awful Friday some 2000 years ago, is not dead today, but alive. On the third day he rose from the grave as the first-fruits of all who are made alive in Him. Listen to him say it His own way: “I am the Resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.” The point is well-made when Jesus says: “You know the way to the place where I am going.”
That is the faith Ted had. I first saw that faith demonstrated in my first year at Trinity. Elsie, that’s when you and Ted sat in our Tuesday morning Bible study, that’s when you were both able to move about freely and purposefully. Then I remember sitting in your home and hearing about many wonderful years of life you and Ted shared. Then I visited Ted in the hospital and heard him say, “I believe I am ready whenever Jesus wants me.” As the days became more difficult, Ted maintained his forward-looking optimism. He would come back to church. He would plant another garden. He would continue to love his family. He would do all of these things if given the strength. And if not, he would still look forward to doing it, even if only in his mind and the dreams of a better day. That better day is what was prepared for him by Jesus. Now is that day. Now he is with Jesus in glory. From Jesus’ perspective he is “WHERE I AM: A Place Prepared.”
A place is being prepared for us as well. And we have this assurance that is for all believers. In 2 Corinthians 5:1-5 St Paul speaks about Our Heavenly Dwelling:
5 Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. 2 Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, 3 because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. 4 For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5 Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
Although now is a time of grief and sadness for the whole family, and a scary time for you Elsie, you can all still look forward with joy to what Ted knew is certain. He knew it because Jesus said: “I go and prepare a place for you … that you also may be where I am.” Amen.
