“Let
not your hearts be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in me. In My
Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I
go to prepare a place for you. And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will
come again and receive you to myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
And where I go you know and the way you know.”
Isn’t
that comforting? It is not surprising that these words are often read at
funerals. Jesus said these words to his disciples shortly before his arrest and
crucifixion. He knew that they would be upset by his death and ascension, and
he wanted to comfort them.
These
words are part of his farewell discourse as written in John 13-17. Jesus was
preparing his disciples for his departure. Jesus came to earth from his father,
and now he was preparing to go back to his father’s house. It is the same house
all believers will go to one day.
These
same words comforted the early Christians, especially when they were being
persecuted. They also give us comfort today. When something terrible happens,
we often as “Where is God?” This is only natural. Jesus asks us to trust him in
the midst of our confusion. The special comfort is to believe and trust in
Jesus. When life gives us hard knocks, we can let go of uncertainties and
believe that Jesus has prepared a place for us in our heavenly home because we
can trust him.
The
phrase “Do not let your hearts be troubled” might seem a little ironic to us as
we gather for worship. After all, whose heart isn’t troubled? All of us have
had turmoil in our lives at one time or another. It doesn’t matter if the
turmoil is caused by problems within our family, at work, among our friends or
even within our churches. I know, because my mother and I have been dealing
with some personal trouble this week. My brother had to undergo surgery in
Edmonton to deal with a couple of blockages in his veins. Needless to say, it
has been a couple of difficult days for us, but we have been praying to God,
and God has been with us. I’m pleased to report that that the surgery went very
well and my brother is recovering nicely.
Jesus
has already made many dwelling places for us here on earth. Some of these
places are places of worship such as this building. Here we can be unburdened
from past wrongs. Here we can be ourselves and get help carrying life’s
burdens. It is at times like these and in places like this building where God
shows us unconditional love, mercy and surprises.
These
places are tailor-made for all of us, both as individuals and as a faith
community. They remind me of the words of a song that was popular in the late
1970’s. It was recorded by Peter Frampton and is entitled “I’m In You” It
describes how Jesus comforts us here on earth. The first verse goes like this:
I don’t care where I go
When I’m with you
When I cry you don’t laugh
‘cause you know me
I’m in you, you’re in me
I’m in you, you’re in me
‘cause you gave me the love
Love that I never had
Jesus
fulfilled the Old Testament teachings that there is only one way to God and one
way to see God. Jesus’ ministry and character reveal and reflect God’s
character of love, forgiveness and grace. God works through Jesus and he works
through us thanks to the Holy Spirit that lives in us. We, like the disciples,
can do even greater works than Jesus did thanks to the Holy Spirit.
The
disciples could do works that would be greater than the works Jesus did because
they could go out into the world. Each and every one of us can also do great
works because we can go out into the world and do what Jesus and the disciples
did. The disciples had the privilege of working for God and knowing the purpose
for their lives. We can also have the same privilege and purpose. Jesus will
guide us in the direction he wants us to go. He will help us to “keep our eyes
on the prize.”
The
reason why Jesus went away was to secure our future. He prepared a heavenly
home for us. Jesus is the only way to heaven. Most people today, if asked why
they think God will let them into heaven, would say that God will let them into
heaven because they try to be good and go to church. They also believe that if
their good deeds outweigh their bad deeds then God will let them into heaven. Man’s
pride believes that God somehow owes him a place in heaven or eternal life as a
reward for good deeds, earnest effort or sincerity. We can’t earn our way to
heaven. Belonging to a particular church or a particular denomination won’t get
us into heaven. Jesus is the only way
to salvation. Jesus is the only way
to heaven.
We,
like the disciples, dread death and the separation it creates. Death and
separation are Satan’s stronghold, and the only remedy is faith in an
unshakeable God. This faith will help us to do God’s work in our world. When we
pray to God in faith, we glorify God. When we glorify God, we can do great
things for him. Praying to God in faith is the cure for anxiety. We pray
because we believe in prayer. Prayer is the result of our deepest belief in
God. In order for us to believe in God and do his work in our world, we have to
have intimacy with God.
Jesus
is exalted by God to the highest place in the universe. That is why everyone
has to bow down before him. That is why Jesus said that no one can come to God
except by going through him. Jesus bridged the gap between God and man that was
created by the sins of Adam and Eve. In return, we are to spread the Good News
of salvation.
Jesus
and the Father are one. Jesus is the perfect representation of both our
heavenly Father and our heavenly home. In fact, one reason why Jesus came to
earth was to show us the Father. Jesus showed us what God is like and what God
likes. God likes to be glorified and when our prayers glorify him, they will be
answered in his own time and in his own way. Our prayers glorify him when they
are offered in Jesus’ name. Jesus will return one day to take us to our
heavenly home. Will he find us doing what he told us to do, or will he find us
doing nothing?
If
we follow Jesus, we must obey his instructions. We have to surrender our way of
doing things, even if it means suffering for his sake. We have to trust that
his promises will come true, even of other people say that Jesus is no longer
relevant. He is the way to eternal life even when we are surrounded by death.
We must keep our eyes focused on heaven so we won’t be distracted by the things
of the world. In other words, we must have an eternal view of life.
The
way to God means following the narrow road to salvation instead of the wider
road to damnation. The wide road is travelled by people who follow the ways of
the world. The narrow road is travelled by people of faith. Sometimes we don’t
know what lies ahead on the narrow road, but we can be thankful that Jesus has
laid out the steps we have to follow. He won’t lead us astray. He will provide
for our needs. He will shape our character and define how we are to live godly
lives. He will show us the words, deeds, characters, and attitudes we are to
have in life’s joys, sorrows and difficult moments.
Those
who follow the narrow road will rejoice when Jesus returns because they have
been redeemed by his blood. His return will fulfill our hopes and dreams. Those
who follow the wide road will mourn because his return will bring their
judgment. They did not believe that he died and rose again for their sins, so
they are doomed to spend eternity in hell. If we follow Jesus, our hearts will
not be troubled.
How
many of you remember a children’s TV show called “The Friendly Giant?” It ran
on the CBC Television Network from 1958 to 1985. At the start of each show, the
Friendly Giant said that he would “hurry over first and go in the back door so
I can lower the drawbridge down and open the big front doors for you.” He would
then arrange the furniture for his guests. In other words, he prepared his home
for visitors. Similarly, Jesus went to heaven to prepare a place for us to go
to when we go to our heavenly home. Going home fulfills the longing we have for
God. Only God can fulfill the emptiness of our souls.
Thanks be to
God, AMEN
Bibliography
2.
Jeremiah,
David: The Jeremiah Study Bible (Brentwood,
TN: Worth Publishing; 2013)
3.
Swindoll,
Charles R.: Swindoll’s New Testament
Insights on John (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan; 2010)
4.
ESV Study Bible.
Part of Wordsearch 10 Bible software package.
5.
Frederikson,
R.L. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s
Commentary Series, Vol. 27: John (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1985)
6.
Radmacher,
E.D.; Allen, R.B. & House, H.W.: Nelson’s
New Illustrated Bible Commentary (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1999)
7.
Barry, J.D.,
Grigoni, M.R.; Heiser, M.S.; Custis, M; Mangum, D.; & Whitehead, M.M.: Faithlife Study Bible (Oak Harbour, WA:
Logos Bible Software; 2012)
9.
Pastor Jack
Hibbs, “Words to the Wise Devotional, John 14:1-3”. Retrieved from wttw@calvarycch.org
23.
Jude Siciliano, O.P., “First Impressions, 5th
Sunday of Easter (A), May 18, 2014.” Retrieved from www.preacherexchange.org
25.
Lectionary
Homiletics, Volume XXV, Number 3 (St. Paul, MN: Luther Seminary; April/May 2014)
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