Read: John 14:1-7
Reflect: What are you worried about? What keeps you awake at night, sweating up the bed sheets, tossing and turning and never getting a good night’s sleep? I know for one person it was the election; she was worried about who was going to be her next Commander and Chief. Maybe for you, it is your job, making a blunder and then getting that infamous “pink slip”.
For me, it’s worrying about whether I got my ReCharge done on time. Will it be acceptable? Do all the tenses agree? Is this be the last ReCharge I’ll ever be allowed to write? (Just because I’m married to the Editor, doesn’t mean it always goes well….)
WAS JESUS DESERTING THEM?
But the disciples of Jesus day had other things to worry about. This familiar passage begins with “Let not your heart be troubled”. Troubled? Why would they be troubled? Just go back to the previous chapter and read 13:33: “My little children, I will be with you only a little longer”. What does that mean? Is Jesus taking off, is He deserting us?
A BETRAYER IN THE MIDST
And if that isn’t upsetting enough, read 13:21: “Jesus already told them: ‘After He had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, I tell you the truth, one of you is going to betray me’”. What?! First, he breaks the news that someone in their midst was going to betray Him and then he tells them that He will be leaving. What’s going on Jesus?
REASSURANCE FROM JESUS
Jesus brings reassurance to his disciples by telling them the truth about Himself:
- He tells them that He and the Father are one. This should have been nothing new to the disciples since He proclaimed it in John 10:30, “The Father and I are one”.
- “No, I am not leaving you forever. As a matter of fact, I am going ahead of you, and I will be getting the place ready”.
- Thomas says they don’t know where this place is or how to get there. Jesus says to Thomas, put your GPS away because you won’t need it. “Remember, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one gets to the father except through me”. So, if you want to get to the father, you have to go through Me.
READ THOSE WORDS OVER AND OVER AGAIN
Apply: We find ourselves in various situations all the time, some may be small and incidental, or they may be major times of doubt and distrust in our lives. What can we do when we reach that point? We can remember the words of Jesus. Trust the truth. Go back and read those words over and over again. John 14 is a good place to start.