Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled

   (John 14:1-6 Let not your heart be troubled: ye 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 and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.)

   These verses from John chapter fourteen are my favorite verses in all of the Bible. I suppose they became my favorite because when I was about ten years old, I assumed the duty of reciting a passage from the Bible over the intercom at my elementary school. It was tradition in my school to have prayer and Bible reading before the lunch hour. But of course, that was way back in 1962, before our brilliant politicians learned that it was unconstitutional, and that the Bible could be a bad influence on kids. (sic)

   Anyway, I memorized those six verses by heart so that I could recite them in the principle's office, as he personally held the microphone in front of me. You talk about being intimidated. Our principal was a huge man. He was well over 6 feet tall, and had a deep roaring voice. He was known as a firm disciplinarian in my school, and I always heard stories of his huge paddle with holes and tacks in it. I even heard that he had one electric paddle, but I don't know, because I made sure I didn't do anything to find out. I guess that was the evil influence that the bible had on me, ya know!

    These verses had a calming and assuring message of comfort for me. They told me as a young boy that Jesus loved me, and that he was building a magnificent new home for me, and that He personally would come and get me one day and take me to it, and that I would live with him forever. But, as a young lad, I didn't realize the political and religious logistics of the events that led Jesus to make this John 14 announcement to his disciples.

   (John 13:1 Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.)

   In the previous chapter, Jesus, realizing that his time on earth was short, (before the feast of the Passover) assembled his disciples together in the upper room, and began to share things about the coming week. He washed their feet, in a demonstration of humility and love, and predicted his betrayal by Judas. Then in John 13:33, Jesus announces that He must go away, and that where he is going they cannot follow. Naturally, the loving disciples became concerned that Jesus was going away, and wondered aloud why they could not go with him. But in verse 36, Jesus tells Peter, that they can all follow him afterwards. Later on in scripture, we would learn that this "following after Jesus, later," had to do with the resurrection. Jesus was the first-fruits of the resurrection, and we all in like manner, and in our own order do indeed follow him.

    Even as he was in the upper room, observing the Last Supper, and the Passover with his Disciples, Jesus knew what events were impending before him. He knew that the Chief priests and the Pharisees were plotting his arrest and his death. He had known it for weeks. For that reason, he had stayed away from Jerusalem, and had taken refuge in Ephraim. But finally, at just the right time, (Palm Sunday, before Passover) Jesus decides to go down into Jerusalem! (Luke 18:31-34  Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished. For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on: And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again. And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.)

    Even Jesus had his disparaging moments. While in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus was sorrowful in his soul, as he prayed to the Father about the coming night of torture, and the crucifixion that would lay ahead of him the next day. (John 12:27   Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.) Yet, with the weight of the whole world on his shoulders alone, Jesus willingly complied with the purposes of his Father. 

   It is hard for us mortal humans to imagine that Jesus might have experienced a troubled soul, or even needed to pray about something, but he surely did. As Jesus prepared to face the torrent of Hell's wrath, he submitted himself not to his own will, but to that of his Father, and thus enacted out a picture of the prayer that he taught us to pray. (Mark 14:36 Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wiltThy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.)

    In a way, Jesus was setting an example and preparing his servants for the coming night, or that day of darkness that shall engulf the whole world known as the Tribulation. Jesus alluded to that "time of trouble" in his Olivet Discourse. (Matthew 24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.) I have often stated before that when God chooses anybody for a purpose or a mission in this world, that you can rest assured that Satan will likewise "choose them". But Satan singles them out for the purpose of obstructing their divine mission. As Jesus contemplated the Cross that lay before him, he was surely antagonized by the forces of Hell. Satan must have believed that the Crucifixion of Christ was a banner victory for him, but as it turns out in the plan of God, the Cross was a great victory. And Jesus behavior and accomplished actions on that dark day stand out as a beacon for all mankind.

   Still, for those of us are left in this world, one particular generation in the Latter Days will be confronted by the impending days that Jesus spoke of as he left this world 2000 years ago. A time of great Tribulation is coming, (a time far worse that WWII, or any other era of history) one day soon! The writer of Hebrews puts succinctly. (Hebrews 10:23-25 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised; And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.) So in these Last Days, when it seems that the forces of Hell are gaining the upper hand on every side, and Bible Prophecy is playing out right before our very eyes, let us be sober, faithful, continue watching, comfort one another, and take heart in the comforting words of our Lord as we see that day of darkness and gloominess approaching.

John 14:27-30 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe.