Jesus: Promises & Provisions

JESUS: PROMISES & PROVISIONS

5-19-02

John 14

A common question today is: What’s in it for me?

If that question has ever crossed your mind concerning Jesus as your Christ ... consider what He said in John ... Chapter 14.

In checking the net worth of your spiritual portfolio ... exactly WHAT is Jesus worth to you?

Okay... okay! I understand there is no up front charges—He’s a ’no load’ investment.

· Jesus paid it all ... when he closed the deal

· Paid the total price for every last one of our sins ... past ... present ... future.

Please listen now ... as Jesus explains

· What we have ...

· When we invest ourselves TOTALLY in Him ... and his completed work.

14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

When Jesus said this ... His disciples were completely bewildered.

· They had given up everything to follow Him.

· They had been with him a couple years ...

· Then ... He said he was leaving ... and

Where He went, they could not go ... not right now.

He said Peter would disown him... three times!

He said Satan was working against them... and would continue to.

He said all of them would abandon Him.

To say the least... they were confused.

So Jesus said:

”Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

2 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.

3 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.”

First of all ... there is no need to worry! Let NOT your heart be troubled!

David said in Psalm 37: Fret NOT ... or don’t get hot under the collar ...

3 “Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt feed on His righteousness.

4 Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

5 Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.”

Jesus simply says: You believe in God... believe also in me.

BELIEVE... by the way... is more than simple knowledge.

It involves all three words that David used: TRUST... DELIGHT... and COMMIT!

When Jesus says BELIEVE, he means, we should be willing to stake our lives on that knowledge.

· TRUST means to take refuge in. We have found a safe place ... we are protected.

We commit ourselves totally to his haven, completely and eternally secure.

· DELIGHT ... since we are secure we can relax…and enjoy the protection and provisions.

It’s like a pig in a wallow. We’re not merely happy. We’re wallowing in glee!

It means: It just doesn’t get any better than this!

· COMMIT ... here’s that old camel driver’s term ... you roll your burden off of yourself… and upon the Lord.

In short: You can bet your life—totally invest yourself—in Jesus as your Christ.

You can relax and enjoy with abandon the garrison he puts around you.

And, you can transfer your burden to Jesus, himself, and let him carry the whole load.

To John ... the completed work of Jesus is proof of God’s love toward us.

Jesus presents himself as proof of God’s provisions for us.

Jesus also presents himself as the total embodiment of God, himself.

THEN he says: you have trusted Him ... NOW trust me!

In Romans 8:32 ... Paul elaborates by saying: “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?”

Now ... in verse 2 ... Jesus tells us:

2 “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.”

In saying this ... Jesus tells us three things:

1. God has a permanent home for everyone who trusts Him.

The word MANSION means Permanent dwelling.

Earth is a temporary home.

We’re listed as pilgrims—tourists—just passing through.

But, in Christ, we have a permanent residence in Heaven—in our Father’s neighborhood.

Our body—the flesh—is referred to as a tent—a tabernacle—or temporary abode.

But, God has a permanent place for us—a new body—for all eternity!

2. Jesus is honest! We can trust him.

If God didn’t have any place for us ... Jesus would have told us.

3. He is preparing our place for us.

Prepare in the Greek means more than fixing it up.

It means clearing the way ... as well as making the place ready.