Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled

"Let not your heart be troubled"

John 14:1-6

One of the most dreaded diseases in the world today is what we call "heart trouble." Every day we hear of someone cut down by a heart attack. It is no repecter of person, for it effects all.

The heart is a wonderful creation. It beat an average of 75 beats a minute, 40 millions times a year, 21/2 billions time for a person of 70. It pumps enough blood (650,000 gallon a year) to fill more than 82 tank cars with 8,000 gallons each. No wonder, we could say, "What a beat."

But one day when we least expect it, our heart will beat for the last time. When it does, life is over for you and I.

In John 14, Jesus is not talking about physical heart trouble but he is talking about a spiritual illness. He is talking about a troubled heart, a burdened heart, and a sorrowful heart. This kind of heart trouble is common also and no money cannot keep it away, health cannot prevent it, and the only cure for it is Jesus.

The 14th chapter of John has been called the comforting Chapter in the New Testament. It has been read many times at funerals and brought comfort to many broken hearts.

F.B. Myers of England had a Bible that had been passed through many generations. He said, many of the pages were clean just like the day it came from the printing press. But the pages of John 14 worn, spotted with tears of the people who had read it and found the comfort of God.

I call your attention to three things that brought comfort to the disciples and should bring comfort to you and I today.

I-NOTICE THAT JESUS IS THE COMPASSIONATE CHRIST: V-1

A-HE HAD COMPASSION FOR HIS SERVANTS: V-1

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

There should be no break between chapter 13 and chapter 14. The words are inspired, but not the punctuation. Thus the scene in which He says these words are in the upper room with His own.

They were troubled at hearing that one of their number should betray Him(John 13:21), that one of them would deny Him three times(John 13:38), that they saw their Master trouble in the spirit(John 13:21), and that He said only a little while He would be leaving them.

But Jesus not thinking of Him-Self looked at them, and said, "Let not your hearts be troubled."

According to Henry Jacobsen, six Scottish miners were forced to make a heart-rending decision. While they were working some 1,500 feet below the surface, a shaft collapsed. Debris trapped one of their companions. Then mud and water began to rush in.

The miners realized that soon all avenues of escape would be closed to them, and they all would perish unless they fled without delay. With great agony the six men decided to let their coworker die rather than be entombed in that shaft while attempting to save him. They were compelled to abandon him.

In contrast, God is never forced to forsake one of His children. No matter how desperate the situation may be or how great the problems we face, the heavenly Father stays by our side to meet our deepest needs with His infinite wisdom and power. Under no circumstance and at no time will He give up on those He has purchased with the blood of His Son. We may at times feel abandoned, but we will never be abandoned.

B-HE HAD COMPASSION FOR THE SUFFERING: MARK 5:34

And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.

Here was a woman who like the leper was called unclean. She could not worship at the temple, she was separated from the crowds and her family but she came to Jesus and he didn’t drive her off, but had compassion on her and healed her.

Dave Galloway told of a soldier who had just returned from Viet Nam. His parents were socialites, very well to do. It was near Christmas, and they were getting ready to go out to the first of the round of parties of the Christmas season.

Just then the phone rang, & it was their son on the phone. "Mom," he said, "I’m back in the States." She said, "That’s wonderful! Where are you? Will you be home for Christmas? Can you get here in time for the parties? Everybody will just love to see you."

He answered, "Yes, I can be home for Christmas, but I want to ask you something first." "What is it?" she asked. "Well, I have a friend with me from Viet Nam. Can he come?"