Pacify The Emotional Storm

“Simon Peter said to him, ‘Lord, where are you going?’ Jesus answered him, ‘Where I am going you cannot follow me now, but you will follow afterward.’ Peter said to him, ‘Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.’ Jesus answered, ‘Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow till you have denied me three times.’

“’Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also’” (John 13:36--14:3, ESV).

One of the many instances that my heart was troubled happened when I was still single. My heart then was becoming closer to the lady, who is now my wife, and, I believe, her heart felt the same. My heart was troubled not because I felt an affection for her, but because her parents were against our relationship. Maybe, because I was too old (12 years older) for their daughter, or because their daughter was just a newly graduate in college, or other reasons that I could not think.

So, her parens did whatever they could conceive to separate us. Imagine the trouble that my heart suffered during that period. It was more painful than when I was looking for a job that I struggled for a long time.

You may not suffer the same experience. But you could have other experiences when your heart was troubled.

Facing uncertainty, constant worry over something, chronic stress, fatigue or whatever overwhelms us can inflict trouble in our hearts, or make us suffer like in an emotional storm.

So, this time, let’s explore our topic, PACIFY THE EMOTIONAL STORM, while we study our text (John 13:36-14:3).

We do not want the actual physical storm. But we cannot stop it. But what can we do about the emotional storm that would hit us? How can we pacify it?

Be reminded again that the Book of John was written by the “disciple whom Jesus loved” -- no other than the Apostle John.

We discussed before verses 31-35 of chapter 13. We learned at least three angles that display the brilliance in the attitude of Christ. First, He was looking forward to the happy ending. Second, He was caring for the state of His followers. And third, He was giving instruction for encouragement.

Knowing those attitudes helped us also to upgrade our admiration, even adoration, for our Savior.

In our text this time, we will realize the instruction of Jesus to pacify the heart of His disciples. So, what should we do if we are troubled, if our heart is agitated with fear or great anxiety? Or, simply, how can we pacify the emotional storm?

We will focus on this one, but very important point:

TRUST IN THE WORD OF CHRIST (verses John 14:1-3).

We read verses 1-3, “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.’”

In John 13:36, Peter wanted to know where Jesus was going. However, Jesus said that he cannot follow him then, but afterward.

In verses 37-38, though Jesus said that it was not possible for them to follow at that time, Peter insisted that he could. He did not count the impossibility of following Jesus then. He thought that by his human strength, endurance, or ability, he could do it. He added that he could do it even at the expense of his own life. His so-called certainty was deflated, when his coming denial of His Master was pointed out.

Now in John 14:1, Jesus told His disciples to pacify their hearts. They were troubled of many things. Among them was knowing about the betrayal of Jesus by one of them. Then, the impending denial of Peter. And the thing that could trouble them more was knowing that Jesus would leave them. Also, they didn’t know where He would go and it would not be possible for them to follow Him then.

To comfort them, to pacify their troubled heart, what did Jesus do? He instructed them to really believe in God, not just in His existence but also in His Word. He added that how they would believe God, they should also believe Him in like manner.