Preparing For The Present Troubles And The Joy Of Heaven Series

PREPARING FOR THE PRESENT TROUBLES, AND THE JOY OF HEAVEN

John 14

Greenmount and O’Leary Churches of Christ

September 20, 2021

Video Link: https://youtu.be/6YY1guN-YIs

I) JESUS WAS PREPARING THEM FOR THE EVENTS AHEAD THAT NIGHT.

1) Let not your hearts be troubled (14:1a.)

A) In one sense there was no reason for their hearts to be troubled because the Jewish guards, and Roman soldiers were not coming for the apostles that night, but for Jesus.

B) Later, they would experience a fear like they had never known before.

ba.) The upcoming arrest and crucifixion of Jesus would shake up every part of their world and give them fear like they had never known before.

aba.) Even after the resurrection that fear would continue.

.01) You will recall that on the night of the Resurrection when Jesus appeared in the room the Scriptures tell us they had the door locked.

.02) I would not at all be surprised if they had a chair or table against the door, to further secure it.

C.) The events of this night would shake up and change everything they had knew or understood of Jesus.

2) Believe in God, Believe also in me. (14:1b.)

A) This might seem a peculiar statement for Jesus to make.

B) Everything they had learned and experienced over the past few years had been lessons in faith; lessons that brought them closer to both God the Father, and to Jesus the Son.

C) Jesus gave them this encouragement because the events soon to take place would challenge not only their faith in Jesus, but even their faith in God the Father.

ca.) As we had seen in last week’s message these men had been bickering that evening on who was the greatest, and who would have first place in the kingdom.

cb.) They had misunderstood the nature of Christ’s kingdom, and with that misunderstanding there would be nothing left to hold onto or dreams to be had after that night.

cba.) How could they still hold onto all that Jesus had given them if he was dead.

cbb.) So, Jesus said to “Believe in God; Believe also in me.”

.01) When it seemed the darkest, and the most hopeless, and it seemed as though there was nothing left to hold onto, they still needed to put their faith in God, and in Jesus.

.02) If we had been there, we would have also had a challenging time to put faith in God or Jesus.

.03) We may not have been there that night, but most of us have experienced things in life that have challenged us, and our faith in God or Christ.

.04) There have been times when life as seemed so hard, and harsh, or dare I even say hellish that we have not known how our faith could get us through.

.041) In those times when life and faith have been so difficult, we again hear the words of Jesus: “Believe in God; Believe also in me.”

2.) Even beyond the tough times in this life, Jesus goes on to speak of that eternal abode in heaven.

II) JESUS WAS PREPARING THEIR HEARTS AND MINDS FOR HEAVEN.

1) Heaven is a large place.

A) There are many rooms. (14:2)

aa.) The older King James translates this as mansions.

ab.) While we have always fancied the idea of getting a mansion in heaven, most feel this word would be better translated as rooms or dwelling places.

ac.) Just the same, heaven is pictured as a massive place that is big enough to accommodate as many as would desire to dwell with Christ in that eternal heavenly abode.

B) The physical description of the size of heaven.

ba.) Revelation 21:16

bb.) Those figures whether we take them literally, or figuratively, it describes a place of great dimensions.

bba.) It is a perfect cube, just as was the holy of holies in the temple, showing the perfection, as the dwelling place of God.

bbb.) If those figures are literal, it would be 1,380 miles or 2,220 Kilometres Long, and as wide and high as it is long.

.01) In other words it is large enough to all who love Jesus Christ, and who are Children of God.

2) Heaven is a place personally prepared by Jesus the Christ.

A) John 14:2b.

B) In less than twenty-four hours Jesus would be leaving them for the time he would be in the grave.

C) But after the resurrection, he would be leaving them for the rest of their time on this earth.

ca.) Even though it would be many years before they would see him again, Jesus wanted them to know he would be back for them to take them where he would be.

cb.) I want you to see the imagery that Jesus is giving.