“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.
So, to pacify their hearts, they needed to believe in His words, to trust in His promise.
Further, Jesus implied where He would exactly go -- “in my Father’s house” --referring to be with His Father. And as he would go there -- on His way, in His suffering, crucifixion, death and resurrection -- the atonement that He would accomplish -- would prepare His disciples to have their own place also in God’s Presence. In other words, He would go not only where His Father is; but He would also go and do something to guarantee for His disciples to join Him one day.
Assuring them further with His words, “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.”
To calm down their troubled hearts, they needed to trust in that promise.
Unfortunately, human beings tend to doubt, to question, or at least to forget the words of God.
Even before the so-called fall of man, God’s Word was not highly regarded. Our first parents believed more the words of the seemingly reasonable words of the enemy.
How much more today that our human nature itself is not only tainted, but covered with sin. It is easier for us to take lightly, or even disregard the declaration or pronouncement of our Creator.
Not only the unbelievers, but even among Christians, God’s Word is taken lightly. Others are even trying to inject their own idea in the very teaching of Christ.
And when our hearts are troubled, we believe more in our own feelings, or in our own reason, or in what we can do.
Just think of Peter. When Jesus said, “Where I am going you cannot follow me now…,” did Peter receive what he heard wholeheartedly? Did he take it seriously? He questioned the statement of his Master. He doubted His words. He responded to the solid-rock Word of Christ, “Lord, why can I not follow you now?…” Not only he could not accept what Jesus was saying, still Peter insisted about his ability, of what he could do by saying: “I will lay down my life for you.”
And we know what happened to him. His feeling, confidence in himself, his reliance on what he could do was shattered by the trustworthy declaration of Christ.
Believers or lovers of Christ, do we really believe in Christ? Do we trust not only in His Person, but also in His words? Do we regard His teachings more than our own ideas or teachings of men?
Jesus said in John 6:63, “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.” Do you believe that His words “are spirit and life”?
Also in John 15:11, He told His disciples: “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” Do you believe that the things He spoke to us are intended that His joy may be in us and that our joy may be full”?
So, if we are suffering emotional storm or having a troubled heart, trust more in the word of Christ. Trust more in His promises. Trust more in His instructions. Trust more in His warnings.
If you are going through emotional storm in your family, trust the Word of Christ.
If you are going through emotional storm in your relationship, trust in the Word of Christ.
If you are going through emotional storm in your finances, trust in the Word of Christ.
If you are going through emotional storm in your work, trust in the Word of Christ.
If you are going through emotional storm in your study, trust in the Word of Christ.
If you are going through emotional storm even in your ministry, trust in the Word of Christ.
But, how can we trust in something, we do not know? That’s why we are reminded by our Senior our Pastor of Colossians 3:16, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly…”
And Jesus instructed His disciples, “Remember the word that I said to you” (John 15:20A).
When we are in pain because our heart is troubled, it’s easy to forget God’s promises or His instructions. That’s why we need to really think of His Word often. So, we can also trust in it to pacify any emotional storm.
CONCLUSION:
Before we end, let’s remember when Jesus and His disciples while in the boat encountered a windstorm. Jesus rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And what was the result? “…the wind ceased, and there was a great calm” (Mark 4:39). The Word of Christ was Sovereign over the physical storm.
The same Powerful Word He spoke before is written now in this Book (the Bible). His printed Word is also more powerful than any emotional storm. Let us trust in His Word to have peace in our heart.
