¡§Do not let your hearts be troubled¡¨ Jn 14:1-7 WBC 29/2/4pm
TROUBLED
These are marvellous words of Jesus
- words that I have gained comfort from many times
- words that are special and dear to many, in a society that we perceive as anxious and troubled. Stressed
But, let me share what the experience of many is ACTUALLY like
- (it¡¦s a well kept secret, as a certain kind of Xian is loath to be honest about this, as they perceive it as failure)
- = the peace evades them. They try and trust but it tumbles out of their hands
o and so, rightly, they emphasise bits from v1 like ¡¥do not LET your hearts be troubled¡¦
„X rightly aware that we have a role, choice to play in taking on a troubled attitude
But still Jesus¡¦ words here don¡¦t have full impact on their lives.
Why is this?
Because we fail to see the context in which Jesus is talking and promising, here.
- we automatically assume it¡¦s in the context of our troubles; work, partners, relationships, anxieties, debts, parents, children, cars
o those things that are the focus of our troubles, today
But Jesus¡¦ comments are in the context of Him going away (ch 13)
- and the disciples are suddenly filled with doubts and troubles over this
o how are we going to cope without you? We want to be with you, Jesus- NOW and in ETERNITY
o it¡¦s a friendship thing, an intimacy thing, a thing of eternal spiritual significance for their souls
o ¡§we need you, and we want CONTACT with you!¡¨
But, you see- we¡¦re most often concerned with OTHER things
- and therein lies the nature of the problem
- and why Jesus¡¦ words don¡¦t SEEM to have their power to us
- our very applying of these words to other things is a symptom of where the problem is. It¡¦s a sign of the state of our soul and our culture
What are the things we are concerned about? What do we pray about?
- not that these things are wrong, necessarily. But maybe you¡¦ll learn this evening that they¡¦re in the wrong place
- we pray about, and apply this to- the THINGS OF THIS WORLD
In Britain on the Couch, Oliver James gives two reasons why people in the 1990s are unhappier than in the 1950s. They shed interesting light on Bridget’s (jones’) preoccupations. First, that we compare ourselves unfavourably with others. The media present us with so many images of super-cool, super-sexy, successful people. Eventually we begin to feel as though these are the really important things in life - and we don’t score too well. This is exactly the motivation for many of Bridget’s resolutions. In the relationship marketplace there’s always someone who’s more beautiful, more composed or better adjusted.
The second reason for our unhappiness is broken attachments. The rise in the number of fractured families and ’gender rancour’ (disputes between the sexes about changed roles, etc.) have given us a world of broken relationships. Our culture is very individualistic but the individuals in society are often left feeling isolated or in relationships that are shallow.
From "Why society is unhappy" www.damaris.org
http://www.damaris.org/content/content.php?type=5&id=59
But their concerns here are for their souls and their relationship with Jesus
- completely different things, priorities
o and for that concern and goal they are promised peace and told to trust
Illustr: ¡¥what the world thinks of God¡¦ (thurs 26th Feb 04 pm BBC2)
- I¡¦m only just disseminating all that was in it
- Fascinating: we have real problems here in the Uk believing in God because of the suffering and poverty ¡¥elsewhere in the world.¡¦
o But: ¡¥elsewhere in the world¡¦, where they have that suffering and poverty- their souls are blossoming!
„X Such trust and peace in their lives! Evidenced!
Indeed! ¡¥Fortunate are the poor in sprit- for they WILL see God!¡¦
And you know why this is: because their primary concern is for their relationship with God¡K Jesus¡K the state of their souls¡K and their destination for eternity
- and so they get peace and trust thrown into the deal, here!
- This passage works for them- because that¡¦s what it¡¦s about
Jesus is saying- trust God. Trust me. I will be there
And the words about the ¡¥rooms¡¦- this is in the context of intimacy with Jesus in eternity
- in Jewish wedding, after betrothal, the bridegroom would go away to prepare a room for his bride (normally at his parent¡¦s house)
- then he¡¦d come back and take her to be with him
His disciples understand this. That Jesus is using ¡¥bridegroom language¡¦ in telling them that He¡¦ll come back
- and they are immediately troubled- ¡§but the bridegroom can only come back for one bride. Which one of us will it be?! I can¡¦t be without you, Jesus!¡¨
- Jesus clarifies: don¡¦t worry- I¡¦m preparing many rooms. A room for each of you.
- (so, the many rooms refers to ALL of us continuing our relationship with him in heaven. Nothing to do with different rooms for denominations or faiths or anything!)
TURN YOUR TRUST¡K TURN YOUR FOCUS
With OUR priorities, these words of Jesus need to shift tack for us.
They would be:
- ¡§how¡¦s your soul? How¡¦s your relationship with me? Would you miss me? DO you miss me, when it feels like I¡¦m not there¡K or I withdraw to test your love
- What matters most to you? Are you concerned about me going away¡K being absent from you?
o The dark night of the soul¡K God seeingingly being absent¡K does not signify vitrification¡K death¡K of the soul. It only does if you don¡¦t miss him. (pause)
o If you miss Him- it¡¦s a sign your soul is alive, and that you ARE growing
- Continuing: Are you concerned about heaven¡K being with me for eternity?
Because these are the things the disciples are concerned about
OR, like Martha¡K are you ¡¥concerned about MANY things¡¦
- and so, when you ask for peace, and try and trust¡K hear these words ¡¥do not be troubled¡¦- the peace evades you
o ¡¥wrong priorities, no peace¡¦ says Jesus
Illustr: stuck in my mind because such impact. Remember going occasionally to a house ch in B/s in 1984. At Springfield rugby club. Very concerned. Buying 1st house. Innerly anxious time. Felt burdened to give tongue-> gave it. Was like an unburdening. Interpretation: ¡§why are you concerned about these things. These things will pass away- but I am with you ALWAYS. Deal with these things- but set your focus on eternal things¡¨
I¡¦ll never forget it! It was for ME!
Christian: are you troubled about MANY things?
- But only ONE thing is necessary.
Turn your attention¡K turn your focus¡K to the concern of being with Jesus. To your soul. To your relationship with Him. To the things of THIS context and culture¡K not OURS.
- because, to those who do- He says ¡§Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in me. I will be with you. I¡¦m preparing heaven for you¡¦
Where are you putting your trust and focus
- Aunt Bessies Yorkshire puddings! (advert: ¡¥what¡¦s the one thing
- TURN IT to Jesus¡K your soul and relationship with Him
TRUTHS
To be honest- we need to get some of our focus and energies back onto the things that matter. Truths that matter
- heaven needs to become a greater priority to us
A middle aged woman had a heart attack and was taken to the hospital. While on the operating table she had a near death experience. Seeing God she asked "Is my time up?" God said, No, you have another 43 years, 2 months and 8 days to live."
Upon recovery, the woman decided to stay in the hospital and have a facelift, liposuction, and a tummy tuck. She even had someone come in and change her hair colour. Since she had so much more time to live, she figured she might as well make the most of it. After her last operation, she was released from the hospital. While crossing the street on her way home, she was killed by an ambulance.
Arriving in front of God, she demanded, "I thought you said I had another 40 years? Why didn’t you pull me from out of the path of the ambulance?" God replied, "I didn’t recognize you."
And we need to shift our priority onto Jesus- and Him being THE way, truth and life
- we get into discussions/thoughts about ¡V how would this apply to someone living in another part of the world, who hadn¡¦t heard of Jesus?... could He be ¡¥the way¡¦ for them?
o It¡¦s all academic, and an issue we must trust Jesus on
The real issue is- how are YOU with Him?
- I¡¦m not asking you: ¡¥do you enjoy church? Housegroup? Do you pray etc etc
o I¡¦m asking you how are you with JESUS! Or ¡¥Have you lost THE WAY?¡¦
o Because He¡¦s who it¡¦s all about. He is the way, truth and life¡K
¡K and it¡¦s ALL about having a relationship¡K a REAL¡K priority ONE¡K relationship with Him NOW¡K and because of that
- one for eternity
- a heart that is not troubled
Words/prophecies/ministry
Jesus, be the centre
This is the air I breathe
Jesus, lover of my soul
I have made you too small in my eyes
