Turbulence Calmed
Fortifying the Foundations # 32
John 14:1-14[1]
4-11-04
“Do not let your hearts be troubled.”
Jesus spoke those words to his disciples at a time when there were some good reasons to be troubled. This is the night before the crucifixion. Jesus has told them that he is going to leave them. There is no break in the conversation going on in Chapter 13 and here in Chapter 14[2]. In John 13:33 Jesus had said, "My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come.”
Peter’s response to that was, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” He and the others understood that Jesus was talking about his death. They thought they ready to die with him if necessary. It was a sincere response but an uninformed one. We really don’t know what we will do in a situation. I personally believe that these disciples were brave men. Given a normal situation they might very well have stood with their leader. But they did not take into consideration the spiritual dynamics that would be going on that night. In a few hours Jesus will be arrested and at his arrest he will say to those who have come for him, (Luke 22:53) “Every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you did not lay a hand on me. But this is your hour-when darkness reigns." Evil was out in full force that night and when confronted with it the disciples fled.
That evening Jesus had exposed Judas as the betrayer. Most of the disciples did not catch on to everything that was going on concerning that[3] but everyone felt something of the intensity and sorrow of the evening.[4] It was not a light-hearted time. There were serious issues going on.
When Peter said he would lay down his life for Jesus, do you remember at the end of John 13 what Jesus told him? "Will you really lay down your life for me? I tell you the truth, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times! “ (John 13:38) Imagine how you would feel if you just heard Jesus say that to you. These disciples were confused. They were disappointed. They were worried about what would take place next. A huge change is about to take place and they seem powerless to do anything about it. Jesus is about to leave them.
There are events in life that can leave our hearts troubled. Six years ago I read from this text as I stood before a family whose 13-year-old daughter had just been brutally murdered. That precious couple had cause to feel distressed. I am thankful that about a year prior to that time Stephanie Mahaney had received the Lord right here in this sanctuary. But life can get very troubling. It’s troubling to go to the doctor and find out you have a terminal disease. It’s troubling to have your spouse betray you and commit adultery. It’s troubling when you train your child in the way he or she should go and then in early adulthood that child goes the wrong way. I am not denying the pain, the sorrow, the loneliness that we may experience in this world. Jesus did not say there would be no trouble. In fact, later this very evening he told his disciples that the time would come when people would think they were doing God a service to kill them (John 16:2).
The confusion, the disappointment, the sorrow these disciples were feeling was very real.
Jesus is not denying that. But he is giving them a way to deal with it. “Do not let your hearts be troubled.” Is that something I can really do? It is if I look at the issues in the light of the whole truth. Jesus is about to broaden their understanding. And if they will receive it they will find comfort to their souls.
What is the answer to the distress I feel in times of trouble? The answer is found in the second half of that verse (John 14:1) “Trust in God; trust also in me.”
The NIV gives a good translation of that verse. The Greek form used for the word trust is the same in the imperative as it is in the indicative. So either half of that statement could be a statement or could be a command. Some versions translate the first half as a statement (You trust in God) and then the second as a command (Trust also in me).
But its more logical in my opinion to translate it as parallel imperatives like the NIV has done, “Trust in God; trust also in me.”[5]
Faith is the answer. If I were on the 5th floor of a building engulfed in flames, I would be insane not to be troubled. The stairs and the elevators are all blocked by fire. I go to the window and low and behold there is a fireman on the end of a ladder looking into my eyes and saying, “I am here to rescue you. Trust me.” Will I experience any comfort? You bet I will. Will hope arise in my heart? Yes, because he is the answer to my problem.
In our text Jesus talks about who he is. That is essential to this trust issue. When you’re in trouble you want somebody who can actually help you. You want somebody who is in a position to help you. If I’m in a burning building on the 5th floor, I don’t want another victim who is trapped with me. I want a trained fireman on the end of a ladder saying, “Take my hand.”
In John 14:6 Jesus reminds them of who he is, "I am the way and the truth and the life.”
He talks to them about his relationship with the Father. He is altogether willing and able to take care of them. And he wants you and me to know the same thing. Jesus is not a fellow struggler. He is the Lord of glory. He is not a philosopher groping around in darkness trying to find the light. He is the Light. No matter what problems you may be facing, Jesus is both able and willing to lead you triumphantly through it.
Notice that Jesus does not say, “Deny the problem.” He is not advocating denial. He is advocating trust. And he tells us exactly where to place that trust. “Trust in God; trust also in me.” Are you trusting? If we trust the wrong thing we will be disappointed.
David wrote in Ps 20:7 “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.” There is a lot of advice in the Psalms as to where we are to place our trust. Ps 118:8-9 “It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes.”
Prov 3:5-6 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” We can really become troubled when we stop trusting in the Lord and start leaning on our own understanding, can’t we? We can get ourselves into a lot of turbulence when we insist on figuring it all out.
Change can get us upset because we are creatures of habit. We get a whole lot of security out of our routine, out of the familiar. But progress means change. Change confronts us with the unknown and because of it we are sometimes troubled. But what is the alternative to change? Stagnation. Progress requires change. Growth requires change. And change can bring us back to faith in God rather than faith in the familiar. Things are about to dramatically change for these disciples in John 14.
All they can see is the negative side. Jesus calls their attention to the positive effects of the change they are about to experience. Look at John 16:5-7 with me for a moment and see where this conversation is going. Jesus is continuing the subject of our text and says,
"Now I am going to him who sent me, yet none of you asks me, `Where are you going?’ 6Because I have said these things, you are filled with grief. 7But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.”
“It is for your good that I am going away.” They could not see that. They must trust his motives toward them. “Unless I go away, the Counselor (the Holy Spirit) will not come...” Jesus is simply following God’s plan. And it’s all designed for their good. But they will have to trust him because they cannot see the end from the beginning.
You may be in the middle of something right now. Can you see the end from the beginning? No, God can but we can’t. That’s why we have to trust His leadership and guidance over our lives. That’s why trust must take us to a higher level of perspective than reason can.
Have you ever hit high turbulence while on an airplane flight? I remember flying over the Rocky Mountains years ago and hitting by far the worst turbulence I ever experience.
We had flown into a thunderstorm and the currents began to toss the plane all over the place. Most of the people in the plane were panicking. There were a lot of gasps and even some screams. The pilot came on the intercom and in a calm voice said, “Hello, this is your captain, we are encountering some turbulence.” That was not news to anybody there. Then he told us that he was in the process of flying the plane higher above the storm. At one point the plane must have hit some kind of vacuum or something because it seemed to just drop a couple of hundred feet. My stomach went into my throat.
The turbulence did not immediately stop. But within ten minutes everything settled down and the flight smoothed out. We had to trust that pilot during that time of disturbance.
As it turned out he knew exactly what he was doing and got us to our destination safe and sound. The flight was much better once we rose above the storm.
Are you in a storm today? Will you trust the pilot to know what he is doing? Will you allow him to take you above the turbulent level of your own understanding into the calm above the storm? “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.”
It was not really necessary for our pilot to come on the intercom and assure us of his intentions. He could have gotten us above the storm without telling us anything. But I was really glad he did. It really felt good to know that he was still there in control and that he had a plan for my safety. It should not have been necessary for Jesus to assure these disciples of his openness with them. But listen as he graciously assures them in John 14:2 “In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you.”
The KJV translates in “In my Father’s house are many mansions.” But the Greek word “monai” simply means dwelling places. It comes from the word “menw” which means I remain. As a brief point of interest the translation “mansions” in KJV came about because Jerome translated it into Latin using the word “mansiones” and the KJV translators used the English word that came closest to that. The Latin word means “lodging-places.” it refers to a place to stay and not to elaborate houses.[6]
I hope that doesn’t disappoint anyone, because I’m convinced that the place God is preparing for you is better than any mansion you can imagine. It will be perfect for you. Here are awesome words of comfort from our Lord to us (John 14:2), “I am going there to prepare a place for you.”
What kind of place is Jesus preparing for us in his Father’s house?
First, take note that it is a place (Greek: topon). Some people think heaven is just a state of mind, something abstract and indefinable. But Jesus uses words that clearly indicate more than that. (In my Father’s (Greek: oikia) house). It’s all very real. In fact, it is more real than the temporal things that surround us in this life. There is a real place called heaven. In Heb. 11:10 it is called “a city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.”
Let me share with you a few things we know about heaven from the word of God.
1. In our text, Jesus refers to it as his Father’s house. It will be home for the whole family. All God’s sons and daughters will be there. Your loved ones in Christ will be there. I am convinced that you will know them intuitively (by the spirit). 1 Cor 13:12
“Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.” NKJV How did Peter, James, and John know Moses and Elijah on the Mt. of Transfiguration? In their spirit they instantly knew who they were.[7]
2. A place there is being prepared for you and you are being prepared for that place.
1 John 3:2 “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.” NKJV That thought brings comfort to me. I am sincere in my desire to please the Lord but there are still a lot of things about me that need changing. I am looking forward to my glorified body. We are here today celebrating the resurrection of Jesus. His resurrection is assurance of our resurrection. If the Lord is not risen our faith is in vain. All our hopes rest upon the great victory of the cross and the triumphant resurrection of Jesus from the grave. He lives. And because he lives, you and I will live forever. We are currently being changed. We will be changed in a marvelous way on the day of our resurrection.
3. A whole new order of existence will be there. There will be no sun or moon because the glory of God will light the place. Evil will have absolutely no access to us. Revelation 21:2-5 “Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." 5Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful." NKJV
4. Your inheritance is there. 1 Peter 1:3-5 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” NKJV
Charles Fuller once announced that he would be speaking the following Sunday on “Heaven.” During that week, a precious letter was received from an old man who was very ill. Here is part of his letter: “Next Sunday you are to talk about Heaven. I am interested in that land, because I have held a clear title to a bit of property there for over fifty-five years. I did not buy it. It was given to me without money and without price. But the donor purchased it for me at a tremendous sacrifice. I am not holding it for speculation since the title is not transferable. It is not a vacant lot. For more than half a century I have been sending materials out of which the greatest architect and builder of the universe has been building a home for me which will never need to be remodeled or repaired because it will suit me perfectly, individually, and will never grow old. Termites can never undermine its foundations for they rest on the rock of ages. Fire cannot destroy it. Floods cannot wash it away. No locks or bolts will ever be placed upon its doors, for no vicious person can ever enter that land where my dwelling stands. It is now almost completed and ready for me to enter in and abide in peace eternally, without fear of ever being rejected. I hope to hear your sermon on heaven next Sunday from my home in Los Angeles, but I have no assurance that I shall be able to do so. My ticket to heaven has no date marked for the journey—no return coupon—and no permit for baggage. Yes, I am all ready to go and I may not be here while you are talking next Sunday,
but I shall meet you there some day.”[8]
Wouldn’t that be a wonderful way to come to the end of your days here on earth? The best way to die well is to live well. I have found that people seldom die different than they live. Sometimes people get the mistaken idea that they will live like the devil and then on the deathbed turn to God and slip into heaven. Will a man outsmart God? It is unbelievable folly to think you could pull off such a plan. Jesus said in John 6:44
“No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him...” NKJV Just knowing you’re about to die does not open the heart to God. Hard hearts are only softened by the Holy Spirit. Come to God on His terms and He will receive you.
God’s terms are clearly stated in scripture, “Today is the day of salvation. Now is the acceptable time.”
Jesus is right now preparing a place for us. If He has gone to prepare a place for us then we have a whole lot to look forward to. In verse 3 he goes on to say, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” NIV That statement addresses the most important issue of all about heaven. What will make heaven, heaven? Being with Jesus. Being with the Father. “God is love.” Love will permeate the atmosphere of heaven. Nothing contrary to love will endure there or even enter there. It is the presence and dominion of God—the One who is pure love—that will make heaven a wonderful place. I don’t have a complete understanding of what the streets of gold are. But everything could be gold and if God were not there it would be utterly empty. The ultimate blessing of heaven is not streets of gold or mansions in the sky. The ultimate blessing of heaven is Jesus our Lord, our Coming King, our Bridegroom, the Lover of our soul.
“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back...” This is his promise to you and me. He died on a cross. He rose from the dead. He ascended to the Father. He is preparing a place for you and me. But the story does not end there. “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back...” Do you live in joyful anticipation of that promise? Or do you just live for temporal goals? I’m not saying we should have no temporal goals. But Christianity was never designed to feed off the beggarly elements of this world. We now have eternal life. We are to live in anticipation of our blessed Lord’s return. 1 Thess 4:16-18 “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18Therefore comfort one another with these words.” NKJV Notice the words, “And thus we shall always be with the Lord.” In heaven with my Lord—that is my future, that is my hope. My hope and your hope is not found in what this world has to offer. In the world you will suffer persecution. But Jesus said, “Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
You can handle anything that comes your way if—if your trust is in the Lord. You can enter into a peace that passes all understanding if—if your hope is in God and His provision for you. You need not fear if—Jesus is your Lord and exceeding great reward.
“Let not your hearts be troubled.” It is possible for us to do that if we are trusting Jesus and if we are setting our hopes on eternal things. If that has not been the way you lived in the past, it can be the way you live in the future. If Jesus has not been Lord of your life you can surrender to him right now and be changed forever. As we bow our heads, I want to ask those who know that you have not been living your life for God and the way He would have you to live it—I want to ask you right this moment to make a decision—a decision to turn your life over to Christ and receive him as Lord and Savior. If you are choosing to do that this morning, please raise your hand. I want all those who raised your hand to stand with me as we pray this prayer of commitment to Christ. Pray this prayer with me, “Dear God, I know I have sinned and need your forgiveness. I ask you to forgive me right now and change me in every way You want to change me. I commitment my life to you. I choose to serve you and follow you all the days of my life. I ask you to come into my heart right now and be Lord of my life. Jesus, I receive you as my Lord and Savior.”
TEXT: John 14:1-14
14:1"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 2In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4You know the way to the place where I am going." 5Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" 6Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him." 8Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us." 9Jesus answered: "Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, `Show us the Father’? 10Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. 12I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. 14You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. NIV
Richard Tow
Grace Chapel Foursquare Church
Springfield, MO
www.gracechapelchurch.org
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[1] Text which was read earlier in the service is provided at the end of this manuscript. All quotes are from the New International Version unless otherwise specified.
[2] G. Campbell Morgan, The Gospel According to John (Los Angels: Revell) p. 243 explains that although in the first verse in chapter 14 the pronouns are plural (while the pronouns are singular at the end of chapter 13) Jesus was simply enlarging his statement to Peter to include all the disciples there.
[3] John 13:27-30
[4] In John 13:21 we learn that Jesus was “troubled in spirit” and then talked about the betrayal.
[5] Although either translation is possible had John been saying “If you believe in God, believe also in me.” he could have made that very clear by using a real conditional clause in the Greek structure.
[6] Leon Morris, Reflections on the Gospel of John (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 2000) p. 491
[7] W.A. Criswell, Heaven (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House, 1991) This book deals with a number of common questions about heave in a very practical way.
[8] Paul Lee Tan, Encyclopedia of 7,700 Illustrations: Signs of the Times (Rockwell, Maryland: Assurance Publishers, 1979), p.545-546
