"Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."
(John 14:1-6)
John 14:1-6 is the Bible text for tough times. It is a text for drying tears and finding strength. Tough times come to all. Losing a loved one, a friend, facing a family tragedy or a neighbor can be tough. What makes this text so helpful?
I – THERE IS COMFORT IN THIS TEXT - "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me." ( John 14:1). “Let not your heart be troubled.”
The world is full of trouble. Sickness and pain eventually come to all. Death visits our families and neighbourhoods. Trouble is inevitable and inescapable. “Man is born to trouble.” “Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.” (Job 14:1). We are trained for success, but not for failure. No wonder not many of us can handle suffering. We usually end up troubled, confused and bitter. He who can suffer well, will also live well. It requires more courage to suffer than to die.
But our Lord longs to comfort us. “Let not your heart be troubled.” ”Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.”(Isaiah 40:1). “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.”
(2 Corinthians 1:3-4). Jesus is “The God of all comforts.” “Lord, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.” Trials are not the enemies of faith but are opportunities to prove God’s faithfulness. For daily need there is daily grace; for sudden need, sudden grace; for overwhelming need, overwhelming grace. To be miserable, look within. To be distracted, look around. To be happy, look up! At times, we may not know where God is, but we can be confident that HE KNOWS WHERE WE ARE!
II – THERE IS A CALL TO FAITH IN THIS TEXT – “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.” (John 14:1). “Ye believe in God.” To “believe” is to exercise faith. We trust God to handle the smaller things but doubt. His ability to take care of the tough decisions, the frightening situations, and the big problems. “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” (1 Peter 5:7). “Casting ALL your CARE upon HIM, for HE CARETH for you.” He who abandons himself to God will never be abandoned by God. How fast we learn in a day of sorrow. “In studying, we know the Word of God. In suffering, we know the God of the Word.”
III – THERE IS A QUESTION IN THIS TEXT – “Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?” (John 14:5). “How can we know the way?” Because suffering is universal, we can always hear the voices of people asking: how, why,what? What kind of a God allows these thing to happen? “Is there a supreme being in control?” We have a human tendency to wonder why the person who love God and tries to live a holy life has to suffer physically, psychology, or in any other way, during his time on earth.
IV – THERE IS AN ANSWER IN THIS TEXT - “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6). “I am the way,the truth and the life.” JESUS is the answer. What big things are you facing? A big problem? Jesus is active in solving your big problems. What do you think is so small that it’s too small for God to notice? A small tears? A small worry that is robbing you of your joy? Jesus is active in big ways and small ways and unseen ways. The words: “I am the way, the truth and the life – settle three important concerns about heaven.” Jesus is not just one who shows the way. Jesus is the way. There is no other way.
I – THERE IS COMFORT IN THIS TEXT - "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me." ( John 14:1). “Let not your heart be troubled.”
The world is full of trouble. Sickness and pain eventually come to all. Death visits our families and neighbourhoods. Trouble is inevitable and inescapable. “Man is born to trouble.” “Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.” (Job 14:1). We are trained for success, but not for failure. No wonder not many of us can handle suffering. We usually end up troubled, confused and bitter. He who can suffer well, will also live well. It requires more courage to suffer than to die.
But our Lord longs to comfort us. “Let not your heart be troubled.” ”Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.”(Isaiah 40:1). “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.”
(2 Corinthians 1:3-4). Jesus is “The God of all comforts.” “Lord, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.” Trials are not the enemies of faith but are opportunities to prove God’s faithfulness. For daily need there is daily grace; for sudden need, sudden grace; for overwhelming need, overwhelming grace. To be miserable, look within. To be distracted, look around. To be happy, look up! At times, we may not know where God is, but we can be confident that HE KNOWS WHERE WE ARE!
II – THERE IS A CALL TO FAITH IN THIS TEXT – “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.” (John 14:1). “Ye believe in God.” To “believe” is to exercise faith. We trust God to handle the smaller things but doubt. His ability to take care of the tough decisions, the frightening situations, and the big problems. “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” (1 Peter 5:7). “Casting ALL your CARE upon HIM, for HE CARETH for you.” He who abandons himself to God will never be abandoned by God. How fast we learn in a day of sorrow. “In studying, we know the Word of God. In suffering, we know the God of the Word.”
III – THERE IS A QUESTION IN THIS TEXT – “Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?” (John 14:5). “How can we know the way?” Because suffering is universal, we can always hear the voices of people asking: how, why,what? What kind of a God allows these thing to happen? “Is there a supreme being in control?” We have a human tendency to wonder why the person who love God and tries to live a holy life has to suffer physically, psychology, or in any other way, during his time on earth.
IV – THERE IS AN ANSWER IN THIS TEXT - “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6). “I am the way,the truth and the life.” JESUS is the answer. What big things are you facing? A big problem? Jesus is active in solving your big problems. What do you think is so small that it’s too small for God to notice? A small tears? A small worry that is robbing you of your joy? Jesus is active in big ways and small ways and unseen ways. The words: “I am the way, the truth and the life – settle three important concerns about heaven.” Jesus is not just one who shows the way. Jesus is the way. There is no other way.
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