“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God[a]; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 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. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.” – John 14: 1-4
Jesus always seems to give us comfort when others cannot. The disciples had just been given some terrible news in John 13. Jesus has told them that he will in fact die. To make matters worse, Jesus lets them know that one of their own will commit treason and turn Jesus in. This was unbelievable for the disciples. Some denied that it would happen, but once the truth set in, the disciples’ fear and anxiety set took over. This is where Jesus calms them with His words of reassurance.
I think we can all relate with the disciples. We have spent so much time, money, and worry trying to make our lives the best it can possibly be. For many of us, Covid-19 has jeopardized that opportunity. Those who started a business of their dreams are now forced to decide between the law and operation. Those who had wedding plans this summer must decide between the court house or delaying their wedding. High school seniors miss out on their final week of school. Children whose main inspiration and care came from school now are isolated and alone in broken homes. The list goes on and on. It is easy to let our fear and anxiety take over.
Jesus tells the disciples this “you believe in God, believe also in me.” Ancient Jews had a much more fluid experience of suffering. The major arch of the bible gives us several ways ancient Jews suffered: slavery, wandering the desert, not hearing form God, exile, Roman occupation, etc. etc. The disciples were not afraid of suffering from God, but they thought this Jesus guy was different. I am sure it took nearly the whole 3 years with Jesus to understand that Jesus did not come to bring fire and brimstone. Instead, Jesus came to walk through fire and brimstone on our behalf. He did that because he doesn’t want our time on earth consumed with earthly things.
How comforting is that? Jesus died for your sins so that you can live life right now. Your eternal life does not start when you die. Your eternal life begins when you become a disciple of Christ. So for all the disciples out there who are afraid and anxious. I ask you the same thing Jesus said. Don’t you trust God? Don’t you trust Jesus who walked through fire for you? Trust God and believe with all your heart, mind, and soul that Jesus is not half-way “working from home.” He is working full time to prepare a place for you (v.2). He is preparing a place with no more fear. He WILL come back for you. We all must give ourselves space to grieve and hurt, but do not allow that hurt to steal your hope. Your hope is here, and the carrier of that hope is Jesus.
PM