How do you feel about death? Fear? Anxiety? Peace? Confusion? Comfort?
I have a word for you today. Actually Jesus has a word for you today
Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. Jesus, John 14:1
The problem for us in our context on this cold day in January 2020…
• When will that day come for me?
• What will it be like?
• Will I be welcomed into heaven?
• Is my life worthy of it?
And for some of us our minds go to loved ones and friends who are nearing the end. Death ultimately is not poetic or romantic. Largely it is not a serene lake but a roiling storm of anxiety.
But into that anxiety are these words of relief Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me.
1 “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. 2 There is more than enough room in my Father’s home.[a] If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?[b] 3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.” 5 “No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. 7 If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is.[c] From now on, you do know him and have seen him!” 8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” 9 Jesus replied, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking me to show him to you? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I speak are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his work through me. 11 Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or at least believe because of the work you have seen me do.
But the big idea Jesus is trying to communicate revolves around 3 key words.
Know: to understand through personal experience (not intellectually)
See: implies metaphorically to perceive.
Believe - to believe, entrust…because he begins with the word Trust in God, and trust also in me. I think he was implying entrusting themselves to him.
I urge you to think about these three questions.
1. Do you get Jesus?
2. Do you know Jesus?
3. Will you entrust yourself to Jesus?
