November 21, 2020 -- John 14:1-2 -- Smashing down the troubles of the heart

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?

John 14:1-2 English Standard Version

Dearly loved sons and daughters of God the Sovereign LORD of Heaven and Earth—of course the disciples’ hearts were troubled. Jesus had just told them He was going where they could not go. Jesus just declared Peter would deny Him three times before the rooster crows. Judas had just gone into the night to betray Jesus into the hands of Jewish authorities and Roman soldiers.

Jesus is commanding His torn apart, emotionally upended disciples: “do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in Me”. Greater than our sins; greater than our denials; greater than our worst moment is the love of God poured out on us in Jesus Christ. Our work is not to focus on our troubles and imagine how these keep us from God, our work—the task of faith—is to believe in God and believe in Jesus Who has revealed the Father.

What is the result of faith? The result of faith is the joy of knowing we have a Father unlike any earthly father. He determined to find us, to go to the ends of the earth and rescue us from the pit of despair and the depths of our misery. The result of faith is awe that Jesus should leave the splendors of heaven, suffer, endure unbelieving disciples. The result of faith is seeing Jesus, He is the perfect One, Who is the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world. This is the work of faith which results in believing Jesus truly is, now, preparing a place for us with Himself in eternity.

The trouble of our hearts melt away because of Jesus’ accomplished work as Savior. Our troubles fade into obscurity because Jesus is the Warrior-King Who has rescued us from hell and death and the grave by bearing our punishment. The disquieted fearfulness of our hearts is dispelled like mist in the summer sunlight because Jesus is greater than our sins; Jesus’ Spirit will apply the salvation of our Savior to every part of our mind, soul, heart, and every place of need so that we are presented pure and blameless in the sight of God our Everlasting Father.

What sin is nagging at you? What taunt is Satan using against you? What secret doubt do you have the you are not enough, you will never measure up? Fellow Christian, preach the Word to your soul—Do not let your heart be troubled—believe in God and believe in Jesus—for you have been raised from the tomb of your sins and the accusations of Satan and by Jesus blood you are cleansed, dearly loved sons and daughters of God the Gracious. Live in such faith—throw down the lies of the world, the devil and the lies of your own heart and mind. Live knowing Jesus is returning to bring you to Himself.

Spirit of the Living God, smash through our fears and doubts. Renew in us the joy of our salvation. By the Scripture show us over and over again the victory of Jesus which is given to us. Spirit of God, give us songs of salvation, holy hymns of deliverance which shout down the troubles of our hearts until assurance breaks over us, flooding every part of our being with the great, confident, and glorious hope Jesus is preparing for His people a place in eternity in the presence of the Father Who has given us such salvation! All this we pray in the Name of Jesus, Amen.