Most everyone agrees with Dorothy in “The Wizard of Oz” — “There’s no place like home.” The trouble is identifying one’s true home and knowing how to arrive there. Do you know your ultimate home? Do you know the way there?
The Predicament: A Misunderstanding of ‘Home’
Jesus’ disciples believed they were home right where they were in their homeland of Israel. Granted, it was a real “fixer-upper” but the disciples believed Jesus had come to fix Israel’s political, economic, social and religious ills. How devastated they were to learn Jesus was going away (John 13:33). The homeland of Israel was not their true home. Home was with Jesus, but Jesus was leaving. The departure of Jesus was rocking the disciples’ world.
The Principle: Being Troubled is a Choice (v. 1a)
Don’t let your heart be troubled. We have the choice whether or not our hearts become troubled. While trouble may not be a choice, being troubled by trouble is. As disciples of Jesus today we face plenty of troubles — bereavement, divorce, bankruptcy and religious persecution. But you and I have the choice not to allow them to trouble our hearts. How then do we make the choice not to be troubled?
The Prescription: When in Trouble, Believe (v. 1b)
The treatment for trouble is trust. Jesus never failed His disciples and He would not fail them now. Jesus spoke in the present tense when He said, “Believe in God, believe also in Me” (John 14:1). A contemporary rendition might be, “Keep calm and keep on believing.” Jesus had never failed His followers and instructed them to continue trusting Him.
Perhaps they remembered the occasion when they were crossing the Sea of Galilee. A storm’s wind, waves, thunder and lighting stirred plenty of trouble all around them. The disciples allowed the trouble outside the boat to come inside the boat and trouble their hearts. All the while Jesus was taking a much-deserved nap. Jesus set the example of trust in the midst of trouble. His heart was not troubled by the surrounding storm. The disciples learned they could trust the One whose word would silence the storm.
Several of you are sailing on troubled seas at this moment. Storms are howling, lightning is flashing and thunder is clapping. You have a choice in the midst of the trouble to become troubled or remain at peace. Many of you are exhibiting the powerful testimony of an untroubled heart because you keep on believing Jesus. Even without resolution to your problem, you are confident that Jesus is trustworthy. With Jesus “in your boat” it is well with your soul.
The Perspective: Our Temporary Separation is for Our Permanent Union (vv. 2–5)
“In my Father’s house are many dwelling places” (John 14:2). Here is the weight of Jesus’ consolation. This broken world is not your home. Jesus did not come to fix what’s corrupted, polluted and ruined. Instead He came to safely deliver us to our true home. As C.S. Lewis proposed, “We were made for another world. Our ultimate destination is the Father’s house where there are many dwelling places. Take comfort followers of Christ. His going away is only temporary.”
Jesus had already spoken to the disciples about His going away. It would include His betrayal, trials, scourging, crucifixion, death, burial, resurrection and ascension. The nails of crucifixion are necessary for the construction of our heavenly home. The blood shed at Calvary is required to prepare us for that home. Jesus’ going away prepares a place for us and prepares us for that place.
The disciples readily understood the imagery Jesus was using in His words of comfort to them. They recognized the word picture of a Jewish betrothal and wedding. In Bible times when a Jewish man became “betrothed” to his bride, he would “go away” for a time to prepare a place for them to live together as husband and wife. Surely their parting brought the sadness of separation, but they both knew it was only temporary. The groom was going home to build an addition to his father’s house. This new room would be the dwelling place for the couple. Once he completed the dwelling place he would return for his bride.
Thus Jesus says, “If I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am there you may be also” (John 14:3). The purpose for Jesus’ temporary separation from His disciples was for their permanent union. What a glorious day it was when the groom returned for his bride. Taking her groom’s hand, the bride processed through the city streets amid joyful songs and dancing. Upon arrival at the father’s house the wedding ceremony and supper occurred followed by the couple entering their “dwelling place” in the father’s house.
The “blessed hope” of all believers is when Jesus comes again and receives us unto Himself to be wed to Him and dwell forever in our Father’s house (1 Thess. 4:13–18). Jesus teaches that temporary separation is for the purpose of permanent union. Believers know the way to where Jesus is going. So do not let your hearts be troubled. Keep on trusting Jesus.
The Path: The Way Home is a Person — Jesus, the Lover of Your Soul (v. 6)
The disciple Thomas questioned Jesus about the way home. Jesus responded that Thomas knew the way because he knew Him. He might have said, “Here’s the way, Thomas. It’s Me. I am the Way. Keep on believing every word I say because I am also the Truth. No word I have ever uttered is false nor is this one. And the way home is eternal life because I am the Life.”
In the context of trouble Jesus speaks comfort. “I love you. I laid down My life for you to give you forgiveness and to prepare you a place in the Father’s house — your true home. Will you accept My proposal? Will you be Mine? Trust Me alone as your Savior and Groom. My Holy Spirit becomes your engagement ring guaranteeing our coming wedding. I’ll be back soon to receive you to Myself forever. You know the Way. I am the Way. Put your hand in Mine. Love will lead you home.”
Cecil Sanders serves as pastor of First Baptist Church, Headland. He is a graduate of Wheaton College in Wheaton, Ill.; Dallas Theological Seminary in Texas; and Beeson Divinity School in Birmingham. He and his wife, Lynn, have been married 30 years and have two daughters and a son-in-law.
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