A Cure for Troubled Hearts

 

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.


We can find some of the most comforting words Jesus has ever spoken to his apostles in this passage today. They are very disturbed. They are fully convinced Jesus is the Messiah, but instead of being the conquering super hero they had expected the Messiah to be, defeating the enemies of Israel, he had just told them that he was going to be put to death by them.  To make matters worse, he was going to be betrayed by one of them!


And if that wasn’t bad enough, there was a good chance that they would meet the same fate!  And, while they awaited that, there were other practical aspects to consider. How were they to survive? They had left everything to follow Jesus! So far the donations had come plentifully thanks to all the miracles Jesus was working, but that would almost certainly dry up once he was gone. What were they going to do? Little wonder they were so troubled.  


“Do not let your hearts be troubled,” he says to them. Like the psalmist, he tells them to put their faith in him. Though they might walk through the valley of the shadow of death, they need fear no evil, for he is with them; his Shepherd’s rod and staff would comfort them (see Psalm 23:4).  This advice to them is also advise to us; to all who are troubled and afraid. But he doesn’t stop here.


He goes on to tell them that he is going to heaven to prepare a place for them. This earth was just a temporary abode and they were not to fear what happened here; their destination lay beyond death. And he would himself come to take them. This is also advise to all of us, especially those who fear death, be it our own or the death of others. Jesus has prepared a place for us, and can you imagine what that must be like after 2,000 years of construction? :) We will all about these “places” another time.


Finally, he tells them that he has prepared a way for them to get there. Everybody wants to get to heaven but few know how. However, now they do because he has told them how. It is through him, because he is the way, the truth, and the life. These final words of comfort should bring peace to all of us who wonder about where we will go when we are done here on earth. We are going home. All we need to do is follow Jesus.


So, do not let your hearts be troubled.

 


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