“Let not Your Hearts be Troubled"

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.” (John 14:1 ESV)

When Jesus spoke these words, several things had already happened. Peter had denied Christ, as Jesus had professed. Judas had been indicated as the betrayer of the Son of God, and the apostles were told of the Lord’s pending departure.

What troubling times. On this side of the cross, we know the outcome; however, the apostles lived what we now read in Scripture. These men had given up everything to follow Christ, just as the women who tended to them had done. Now, they were all being told Jesus was leaving. Sure, they saw the miracles, they believed in Christ, but they were not prepared to believe in what would happen to Christ. His resurrection was hard for them to grasp, much less believe, even though they had seen Lazarus walk from the tomb.

In John 14:2, we have two imperatives and one indicative. In a way, this makes no sense, as we would most likely see this as three imperatives. Do this, do this, and do this. More often, the axioms of creeds are accepted blindly in a “matter of fact” way. The apostles accepted what they saw and believed that Jesus was the Son of God, but did they understand that He truly was God? His words in today’s text, the indicative, was for the apostles to believe and recognize that the Father and the Son are one, that the apostles had witnessed the manifestation of the Father in Christ, and to believe that Jesus is God.

In the upper room, as Philip spoke to Christ, we see the apostles' struggle to fully comprehend the manifestation of God that sat before them. “Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.”Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? (John 14:8) Even then, they may not have fully grasped what Jesus was saying. This struggle to understand, especially as things began to accelerate towards the arrest and crucifixion of Christ, is a common experience in our own faith journeys.

After the crucifixion, the apostles were ready to return to fishing; in their minds, everything had ended when, in fact, a new beginning was about to start. The apostles knew Jesus; for three years, they were part of His ministry, and yet they did not fully believe or understand that Jesus is God. Jesus saw this in Thomas and spoke a blessing on “those who have not seen yet believe." (John 20:29).

We cannot believe in God by our own nature, our own faith, just as we cannot save ourselves from our sins. It is only by God's grace that we can understand the gospel and believe in what we have not seen. Jesus said, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.” (John 6:44) This verse reminds us of the crucial role of God's grace in our faith journey. 

In our families, in our ministries, in our church, we must be patient and diligent in nurturing the seeds of the gospel that have already been planted. We must be examples and reflections of Christ in all that we do. This is not always easy to do, especially in difficult times. Today’s verse reminds us not to be troubled, but to place our faith in Christ. Imagine the strength that is demonstrated within the one who doesn’t buckle under the pressure of difficulties but is positive, bringing forth a gospel message of hope.

Without hope, all is lost. Spread the gospel of hope, and continue to nurture the seeds of the gospel in those who do not know Christ. Your faith and belief are a beacon, and many will come to the light —the light of our Savior, Christ Jesus.

Grace and peace.