Time to Rest
John 14:1-3 September 23, 2001
Today we will begin a new series as we study the scripture together. For the foreseeable future we will be studying a special section of John's gospel. John is unique in the way he tells the story of Jesus. His goal is identified at the end of chapter 20 where he writes: "Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name." John had a very specific reason for recording the events and the teachings that he recorded.
First, as this passage declares, John presents Jesus as the Son of God. His goal is that we, as we read and study his words, will see that Jesus is not just another man. Chapter 1 introduces Jesus as the Word who was with God, the Word who was God, and the Word who created all that is. Jesus is the Son of God.
Then we see that this gospel was not targeted to Jews or Greeks or Gentiles as the other three gospels were. Rather it is the Gospel to the World. The message is for all. John has been called a pool or refreshing water where a baby can play and a hippo may swim. It is the first gospel to send new believers to and it is the gospel that mature believers return to most often.
John's gospel was probably the last of the gospels to be written. Tradition tells us that the Apostle John cared for Jesus' mother until she died and then as he preached he was arrested and exiled to the island of Patmos. It was from here, in response to persecution and false teaching that John recorded the events and teaching from Jesus life that we now have in the 4th gospel.
Because John's purpose was not to write a life of Christ, we see that he has organized the gospel not as much by chronology, as by theme or topic. John records the cleansing of the temple rather early in Jesus' ministry. He also says nothing of Jesus' birth and tells us about the washing of the disciples' feet instead of the institution of the Last Supper.
While the other gospels are filled with miracles, John has only a limited number of miracles or as he calls them "signs," eight in all. John's signs are all recorded to demonstrate who Jesus is. He alone records the turning of water into wine. He alone records the raising of Lazarus. The signs in John demonstrate his power of nature, over sickness, over time and space over the weather, over sin and over death. Each of the signs is followed by a discourse that gives meaning to the sign.
A brief outline of John would look like this:
1 - Prologue
2 - 12 - Jesus' Public Ministry and signs
13 - 19 - The last 24 hours of Jesus' Life
20 - Resurrection Accounts
21 - Epilogue
The series that will hold our attention for several months is taken from the third part of the gospel. John obviously felt that Jesus' last words were critical, he devoted 1/3 of the book to his last 24 hours. We will be looking at Jesus' teaching and prayer as he prepared to go to the cross.
Turn with me now to John 13 where we will begin with the last verse and read through 14:8.
Then Jesus answered, "Will you really lay down your life for me? I tell you the truth, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!
[14:1] "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; and trust in me. [2] In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. [3] And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. [4] You know the way to the place where I am going."
[5] Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?"
[6] Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. [7] If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him."
[8] Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us."
Terror, that word has taken on new meaning in our lives and in our society. For many years when the word "terror" is spoken, the image of an airplane slamming through a skyscraper will come to our minds. Terror, it has dominated the news. There are interviews with children and adults who are terrified. There are stories of men and women who fought through terror and perhaps saved thousands of lives. There are the untold stories of cell phone calls that were never answered and nightmares that continue to wake children.
But terror is much more than 12 days old. Connie Francis has revealed that she will travel no where alone, and even when home makes certain people are with her because the memory of a rape terrorizes her. Children and wives know terror when there has been abuse in the home. Senior adults are terrorized when they feel isolated and forgotten in their later years.
Terror, the word itself strikes at our hearts. We remember dark nights in a lonely house. Perhaps you remember the sound or mortar as you hid in a foxhole. Maybe it is the sound of squealing brakes and crunching metal as cars collide leaving you helpless. Or maybe it is the feeling of a child who has just been told that his parents are divorcing or they have been killed. That was the terror of the disciples on the night Jesus spoke these words.
John tells us Jesus spoke these words as he and his disciples were finishing the meal on the night before the Passover. Jesus had told his disciples that he was leaving and they could not follow. And so, at the end of Chapter 13 Peter declared that he would follow Jesus even to death. And Jesus responded that before the night ended, Peter would deny ever knowing him three times.
Can you imagine what must have gone through the hearts of Peter and the others? I don't think it could be defined as panic, I think it was a numb terror. How could this be? Jesus had just declared that he had overcome the world! And now he was talking about leaving them and saying that all of them would desert him! It could not be! They would die for him. -- Their hearts had become storm-tossed oceans. Jim Taylor used to tell me about a time in the Pacific when they were in 60 foot swells during a storm. That was a picture of the disciples when they heard these words. "Will you really lay down your life for me? I tell you the truth, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!"
But Jesus did not stop with those words. He continued and said, "Let not your heart be troubled, don't even be afraid." The word Jesus used was a very strong Greek word. We translate it "troubled" but it meant to be shaken or stirred violently. (Take out and shake a can of soda). This is the way their hearts were feeling. And Jesus said, "You do not even need to consider the possibility of being stirred up over this. He said it as an imperative. It was a command in essence. Don't be troubled!
And immediately he follows it with two more imperatives. Believe in God! Believe in me! (Hold the can, let about 60 seconds pass, then open it). It is the faith that we have in our unchanging God that will calm the trouble and the terror in our hearts. The word "believe" has its root in the concept of firmness. The insurance company Prudential advertises itself as being "like a rock." This week however, not even Prudential has been able to stand firm. The company that is "like a rock" has fallen like a rock. However, Jesus has said, Stand firm, know that God will not change. And know that I will not change." Be firm.
We need that kind of firm foundation today. As fear grows and as anxiety mounts over the prospect of an unknown war we are expressing our anxiety in many dangerous ways. Daily we hear reports of attacks on people of Arab descent. Mosques all across our country have been attacked and vandalized. In Flint, a house beside the Islamic center was hit by gunfire. Earlier this week on a talk show a caller expressed the sentiment that maybe we should reopen internment camps this time for Arab Americans. In addition, K-Mart stopped selling ammunition because it was flying off the shelves so quickly and an army surplus store ran out of gas masks and prepared meals within minutes of opening. Fear mongers and hate groups are capitalizing on the anxious atmosphere of our nation.
I believe that the Church of Jesus Christ must stand firm in this hour. People are looking for release from their anxiety and all they are finding is more things to be afraid of. This morning I heard an interview with a little girl who had just returned to her lower Manhattan apartment. She said, "I get afraid whenever I hear an airplane or a helicopter. I know it was an airplane that hit the towers, but a helicopter could too, so I look out to see if I can see anything." Brothers and sisters, as followers of Jesus Christ, we are called to be a non-anxious presence in our world. Let not your heart be troubled. Though terror is repeated on the news media around the clock, let not your heart be troubled. Though your health is uncertain and there are pains you do not know, let not your heart be troubled. Though you are facing a new situation tomorrow with new challenges and new opportunities, let not your heart be troubled. Even though war ships are steaming at full speed to take their place in the upcoming battle, let not your heart be troubled. Though your children may have wandered far from Christ, let not your heart be troubled. Believe in God, Believe in Jesus.
We are called to be ministers of peace in our world. As followers of Jesus, if we see racial or gender or ethnic intimidation, we must speak out in defense of the defenseless. As followers of Jesus, if we see people mistreated because of the way they dress or the way they speak, we must speak out to protect the innocent. As followers of Jesus, if we see prejudice growing in our own hearts, we must speak out in repentance.
Though this world is tossed by anxiety, we can stand firm. Why? Because Jesus said, "My Father has a house and there is room for all of you." Our task is to invite others into the household of God and that invitation will only be accepted when we can demonstrate peace in our relationships and in our hearts.
When the disciples heard that Jesus was leaving, Those words caused fear in the hearts of his disciples. But I want to suggest today that those very same words are words that can bring us peace. He said, "I am going away, but I am going to make a place for you." That is not just a resting place along the way, no Jesus is preparing is far more than resting place. He is working on a final place of rest. A place where all terror will end. A place where peace will reign. A place with His father. Now hear the promise "And if I go away make a place ready for you, I will come back for you so that where I myself am, you will be as well." Those words are sure. In March of 1942, Douglas MacArthur, under orders of the President left the Philippines but as he left, he uttered this promise "I shall return." The cry "I shall return!" became the battle cry of the Pacific campaign. Those words eased the anxiety of a people who had come to know that they could trust Douglas MacArthur. And in October of 1944, he kept that pledge and waded ashore at Leyte.
Almost 2,000 years ago, Jesus said the same thing. Today, as His followers we are soldiers in a battle for peace. We are agents of peace in a world that is rocked by war. We are agents of peace in a world that is filled with anxiety. And so today, his words are our battle-cry. Jesus said, "I shall return!" And one day, with a shout, with the angels in tow, with all the glory of Heaven, he shall return and never again will we be separated. But even today, when we share the love of Christ with those in need around us, and when we live the call to be the body of Christ, He returns and is at work.
You see, this promise is true because Jesus gave his life for us. He went to the cross so that we might have life. This morning the choir is going to start leading us in our closing hymn, and then when we reach the third verse, we want you to join with us.
The campaign to set our hearts at rest began with just a handful, today the messengers of Jesus' peace span the globe. You are not alone and as you survey the cross of Jesus Christ, I urge you to recommit yourself to sharing the peace of God with all you encounter each day.
Let us Pray
When I survey
