The Cure for a Troubled Heart, Part Two

2 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? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

House Break-In in Indianapolis

Nothing worse than the feeling and sense that the ONE place you are most comfortable and safe has been violated.

The disciples sense of security was about to be rocked. They needed to know that their place with God, their security in Him was as rock solid as ever.

This cure for our troubled hearts strikes at the heart of our security and safety.

Jesus is preparing a place for us AND will take us safely there to be with him.

It is as secure as could be.

1 Peter 1:3-5.

1 Peter 1:3–5 ESV

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Jesus promises HIMSELF. He will not abandon them. He will return for them.

This future inheritance that Peter speaks of, which is he likely thinking back to this conversation when he does so, this future inheritance IS GOD, IS JESUS. Is our home WITH HIM.

Jesus is promising, not just his presence here, but with HIS PERSON, he is also promising his security. YOUR PLACE IN MY HOME IS SECURE. NOTHING CAN STRIP IT AWAY.

Nothing can violate it.

I am preparing a place for you THAT I WILL come and take you back to.

John 10:28-29.

John 10:28–29 ESV

28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.

Genuine, authentic faith and repentance assures us of the security of God’s presence and care.

Verses 2-3 specifically point to the future.

Jesus assures them that their relationship and future with Jesus CANNOT be touched. It is secure.

Jesus uses the imagery of a house, a home for a reason.

Because our home is where we feel most comfortable and secure.

Many Rooms – KJV, mansions – Word means to remain or dwell. Dwelling place. Context of house, rooms not mansions.

This is about having many rooms WITHIN the father’s house, not separate buildings, in which we get to go and dwell WITH him.

Many rooms –Puts to rest any fears of running out of room.

However, the house will be amazing! Take a look...

Revelation 21:9-27.

Revelation 21:9–27 ESV

9 Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues and spoke to me, saying, “Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb.” 10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, 11 having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. 12 It had a great, high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and on the gates the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel were inscribed— 13 on the east three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates. 14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. 15 And the one who spoke with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city and its gates and walls. 16 The city lies foursquare, its length the same as its width. And he measured the city with his rod, 12,000 stadia. Its length and width and height are equal. 17 He also measured its wall, 144 cubits by human measurement, which is also an angel’s measurement. 18 The wall was built of jasper, while the city was pure gold, like clear glass. 19 The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every kind of jewel. The first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, 20 the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. 21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each of the gates made of a single pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass. 22 And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. 23 And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. 24 By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, 25 and its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there. 26 They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. 27 But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

I don’t think we can even begin to grasp what heaven, eternity, and our eternal home will be like. It is fun to imagine and wonder, but we cannot know the true glory of it until we see it.

Jesus tells them though....I am going to prepare a place…and I WILL COME BACK FOR YOU.

If it were not so….would I have said….PUTs to rest any fears of dishonesty or changes in circumstance

E.G. – Children asking questions, a second and third time. They fear we will forget, change our minds, or wait too long (impatience)

God is putting to rest our fears that He will do any of these. He will not leave us behind.

Will take you to myself – Puts to rest any fears of being left behind. Comfort in being not only in secure place, but with secure person.

God is establishing a cure for our troubled hearts by ensuring that our place with Him is secure. His word and character are the seal of it.

The first cure is a command TO BELIEVE. To know that Jesus is true. That he is therefore trustworthy and THUS we unreservedly place all our trust in Him.

The second cure is a promise that our place with God, as his children is secure.

The third cure is a provision of a direct means to God the Father.

Access – John 14:4-11.

John 14:4–11 ESV

4 And you know the way to where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” 8 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” 9 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’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.

We have already said that the place already exists. The Father’s house is real. It is not as if Jesus is just now leaving to and build the place. It is there.

Jesus going and preparing means something else here.

DA Carson notes....

I am going there to prepare a place for you: the words presuppose that the ‘place’ exists before Jesus gets there. It is not that he arrives on the scene and then begins to prepare the place; rather, in the context of Johannine theology, it is the going itself, via the cross and resurrection, that prepares the place for Jesus’ disciples. And if he takes such trouble, all to prepare a place for his own, it is inconceivable that the rest should not follow: I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. Unlike some other passages that look to the parousia, this one focuses less on apocalyptic elements and the winding-up of the cosmos (cf. Mk. 13:24–27; 2 Thes. 2) than on the comfort to be enjoyed by believers in the presence of God (cf. 1 Thes. 4:15–18)—which is different again from those passages that offer solace to the believers on their death (e.g. 2 Cor. 5:8; Phil. 1:23).

DA Carson

Preparing a place – The place is already there.

Thus, instead of focusing on the place, VERSE 4 goes on to put the emphasis on THE WAY to the place.

The Way – Jesus (Vs. 4-6a)

“You know the way to where I am going, [to prepare a place for you.”]

Vs. 5 - Thomas, we don’t know where you are going, how can we know the way?

Vs 6 - Because you know me. AND I am in the way.

Vs. 6 - I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE.

The Way

Path, Road, Journey, Access Point.

Nearly half are used figuratively to talk about the course one’s life takes.

Christianity came to be known by The Way – Acts9:2; 19:9, 23; 22:4, 24:14).

The place is secure...

The WAY TO GOD, to our future home, to the promised inheritance.....

What is that way?

Jesus death, burial, and resurrection. The gospel.

Jesus is preparing of THE PLACE is accomplished through His death on the cross and His resurrection.

The way to where He is going is HIMSELF ON THE CROSS. This He has told them He must do. (Be lifted up)

The way it is accessed and obtained is through faith in Him and repentance from sins.

Hebrews 10:19-25.

Hebrews 10:19–25 ESV

19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Hebrews 9:8-14.

Hebrews 9:8–14 ESV

8 By this the Holy Spirit indicates that the way into the holy places is not yet opened as long as the first section is still standing 9 (which is symbolic for the present age). According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper, 10 but deal only with food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation. 11 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) 12 he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

Jesus opened up the way for us to go to the Father through His own sacrifice.

Did they know the way? Yes. HE WAS THE WAY.

As we have already established, Jesus is also truth. He is true. But since it is here, let’s touch on it again...

The Truth

Something that is accurate. Something that is REAL.

Since He IS truth, all he says and does is true/truth.

Paul in 1 Th 1:9 calls God the living and true God – The True God; the Accurate one; The REAL one.

Jesus described as TRUE FOOD AND TRUE DRINK (John 6:55)

1 John 5 :20.

1 John 5:20 ESV

20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.

THE TRUTH – Absolute truth is real and found in Christ.

All truth is God’s truth.

Point is, God is real and true. He is as he seems. He is accurate.

And thus, He is always the means to finding truth, living in truth, and knowing truth.

The Life

John 1:1-4 declares that in Him is life!

John 1:1–4 ESV

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men.

Jesus declared Himself to be “The Resurrection and Life.”

Jesus also said that he life in himself. (John 5:20)

We saw with Good Shepherd in John 10 that He has authority to lay his life down and take his life up.

He has already declared to them that He is the BREAD OF LIFE

John 12–21: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary Comfort Comes from Trusting Christ’s Proclamation

Jesus alone is the way to God (10:7–9; Acts 4:12) because He alone is the truth (John 1:14, 17; 18:37; Rev. 3:7; 19:11) about God and He alone possesses the life of God (John 1:4; 5:26; 11:25; 1 John 1:1; 5:20).

Only because He is the truth and life can Jesus be the way for others to come to God, the way for his disciples to attain the many dwelling-places in the Father’s house, and therefore the answer to Thomas question – “Lord we do not know where you are you are going, How can we know the way?” DA Carson

The answer to Thomas’ question is, you know the way, BECAUSE I AM THE WAY, TRUTH, and LIFE

Jesus answer is, you know me…that is all you need to know.

And isn’t this true for our lives?

When we don’t understand the destination...

When we don’t understand the path...

All we need to know....IS THE ONE WHO KNOWS BOTH.

Where does the way lead?

The Destination – The Father John 14:6-11

John 14:6–11 ESV

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” 8 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” 9 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’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.

“No one comes to the Father except through me.” – Vs. 6

Father is the destination, not heaven.

He is the way…the Destination is the Father

THE GLORY of the house is that IT IS WHERE GOD IS.

It could in a cardboard box, but if God is there, IT IS A MANSION. We will talk about this more in a moment....but understand this…the greatest thing about heaven is that it is where God is.

Eternal life is about the PERSON OF GOD, not our comfort, security, or peace.

Christ is the way to knowing the Father

How many times did Jesus say it? If you have seen me, you have seen the Father. He says it here in John 14.

Jesus was with God, was sent by God, IS God, and makes the Father known to us. By seeing the Son, hearing the son, we know the Father as well.

Vs. 7 – IF you had known me….Philip, Show us….Jesus, have I been with you so long and you still don’t know me?; Do you not believe? They are still ignorant and missing who He is. Lack FULL comprehension.

Jesus’ question is filled with disappointment. The one’s closest to him still failed to fully understand who He was.

Do you still not believe?

Are the works I do not enough to convince you?

The purpose of the works, the signs was evidence of his claims and his truth.

Jesus is saddened by their utter lack of faith, by their utter lack of understanding.

Warning: Immersion and constant exposure to the truth of God does NOT necessarily result in passion, devotion, and understanding.

The Spirit of God must open the eyes of faith.

As we share the gospel and reach out to the lost....we must do so IN FAITH asking God to open their eyes.

As we counsel, disciple, teach, and train others....we must do so in IN FAITH asking God to open their eyes.

As we open the pages of scripture to read, reflect, and grow…we must do so IN FAITH asking God to open our eyes to understand.

We have an open way to the Father, JESUS CHRIST who is TRUTH AND LIFE and provides access to the FATHER.

Disciples missed because they did not fully understand purpose of the salvation he brought and offered.

Have we missed purpose? Exemplified in empty worship; apathy, indifference, disobedience, and prideful selfish actions.

The cure for our troubles hearts is found in our believing of God, the promise of our secure standing with Him, and in the reality that we have direct access to God through Jesus.

Finally, for today....the cure for our troubled hearts is found in being grounded in our eternal purpose.

Purpose– John 14:12-14.

John 14:12–14 ESV

12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

All of us desire to know that our lives matter, that they mean something; that they have purpose.

Jesus promises that they will mean something FOR HIS GLORY.

Jesus promises that their lives will have purpose and will accomplish great things for Him.

Truly, truly – Amen, amen, double emphasis to promote the assurance of the matter.

I say to you…and He is truth so it is believable.

Believes – participle describing whoever - Whoever is believing (perpetual)

Will do the works I do….miracles? What does He mean?

Works of God…preach repentance and draw sinners to Christ; Do the will of God and bring glory to the Father; Serve others; sacrifice for others; miracles (yes, not excluded but has bigger picture in mind. Miracles validated Him and His message.)

AND greater works…he will do because I am going to the Father

NOT because they are greater than Christ…

Greater in NUMBER; Greater in extent.

BECAUSE He goes to the Father to serve as our mediator and advocate, we have access to God through His name.

Greater in NUMBER because through the thousands upon thousands who will respond in faith, many many more will repent and believe.

What’s more, Jesus promises His provision.

Whatever you ask in my name...

If you ask Me anything in My name...

that will I do

I will do it.

Jesus has provided for his disciples since the day he called them. His going away must certainly be a source of concern for them.

Jesus seeks to still to their troubled hearts with this promise.

Now, mind you, he is not suggesting a frivolous thing, that if they tack on “in Jesus name” at the end of every, their every desire and prayer would be granted.

He qualifies the purpose for his answer of those prayers....THAT THE FATHER MAY BE GLORIFIED IN THE SON.

What does it mean to ask ANYTHING in Jesus’ name?

First, to pray in his name means to be pray in way that is consistent with God’s will and his purpose SO THAT HE WOULD BE GLORIFIED.

Matthew 6’s model prayer reminds us we are to pray for His will to be done, HIS kingdom come.

Secondly, as MacArthur notes...

John 12–21: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary Comfort Comes from Trusting Christ’s Promise

it is to acknowledge one’s spiritual poverty, lack of self-sufficiency, and utter unworthiness to receive anything from God based on one’s own merits (Matt. 5:3). It is to approach God based on the merits of Jesus Christ (cf. John 16:26–28) and to acknowledge one’s complete dependence on Him to supply every need (Matt. 6:25–32; Phil. 4:19).

Thirdly, we ought to be praying with a sincere desire that for God to be glorified in the answering of the prayer.

When we pray as prescribed here, GOD is the focus through and through.

When we pray as prescribed here, we have drifted into blessed self forgetfulness and our prayers reflect ONLY a desire for the glory of God in the answering of them.

If these three things are true, the promise of Jesus stands AND the purpose of God will be fulfilled in our lives.

Conclusion

Jesus’ heart here is for his disciples, that they may not be troubled. And troubled they are. BUT Jesus offers the cure...

BIG IDEA: Jesus promises security, access, and purpose for our troubled hearts.

Nine cures for troubled hearts (John 14-16)

An Imperative – Believe in God – John 14:1.

Big Idea: A troubled heart is soothed through confident belief in God.

Security– John 14:2-3.

Access – John 14:4-11.

Purpose – John 14:12-14.

Church, as we seek to be ever growing together to become more like Jesus for the glory of God, may we find rest in the provision God has provided for our troubled hearts.

Application

How does knowing our place with God is secure provide a cure for our troubled hearts?

Fear of the unknown, of change, of a lack of security is a very real fear for us all. Having a sense of stability and security will remove the temptation to worry or fret. We can know that no matter what comes, GOD WILL NEVER LEAVE OR ABANDON US, that we are His and that he jealously guards that which is his.

Why is it so hard for us to believe and accept that our place with God is secure?

Nothing in our life is secure. Nothing in our life has that absolute security, so we struggle to believe that it is even possible.

We cannot see God, touch God, hear God, smell God....thus it is harder to believe something that can only be taken on faith.

Our image, view, and theology of God is often built around our earthly circumstances; built around men we know here, who are imperfect. Thus our image of God at times is imperfect.

How do we root and ground ourselves in this truth more?

Spend more time in the word.

Renew our mind on the truth

Have some arsenal verses ready to recite and mediate on when we question it.

Recognize that man’s failures do not reflect upon then nature of God.

What is so amazing about having direct access to God?

We do not have to involve a middle man. We can go to him ANYTIME and he is ready to receive us.

It exposes the fact that God WANTS us to come. He longs for us to do so.

We do not have to wait for or depend upon another.

Why is it so significant that Jesus is the way to the Father?

He is the ONLY way. It makes the way to God clear and easy to know. There is no question.

He is perfect. He is good. He is patient. He is gracious and holy. He is trustworthy. If other means existed, they might not offer the same security.

We have God. He is ours. Thus, the way to God is ALWAYS open.

Why is it so critical that Jesus is the ONLY way to the Father?

It is not left to question, to wonder, to speculation.

It is not left to man’s might and power.

What should be our response to this truth?

Humility.

Thankfulness

Worship.

Submission and obedience.

Why is the glory of God truly THE greatest purpose of our lives?

Because it is the greatest good and the greatest delight there is.

How does having that purpose cure our troubled hearts?

It makes our lives matter. Gives value and significance.

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