A reflection on John 14:1-6
1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also 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.
Jesus’ disciples have much reason to feel troubled. He has just previously told them that one of them would betray him and the lead disciple (Simon Peter) has just promised to lay down his life for him but Jesus has corrected him to inform him that Peter will instead deny his master three times. The disciples not only here have great reason to have hearts that are troubled but soon they will have even more: Jesus, their leader will be crucified on the cross. In fact Jesus goes on to tell them: “I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.” (John 16:20)
What is the remedy for a troubled heart?…
‘Trust in God, trust also in Me’ Jesus says. It is trust in God.
For the one who has placed their trust in Jesus’ death for their sins, and so follows Jesus as King – there is every reason for trust in God. Because Jesus tells his followers here that he is going to prepare a place for us. An eternal dwelling! In the Father’s house!
But in our trouble we may ask ‘Lord… how can we know the way to this eternal home?’ And Jesus answers us and he did them… ‘I AM the WAY and the TRUTH and the LIFE’
certainhopeinhopelessness 