“Let not your hearts be troubled {distressed} believe in God believe also in Me.” -John 14:1-
“Unless we trust we will be troubled!”
The word “troubled” means to be agitated, perplexed or put in a state of great confusion. The disciples were under great emotional pressure as they listened to the news. He had come to Jerusalem and the people had bowed down and praised Him as He rode in on a donkey. Exciting times He was the Messiah. And yet, in John 12 He speaks to them of His death. How could this be? They misunderstood. They were looking for a victorious King. They had left all for Him. What would happen to them? Left with religious people who were evil and hated Him and them. They didn’t know the reason Judas had left them. They heard Peter would deny Jesus. Jesus had told them He was leaving them and would die. It was all so much to take in. Everything seemed to be unraveling, so wrong. Their hearts are perplexed, agitated, heartbroken, troubled. Within 24 hours the Lord would be led away to be crucified. In the chaos of learning one would betray Him, they would deny Him, and in a short time the CRISIS OF FAITH- He would be taken, tried unjustly and crucified. He speaks to them ahead of the trial- “TRUST ME.” Jesus is on the eve of Calvary and He takes time to consider them and ENCOURAGE THEM! How different Jesus is, One hundred percent man and one hundred percent God. His concern was for them not Himself. He would be forsaken by His Father, bear the sin of the world, be mocked, maligned, forsaken. Yes, forsaken by those whom He had before Him and yet as merciful High Priest, acquainted with grief. He is moved with compassion, He feels for them. Their sorrows move Him. So we have in John 14 the comfort chapter. Jesus comforts His troubled followers
They would fail Him, betray Him, deny Him, He would be taken and be crucified and He says to them, “TRUST ME.” They have just received terrible news and yet He says, “continually trust Me.” He tells them why. He will rise again. He will go to prepare a Heavenly Home for them. He will come again to get them that they may be with Him forever. He gives them hope for the future to strengthen their faith in the present TROUBLE! They would undergo great emotional pressure as they would see Him arrested, executed on a cross and die. Their Messiah would die! The events surrounding the trial, crucifixion, would cause them great fear indeed doubts and Jesus speaks hope to comfort them, “Continually Trust Me.” His word is the same to us today.
In the Greek, it is “stop letting your hearts be troubled, agitated any longer.” How were they to do so? Jesus tells them in this chapter, choose to “Trust Me.” He knows they are troubled, and what is coming and His concern is for them not Himself. Their comfort. He knows their perplexity of heart, the fears, doubts and trouble all around them and within them. Their world is about to cave in it seems, and He comforts them with what was to be His last message to them before He died. He calls them to Trust Him.
Continually Trust My Presence with you. {v1}
Continually Trust My Promises for you. {v2}.
Continually Trust Me. {v6}
“But as they sat astounded and perplexed, He continues, ΄ὴ ταρασσέσθω ὑμῶν ἡ καρδία. Let not your heart be tossed and agitated like water driven by winds; cf. Liddell and S. and Thayer. He not only commands them to dismiss their agitation, but gives them reason: πιστεύετε … πιστεύετε. “Trust God, yea, trust me.” Trust Him who overrules all events, He will bring you through this crisis for which you feel yourselves incompetent; or if in your present circumstances that faith is too difficult, trust me whom you see and know and whose word you cannot doubt.”-John Marcus Dods.
When all looked lost, His words “TRUST ME” were still relevant and to be EXERCISED. When He died His words, “TRUST ME,” Were still to be in action. As the day went by, night time, the following morning and night, “TRUST ME” would still be called for. They locked themselves away, afraid of the crowds, “TRUST ME” would STILL be His call to them. On the third day He arose from the dead and appeared to them in their locked room. He appeared! He could have said, “What did I tell you?” ‘Trust Me!” His words “TRUST ME,” would be as relevant when they saw Him as when they saw Him die. What an occasion that had to be when they saw Him raised from the dead. Victorious, keeping His promise, defeating the grave, satan and coming back to see them, be with them, just as He said. “Trust Me!”
UNBELIEF FOCUS’S ON CIRCUMSTANCES AND RESTS IN FEELINGS.
FAITH FOCUS’S ON JESUS AND RESTS IN HIM AND HIS PROMISES!
“TRUST ME” is not based on sight, circumstances, feelings, but IN the ONE who said to “CONTINUALLY TRUST ME!” No longer let your hearts be distressed,perplexed,confused, troubled any longer, TRUST JESUS- He is trustworthy! Whatever my lot or yours today we can say, “For this I have Jesus and I choose to TRUST, RELY on Him- for He is Trustworthy!” For this I have the Resurrected Christ. Unless I trust Him I will be troubled in my mind, heart, emotions. But I choose to rely in Him. His character, His promises. I choose to think on Him. He has purpose in my troubles. I have Jesus for my troubles! In my troubles His Word is the same to me as it was to the disciples all those years ago, “CONTINUALLY TRUST ME.” TRUST THE ONE WHO CONQUERED DEATH AND IS RESURRECTED LORD! -Trust, rely on Him for SUPPORT, COMFORT, LOVE. HE IS FAITHFUL. HE IS VICTORIOUS. HE IS WITH YOU. HE IS FOR YOU!
When we CHOOSE to not trust Him, our hearts become like the rough seas and billows that rise up and slam down, unstable and disturbing and distressing, no stability. Our hearts are such tossed to and fro, anxious, perplexed, confused, heart-broken. When they are so it is because we are NOT TRUSTING JESUS. Not trusting His Person. Not trusting His Promises. Not trusting He is present and is working all things including this thing out for good. It may not feel good, or look good, but He promises it will work out for good! The answer is to choose to look to Jesus, lean in on Him. Trust, rely on Him continually…PERSEVERE IN TRUSTING HIM.
GOT TROUBLES? YES! Where is Jesus? He is PRESENT WITH YOU IN YOUR TROUBLES! His PROMISES are true and Powerful and for you! He calls you to look ahead to a future hope of being with Him for all eternity. Set your sights on eternity!
THE TRUTH FOR TROUBLING TIMES IS TO CONTINUALLY TRUST JESUS!
Think on His Person. Trust in His Promises. Thank Him He is present with you! The evidence we are relying on Him is… REST!
The words of the old Hymn come to mind…
“Jesus I am resting, resting in the joy of Who Thou art
Jesus, I am resting, resting,
In the joy of what Thou art;
I am finding out the greatness
Of Thy loving heart.
Thou hast bid me gaze upon Thee,
And Thy beauty fills my soul,
For by Thy transforming power,
Thou hast made me whole.
Simply trusting Thee, Lord Jesus,
I behold Thee as Thou art,
And Thy love, so pure, so changeless,
Satisfies my heart;
Satisfies its deepest longings,
Meets, supplies its every need,
Compasseth me round with blessings:
Thine is love indeed!
Jesus I am resting, resting in the joy of Who Thou art
Jesus, I am resting, resting,
In the joy of what Thou art;
I am finding out the greatness
Of Thy loving heart.”-Jean Pigott