THE COMFORT GIVEN THE DISCIPLES
JOHN 14:1-3
Introduction:
Jesus had revealed many things to His disciples during their training. He encouraged them throughout His ministry here on earth. However, there were things that He said that caused them great concern and “troubled” them. The disciples did not know what was ahead of them, but the Lord did.
In His final hours with His disciples He encouraged them by His words. He said in John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
I. THE DISCOURAGEMENT OF THE DISCIPLES
A. Jesus had said He was going away, John 7:33, “Then said Jesus unto them, Yet a little while am I with you, and then I go unto him that sent me.”
1. Jesus had prophesied His departure speaking to the lost Jews, Zechariah 12:10, “And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.”
2. He said that the unbelieving Jews would look for Him, John 7:34, “Ye shall seek me, and shall not find me: and where I am, thither ye cannot come.”
B. He said one of them would betray Him, John 13:21, “When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.”
1. Being human, Jesus was troubled over Judas’ soon betrayal of His love and friendship.
2. Being divine, Jesus knew in advance that it would happen, John 2:24-25, “But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, 25 And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.”
3. This greatly troubled the disciples.
C. He said Peter would deny Him three times, John 13:38, “Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice.”
1. Peter and the other disciples were shocked by this declaration.
2. Peter had always been outspoken, John 13:37, “Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake.”
3. It was an easy thing to leave his boats and nets to follow the Lord, but not so easy to lay down his life.
4. His Master himself struggled physically when it came to his time to die, Luke 22:42-43, “Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. 43 And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.
D. Jesus said that Satan was at work against all of them, Luke 22:31-32, “And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: 32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.”
E. He said that all the disciples would fall away, Matthew 26:31, “Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.”
II. THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF THE DISCIPLES
A. Believe in Me, v. 1, “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.”
1. Let not your heart be troubled [stirred, agitated], John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
2. I am going to My Father, John 14:28, “Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.”
3. You trust in God, Psalm 42:5, 8, “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance. 8 Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.”
4. Now trust Me, Ephesians 3:14-17, “For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; 17That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,”
B. I will come back, vs. 2-3, “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”
1. This is the promise of the rapture of the Believer, John 17:24, “Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.”
a) We will be with Him, 2 Corinthians 5:8, “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.”
b) We desire to be with Him, Philippians 1:23, “For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:”
2. This is the promise of His return to the earth, v. 28; John 16:20-21, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. 21 A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world.”
a) To establish His reign on the earth, Revelation 20:6, “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.”
b) And He will come quickly, Revelation 22:7, “Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.