They left all to follow Jesus; the disciples did. Then Jesus spoke of leaving them, and let’s just say, it got their full attention! Judas Iscariot had just left the Upper Room to betray Jesus, and Jesus drops the unimaginable on the remaining eleven disciples,
“Little children, I shall be with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come,’ so now I also say to you” (Jn 13:33).
Unbeknownst to the disciples, the cross was one day away. With Judas having left the Upper Room (Jn 13:30), things were accelerating very quickly. The world of the disciples was about to get turned upside down. Jesus will drink from the cup of the wrath of God for mankind’s sake (Mt 26:39). When Jesus spoke of a new commandment concerning love (agape, Jn 13:34-35), His words seemed to be drowned out by the news of His leaving. Peter responded as if not even hearing the words of Jesus,
“Lord, where are You going” (Jn 13:36a; cf. Jn 14:26, a good thing for Peter!)?
The news shouldn’t have hit the disciples like a tsunami (cf. Jn 7:33-34; 8:21; 12:8; 12:35), but it did! It reminded me of times I came to a realization of a truth I had already read or heard at one time or another, but it didn’t sink in because I was either not spiritually ready, or I didn’t want to think or deal with an inconvenient truth. Then out of nowhere, the meteor of truth entered my atmosphere and impacted my life to one degree or another. At other times, like most of us, I was completely blindsided by the will of God in some matters. I never saw it coming. We all share in the pain and suffering of life. Nowhere do I read, “Michael such and such is coming.” I get it in disobedience, but there are times when God allows things to enter your life while living in obedience (cf. Job).
Jesus answered Peter, “Where I go, you cannot follow Me now; but you will follow later’” (Jn 13:36b).
Jesus knew they were visibly upset and unsettled after informing them that one among their ranks would betray Him (Jn 13:21). Judas played his role superbly well, to such an extent that even his fellow disciples were clueless that he was a devil (cf. Jn 6:70). Upsetting as that was and leaving everybody wondering, it paled in light of the news that He was leaving, and they would no longer be able to follow Him. Peter declared to Jesus his loyalty to follow Him even unto death while the other disciples were probably nodding their heads all in agreement with Peter of their commitment to follow Jesus no matter what (Jn 13:37; cf. Mt 26:35; Mk 14:31). Then Jesus questioned Peter’s commitment and any nods, “Will you lay down your life for My sake” (Jn 13:38a)?
Furthermore, Jesus informed Peter of the rooster prophecy, as the other disciples listened intently, that he will “most assuredly” deny Jesus three times before the rooster crows (Jn 13:38b; cf, Mk 14:30)! The eleven were devastated, discouraged, discombobulated, and depressed with the Upper Room announcement.
Then comes the tender and comforting words of Jesus tucked inside a command, “Let not your heart be troubled” (Jn 14:1a).
Then comes the tender and comforting words of Jesus tucked inside a command, “Let not your heart be troubled” (Jn 14:1a).
The hearts of the disciples were troubled; they were heavily invested in the cause of Christ. The heart is the seat of the intellect, emotions, and will. The announcement of Jesus’ departure created great anxiety among the disciples; “Your” (Jn 14:1) is plural; all eleven of the disciples were stressed. Jesus, therefore, issued a commandment to His disciples, “Do not let your heart be troubled.” This is in the present passive imperative to address an ongoing process, “Stop letting your hearts be troubled.”
Another way of saying do not let your heart be troubled is “Do not allow the seat of your spiritual life to be troubled” (Gk, tarasso, also used in Jn 14:27) or stirred or agitated. AT Robertson observed that the disciples felt as if they were being tossed like waves in the wind by the words of Jesus. Words have a way of doing that. We are to guard our hearts but not shield them from the truth (Prov 4:23)! The truth is liberating, not debilitating, though it may be painful.
Being upset over God’s will reveals a self-imposed limit to our faith. God’s will for our lives is bigger than anything and everything. It is the only thing that matters and has the quality of eternality stamped on it – His will be done. There is more at play than our self-interests, insecurities, or petty motives. Jesus was heading to the cross, and no power on earth would prevent God’s will in the matter. This was the very reason Jesus came to earth – to atone for man’s sin. Not even the sorrow and heartache of others would deter Him from His mission. This, my friends, is a side of Christlikeness we need to be exposed to. Jesus was never deterred by emotions when it came to the will of the Father. Obedience from the heart is proof of love for God, not words or tears.
Though not worthy in the least, if I was one of the disciples, my heart would probably be pounding in my chest, as well! Ever felt like your expectations just went down the tubes after being caught up in some incredibly bad news? You’re left thinking, “What now?” It happens to the best of God’s people. What Jesus is saying here is important to latch on to during the upside-down times of life when something doesn’t make sense but makes perfect sense to God. God deals in the truth (for He is the truth, Jn 14:6) and expects us to do the same, to be Word-driven. Everything needs to be done by the Book, not contrary to it in the least! Spiritual ignorance cannot even execute passages like Josh 1:8.
This should come as no surprise; it is our responsibility not to allow our hearts to become stirred or agitated when confronted with the truth or will of God. Why would we be stirred or agitated with the will of God? Well, it could be we don't like what has happened to us or our family, or disagree with God on some portion of Scripture or doctrine? It is hard to disguise your true feelings when upset, over the truth no less! For messengers of God, this is where they become targets of agitation. Somebody is wrestling with a truth they don’t like, and they want to shoot the messenger! Been there and got shot at!
Jesus chases the command (Jn 14:1a) with a call to faith – “you believe in God, believe also in Me” (Jn 14:1b). Active biblical faith can stop the heart from being agitated, stirred, or “torn out of the frame,” a southern expression. – “Believe” (Gk, pisteuo, verb form) comes from faith or belief (Gk, pistis, noun form). Interestingly, John only used the verb form of faith in his Gospel, never the noun. John, along with Jesus’ half-brother, James, saw faith as active, not motionless, “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also” (Jas 2:26); faith without fruit is dead.
The verb, “believe,” is in the present tense, meaning it is continual or ongoing, a lifestyle of budding fruit. The voice is active, meaning the subject is the actor. The pronoun, “You,” is plural (a command to the eleven). What is the answer to a troubled heart, “believe also in Me.” An active biblical faith settles internal wrangling.
There seems to be a scholastic debate about whether the mood of both verbs, “believe,” is indicative or imperative or a number of combinations of the two. I am of the opinion that John, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit (inspiration), probably perceived the verb inflection in the imperative mood – [you] keep on believing in God, [you] keep on believing also in Me, or you keep on believing in God and Me. Believing in a biblical manner is a most powerful, transformational, and life-changing verb. You can say it puts the fruit on our faith! <><
There seems to be a scholastic debate about whether the mood of both verbs, “believe,” is indicative or imperative or a number of combinations of the two. I am of the opinion that John, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit (inspiration), probably perceived the verb inflection in the imperative mood – [you] keep on believing in God, [you] keep on believing also in Me, or you keep on believing in God and Me. Believing in a biblical manner is a most powerful, transformational, and life-changing verb. You can say it puts the fruit on our faith! <><
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| To Part 2 |
