Hope for the Days Ahead: Jesus' Final Instructions for the End Time Church
August 27, 2021

Overcoming Anxiety, Fear, Shame, and Betrayal (Jn. 14:1)

I. JESUS’ COMMAND NOT TO LET TROUBLE DOMINATE OUR HEART

A. Jesus commanded the disciples not to let trouble dominate their heart (Jn. 14:1). There are important human dynamics involved as indicated by His command to “let not…” Included in His commands is the promise of His enabling to walk out His commands such as “Let not your heart be troubled.” Only those who seek to obey “that command” will be empowered to love Him with all their heart.

Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me…Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you…Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (Jn. 14:1, 27)

B. John 13-17 tells how to engage our troubled hearts to overcome anxiety, fear, shame, and betrayal. Jesus gives us line-upon-line insight into God’s heart and promises that are an anchor for our hearts. John 13-17 gives insight into the family dynamics and relationships in the Godhead—God desires that we engage in this relationship by interacting with God in ways that God interacts with God.

C. Jesus was troubled as He considered being killed the next day and being betrayed by Judas (Lk. 22:44; Jn. 12:27; 13:21). Yet, Jesus was focused on His beloved disciples not being troubled.

II. JESUS’ PROPHECY TWO DAYS EARLIER IS PART OF THE CONTEXT OF JOHN 13-17

A. On Tuesday, two days before the last supper (Jn. 13), Jesus prophesied concerning military conflict, ethnic strife, pestilences (plural), earthquakes, betrayal, and martyrdom in Matthew 24 (and its parallel passages in Mark 13 and Luke 21). Jesus called them not to be troubled (Mt. 24:6). The truths in John 13-17 can equip us to respond to the end-time troubles highlighted in Matthew 24.

Jesus said to them, “…not one stone [of the temple] shall be left here upon another… “You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled…the end is not yet. For nation [ethnos] will rise against nation…there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes …They will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you…Then many will…betray one another… Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.” (Mt. 24:2-11)
“…they will lay their hands on you [beatings] and persecute you, delivering you up to the… prisons…You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives, and friends…When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies… For there will be great distress…upon this people. They will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations.” (Lk. 21:12-24)

B. John 14:1 is essential to obey in a consistent way because when our hearts are weighed down with anxiety, fear, and shame, we are much more vulnerable to darkness. His peace guards our hearts.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer…with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God…will guard your hearts and minds… (Phil. 4:6-7)

C. In Matthew 24, Jesus emphasized the danger of deception more than persecution or tribulation (24:4-5, 11, 24). A troubled heart is a seedbed of the very confusion and deception about which Jesus warns us. There are many layers to deception including a warning to the Church not to get confused about the issues and not to lose clarity as to who Jesus is, and what the gospel is all about.

III. SEVEN REASONS WHY THE APOSTLES WERE TROUBLED

A. Just moments before Jesus exhorted them not to let their hearts be troubled (14:1), He spoke of leaving the disciples by death (13:36), Judas’ betrayal (13:11), and Peter denying Him (13:38). Two days prior, He prophesied that troubles would come to them personally and to society (Mt. 24).

B. Death of their beloved leader and friend: The thought of Jesus dying was very traumatic to them. Jesus referred to His death 18 times in the Upper Room Discourse (Jn. 13:1, 3, 33, 36; 14:2, 4, 12, 28 [2x]; 16:5, 7 [2x], 10; 16, 28; 17:11 [2x], 13).

…Jesus answered him [Peter], “Where I am going you cannot follow Me now, but you shall follow Me afterward”…“Will you [Peter] lay down your life for My sake? Most assuredly, I say to you, the rooster shall not crow till you have denied Me three times.” (Jn. 13:36-38)

C. Personal failure: Peter denied Jesus, and the others stumbled that night (Mt. 26:31-34; Jn. 13:38).

…they went out to the Mount of Olives. Jesus said to them, “All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night…34before the rooster crows, [Peter] will deny Me three times.” (Mt. 26:30-34)

D. Betrayal: Their close-knit team would be traumatized by Judas’ betrayal of Jesus and of them. Next, they would be betrayed by friends and family (Mt. 24:10; Lk. 21:16; Mk. 13:12; Jn. 13:21).

…He was troubled in spirit, and testified and said, “…one of you will betray Me.” (Jn. 13:21)
“You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends…” (Lk. 21:16)
“Now brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death.”(Mk. 13:12)

E. Crisis in the culture: Great pressures would disrupt the social order (Mt. 24:4-12; Lk. 21:8-24).

“You will hear of wars and rumors of wars…7For nation [ethnos] will rise against nation…there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes…Then many false prophets will…deceive many.” (Mt. 24:6-11)

F. Persecution: They would be killed, beaten, and imprisoned (Mt. 24:9; Lk. 21:12-17; Jn. 16:2).

“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you…for My name’s sake.” (Mt. 24:9)
“…they will lay their hands on you [beatings]…delivering you up to the…prisons…” (Lk. 21:12)

G. Destruction of their nation: Jerusalem and the temple destroyed (Mt. 24:1-2; Lk. 21:20-24).

Jesus said to them, “…not one stone [of the temple] shall be left here upon another…” (Mt. 24:2)
“When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies…For there will be great distress…upon this people. They will fall by…the sword and be led away captive into all nations.” (Lk. 21:20-24)

H. Delay of God’s promises: There was going to be delay in the release of the fullness of God’s prophetic promises to them and the nation of Israel. He was talking about leaving them physically without defeating Rome who was oppressing them or setting the apostles on thrones (Mt. 19:28).

IV. WE MUST EMBRACE THESE 8 TRUTHS THAT JESUS TOLD THEM TO BELIEVE

A. The command in John 14:1 is to believe in the divine narrative associated with Jesus’ heart, plans, promises, and leadership, especially that which is seen on the earth at His first and second comings.

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions…I go to prepare a place for you…I will come again [His second coming] and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” (Jn. 14:1-3)

  1. Jesus meant, “Stop being troubled”— How?
    By trusting in God’s heart, plans and promises; thus, by agreeing with His promises, celebrating His leadership, and engaging with His heart.

  2. Jesus doesn’t say to them: “Let not your hearts be troubled because you will escape the difficult days that lie ahead.” Nor, “If you muster up enough strong faith, you will escape all the pressures that others face, especially physical affliction and financial stress.

B. What do we do when our heart is troubled? We realign our mind to agree with what God said.

…be transformed by the renewing of your mind… (Rom. 12:2)
Behold [meditate on] what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us…We shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself… (1 Jn. 3:1-3)

C. Truth #1—Belief in the truth about Jesus—His person, promises, and leadership. This is not a reference to the initial faith we exercise to become born again. The disciples were already saved. Jesus declared that they are already “clean” or forgiven (13:10). So this is not a gospel appeal.

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God [a fact], believe also in Me [a command].” (Jn. 14:1)

  1. The Israelites, even the Pharisees believed in God without having ever seen His form (Jn 5:37). Thus, they had faith in an invisible God, so Jesus wanted them to also believe in Him in this way—after He died and was no longer visible. Up to now, the disciples believed in Him by seeing what He did. Soon He would also be invisible to their eyes, but He is God just as His Father is. When our faith is based on sight, we’re operating on the lowest measure of faith.

  2. The answer Jesus gives is Himself: The cure for troubled hearts is Jesus. That sounds so simplistic. The main focus and essence of heaven is a Person—the very presence of Christ!

D. Truth #2—Jesus promised to return for us and to be with us forever. We will be with Father and Jesus forever on the earth in the age to come (14:2-3). We will be with Jesus in the Father’s house (the New Jerusalem). The New Jerusalem will descend to the earth at the time of Jesus’ second coming. We are to celebrate that our citizenship is in heaven (Phil. 3:20)

I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down [to earth] out of heaven from God… “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them…” (Rev. 21:2-3)
The Lord Himself will descend from heaven…We…shall be caught up…in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. (1 Thes. 4:16-17)
For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for…Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body… (Phil. 3:20-21)

E. Truth #3—We can encounter a deep relationship with God in this age. We are called to participate in the family dynamics of the Trinity as Jesus described in John 14 and applied in John 15. Jesus described how He related to the Father as a man (14:7-11), and how His disciples are to relate to the Father in a similar way by the Spirit (14:12-27), and then He applied it in John 15:1-12.

“Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me?…The Father who dwells in Me does the works…I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.” (Jn. 14:10, 20)
“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit.” (Jn. 15:5)

F. Truth #4—He supernaturally empowers us now by the indwelling Spirit (Jn. 14:16-18, 26; 16:13-14).

“…He [the Father] will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever the Spirit of truth…He dwells with you and will be in you…The Helper, the Holy Spirit…will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” (Jn. 14:26)

G. Truth #5—God’s love for God and His people—the ultimate reality & source of beauty. God’s love for God is our grand security (15:9-10; 17:23-26). My confession—”God loves me, and I love God, therefore, I am successful.” (He mentioned loving them 7 times—13:1 [2x], 23, 34; 14:21; 15:9, 12).

“As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide [live] in My love.” (Jn. 15:9)
“…that the world may know that You…have loved them as You have loved Me.” (Jn. 17:23)

H. Truth #6—Access to supernatural resources through Spirit-led prayer as God supplies our needs.

“…I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you…” (Jn. 16:23)
And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ… (Phil. 4:19)

I. Truth #7—How Jesus responded to the apostles when they stumbled. How did Jesus respond to His friends who that very night were going to abandon Him? Jesus prayed for them, especially for Peter and spoke words of life over Peter—assuring him that he would recover and be used by God. At Jesus’ third appearance, Peter’s calling was confirmed by a miraculous catch of fish (Jn. 21:11).

The Lord said, “Simon…Satan has asked for you…32I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.” (Lk. 22:31-32)
“As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide [remain] in My love.” (Jn. 15:9)
He [Jesus] said to him [Peter] the third time…“Feed My sheep.” (Jn. 21:17)

J. Truth #8—The privilege of eternal rewards related to faithfully endure persecution.

“Blessed are you when men hate you…revile you…for the Son of Man’s sake. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! For indeed your reward is great in heaven…” (Lk. 6:22-23)
…the sufferings…are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. (Rom. 8:18)
For our light affliction…is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory… (2 Cor. 4:17)