JOHN 14:1-3 – “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”

THEME OF THE DAY: JESUS, HEAVEN, AND HOME.  Today’s scripture is found in what is known as “The Upper Room Discourse” and details the most intimate time of fellowship Jesus had with His disciples before the cross. These words of encouragement from our Lord immediately follow the washing of His disciples’ feet.

The disciples are afraid.  Jesus is leaving them, and they cannot follow.  For over three years, they gave up everything to identify with Him, and now, they are riddled with fear and anxiety.  I imagine they are pondering within themselves or even talking among themselves thoughts and words like this, “Our Master is leaving us.  What is going to happen?  Will the religious crowd come after us?”  Yes, they are troubled in heart and Jesus offers them encouraging truth to lift them from the pit of paralyzing fear.

Jesus does three things in His ministry of encouragement to His troubled disciples.  These also define our ministry of encouragement to other believers as they face times of fear and anxiety in a godless world.  First, Jesus directs His disciples away from themselves and circumstances and toward God and Himself – “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me”. The daily life of a Christian is to keep our eyes on Jesus (Hebrews 12:1-2).  To look anywhere else only fuels fear and anxiety.

Next Jesus points His disciples’ troubled hearts to heaven – “In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?” The best friend we will ever have, and the best friend we may ever be is the one who points people to Jesus and heaven. There is nothing or no one in this world that can bring a troubled heart to rest apart from thinking on heaven and Jesus.

Finally, Jesus reminds the disciples He is coming back to take them to be with Him forever.  That is our blessed hope! Soon we will be home.  Be like Jesus and, as we follow Him, let’s make His ministry of encouragement ours – pointing other believers to heaven and Him, reminding them Jesus left to prepare a place for us; and is coming back to take us to be with Him forever.  These truths will help us to overcome fear, anxiety, and enable us to live the Christian life with zeal and influence.

PRAYER: Father, thank You for the certain hope of heaven, and being in Your eternal home forever.

REFLECTION: The best friend we will ever have is the one who constantly points us to heaven and Jesus.