Pacific ocean. Blick sr emailed to me. 2011

VII. The Sermon: An Exclusive Comfort (John 14:1-6). Reverend Kyle McClellan, Pastor, Grace Church

The irony of this scene is that Jesus is the one about to die and the disciples should be comforting him. But he comforts them.

The Big Idea: Facing the troubles of a fallen world, Jesus alone offers God’s lasting comfort.

I. Find comfort in the command (v. 1a). Let not your hearts be troubled.

External. Circumstances can and will be a source of consternation.

Internal. Most days, however, our trouble comes from inside of us or our internal response to external things. It is what I am doing, and what I am plotting that is disturbing. John Owen reminds us that any seed of sin wants to result in full blown immorality. James 1:14-15 says the same thing.

To all of this, Jesus says let not your hearts be troubled. Find comfort in his command to not be troubled. But how?

II. Find comfort in the condition (v. 1b) If you believe in God.

It is interesting that Jesus says this to a group of Jewish men. He says that they need to believe in Jesus as they believe in God since Jesus is God. This is why our hearts will not be troubled, because we see God in the face if Jesus Christ, God in the flesh for us.

III. Find comfort in the preparations (vv. 2-4).

The fact of Jesus leaving is just a temporary thing. He will be separated from them, that is true. But as we heard today, Psalm 90 is echoed in his words. Lord, you have been our dwelling place. Now one day we will have eternal dwelling place in the presence of God. In this life we may lose family or home, but, in this future that Jesus is talking about, we get it back.

IV. Find comfort in the exclusivity (v. 6).

No one finds this kind of comfort except through Jesus. Vs 5 Thomas asks where Jesus is going, and how can they know the way? If all religions, we say, get to the same place, then how do we know which one to pick? However, Jesus says that no one comes to the father except through Jesus. If we know Jesus, then indeed, we CAN come to the father. It is not a question of how many years you have been in church, or if you have been catechised, baptized, etc. He says if you know me, Jesus, then you have access to the Father.

Pastor Lloyd Jones in England in the middle 1900’s said that it is too often that when we lack comfort, it is because we are LISTENING to ourselves instead of PREACHING to ourselves. What do we preach to ourselves? The one who commands us to not be troubled was troubled for us that we may be at peace – peace with the father, peace in ourselves, peace with our work, and peace with one another!

The passage. John 14:1 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 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? 3 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. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.