Peace in Troubled Times

Trevor S. Ferguson

April 11, 2011

John 13:33-38 (KJV)
³³ Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you.
³⁴ A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
³⁵ By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
³⁶ Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards.
³⁷ Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake.
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.

John 14:1-3 (KJV)
¹ Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
² 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.

John 14:16-18 (KJV)
¹⁶ And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
¹⁷ Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
¹⁸ I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

INTRODUCTION

We are living in troubled times. The world is facing a financial crisis. The United States and many other industrialized countries are in just recovering from the worst recession since the great depression of the 1930s. People are worried over the possibility of food shortage; the price of oil skyrocketed in light of the disturbance in the Middle East. No one knows for sure where it will end up or when this disturbance will end.  Here in Jamaica we are still grappling with a very high crime rate. School compounds are no longer safe; stabbings, murders and shoot-outs are now common place. People are losing jobs; most of us have had a wage freeze for over two years even as we struggle to make ends meet. People in the church have had to contend with our own share of tragedies as persons have died in motor vehicle accidents while relatives have suffered at the hands of criminals. It would therefore not be surprising to find that some people are worried and would seek to question God about the prospects for their future.

The text today highlights a similar situation in the life of the disciples as they pondered on Jesus’ statements about His impending departure. The words of Jesus however provide reassurance which will help us to find peace in times of trouble.

EXPOSITION

The discourse begins in St John 13. The scene is set immediately after the Passover meal with Jesus washing the disciples’ feet. After washing the disciples feet Jesus commented that they were clean, but not all; he later declared plainly “…one of you shall betray me”. Shortly afterwards Judas leaves the group with Jesus saying to him: "What thou doest do quickly". 

In verse 33 Jesus now speaking to the eleven declares “… yet a little while I am with you … where I am going you cannot come”.   Peter then questions Jesus: Where are you going? Jesus responds: where I am going you cannot come now, but you can follow later. Peter then boldly declares “I will lay down my life for your sake”. Jesus’ next response was shocking! Before the cock crow you will deny me three times. The whole discourse left the disciples troubled, confused and bewildered. St. John 14 then begins with Jesus’ response to their unspoken questions: Let not your heart be troubled!

What is the basis of this reassurance? Look at what Jesus says:

o You have faith in God, Trust me! Where I am going there is adequate space (many mansions). If it were not so, I would have told you.

o Trust me – I would not promise something I cannot fulfill

o I go to prepare a place for you

o I will come back for you

In addition to the promise of his return Jesus makes another important commitment. In verse 16, He promises that He will send us another Comforter. This was referring to the Holy Ghost (the Spirit of truth) which indwells us as believers in this church age. The promise is reiterated in verse 18: “I will not leave you as orphans (fatherless); I will come to you.”

The Great reassurance

These promises of Jesus echoes previous promises the Lord made to us through the psalms. In times of trouble God will not abandon us!

o Psalm 27:5 – In the time of trouble he will hide me in his pavilion, in the secret of his tabernacle he shall hide me

o Psalm 46 – God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble … The Lord of host is with us, the God of Jacob is our refuge … Be still and know that I am God

The words of the following song also express this great reassurance:

So let the storm clouds rage high, The dark clouds rise,

They don't bother me; For I'm sheltered in the arms of God

He walks with me, And naught of earth shall harm me,

For I'm sheltered in the arms of God 

So today we have a great assurance – despite the troubles that we face, the uncertainties were endure we can rest with confidence in our Saviour who has promised never to leave us or forsake us. We can rest even in the midst of the storms

How do we apply this assurance?  Here are a few key principles:

o Love One Another – This command is given in John 13:34 and repeated in chapter 15:12 & 17. Nine other references to this phase occurs in the epistles. Unless we love one another we cannot have peace!

o Trust in God – Chap 14:1 Trust in God, Trust also in me. Psalm 91:2-4 I will say of the Lord he is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in him will I trust; Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler and from the noisome pestilence; he shall cover thee with his feathers and under his wings shalt thou trust

o Wait on His Intervention – Chap 14:3 - I will come again; vs. 18 I will come to you; He has promised to return. He promised to intervene. If we trust him we must wait on him. Psalm 27:14 – Wait in the Lord; be of good courage and he shall strengthen thine heart; wait I say upon the Lord.

CONCLUSION

Despite the fact that we are living in troubled times we can find peace through Jesus Christ. The disciples were worried about Jesus’ impending departure and possible personal failings on their part but Jesus encouraged them “Let not your heart be troubled”. Many persons today may be troubled, but God wants to reassure you that he has things in control. He will not cause you to face challenges that you are unable to handle.

Let not your heart be troubled! Let not your heart be troubled! You can have peace even in trouble times.