MESSAGE TEXT
John 14:1-6
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OPENING
Today, we get to cover two life verses in one sermon. Someone listed John 14:1 and someone else listed John 14:6. John 14:1-6 will be our passage today. I am not sure there is anything more comforting than the presence of someone you love. No matter how bad you may feel from sickness, injury or suffering, having someone with you who loves you comforts the heart.
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I love what Jesus does to comfort the broken-hearted and the fearful. He is at his pastoral and shepherding best in John 13-17. He gets them by themselves, away from the distraction of the crowds. He delivers the news in person – he didn’t send someone else to do it. He prays out loud for them on a level that only He could (John 17). And when He speaks to the disciples, His tone is so reassuring. In John 13 and 14, the disciples have many question and are searching for stability. Jesus answers the disciples’ questions by packaging His words in love story.
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CONTEXTUALIZATION
John 13–17 is not a public meeting, but a private meal with his closest followers. Their access to Him will be minimal after He is arrested. Jesus was within hours of his crucifixion and he’s getting the disciples ready for this and the days ahead. In John 13, the disciples are growing increasingly anxious about their future. They had bickered over who would sit where in the Kingdom and around the table. And they were all gently rebuked when the guy sitting in the guest of honor position, gets up and washes their feet. They are troubled by betrayal, denial, and departure.
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Betrayal. Jesus had just announced that one of them would be a traitor. They immediately start trying to figure out who it would be. “Lord, is it I?” they all asked. They all felt that they had it in them to let the Lord Jesus Christ down.
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Denial. Jesus had warned Peter that he would deny Him three times. If brave, strong Peter will deny Jesus, what will the others do? So, this shook them at their core. The room was filled with a denier and a betrayer. This troubled them.
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Departure. Jesus had notified them that He was going to leave them. Jesus in so many words says, “I’m going to leave, and you can’t come with me right now!” So they were feeling abandoned. That’s why he told them in 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.
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They’ve had their feet washed by their Master. They’ve been warned of a traitor in their midst. They’ve seen Peter shot down as he proclaims his loyalty to Jesus. They’ve just found out that Jesus is leaving them.[1] It's all of this that sets up John 14:1-6. They’re going to need this intense imagery to calm their troubled hearts.
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PROPOSITION
When our hearts are troubled by life's storms, Jesus comforts us with the covenant promises of His love. When life's storms threaten to overwhelm our heart, Jesus, our Bridegroom, gives us THREE ASSURANCES / UNSHAKABLE ANCHORS in John 14:1-6, 27—each anchor an expression of His covenant love.
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OUTLINE
The Anchor of His Peace — His love steadies our troubled hearts. (vv. 1, 27) “Do not let your hearts be troubled… My peace I give to you.”
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The Anchor of His Promise — His love gives us confidence about tomorrow. (vv. 2–3) “I go to prepare a place for you.”
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The Anchor of His Presence — His love makes sure we get home. (vv. 4–6) “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.”
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Peace. Promise. Presence. Plan. The progression is beautiful: Our heart is settled. Our future is settled. Our destination is settled – so we can be settled.
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CONCLUSION
The greatest love story ever told gives us three anchors that never slip. The anchor of His peace. The anchor of His promise. The anchor of His presence. The good news of John 14 is not that Jesus simply gives us peace, promises, and directions. The good news is that He gives us Himself. The One who said, 'Do not let your hearts be troubled' first chose to let His own heart be troubled in Gethsemane. The One who promised a place for us first went to the cross to prepare that place. The One who said, 'I am the way' became the way by His death and resurrection. Why is there a room in the Father's house? Because the Son was temporarily forsaken outside the Father's house. Why is Jesus the Way? Because He walked the road to Calvary that we deserved to walk. Every anchor we've talked about today is secured because of what Christ accomplished.