Do you have any trouble in your life?
Do you have troubles?
That’s sort of a dumb question - I should ask: What kind of trouble do you have?
Sure you have trouble!
Everyone, pretty much has some kind of trouble, all the time!
It’s just a matter of what kind of trouble & how bad of trouble you’re having
Trouble is a constant part of life - isn’t it?
You’ll have some kind of physical trouble
-from a sore tooth, to a heart attack
-from a aching joint to cancer
-from a headache to a backache
-& many things in-between
-from things you’re born with to things that you’re dying with
You’ll have emotional & psychological trouble
-anxiety to depression
-loneliness to bereavement
-mood swings to schizophrenia
You’ll have financial trouble
-it seems there’s always a bill due
-& try to find a job that pays well these days!
-you might have troubles paying mortgage - & then a tax bill comes!
-you can’t wait until payday
& then soon, you’re broke again waiting for the next paycheck!
You’ll have relationship trouble
-from a conflict at work or with a friend
-to a broken marriage - on the brink of divorce or beyond
-& then conflicts with the “Ex”
-conflicts with your children
Trouble is a constant factor in life
-when one trouble is over, another is soon on the way
-or, more commonly, the troubles overlap
-a new one starts before the last one ends
-this life in this world is full of trouble
How do you feel, when someone simply tells you, “Don’t be troubled!”?
“Oh, cheer up! Everything will be okay! Look at the bright side of things!”
“Yeah, sure! Who are you to tell me everything is going to be okay!?”
In reality, it doesn’t work, to just forget about all your troubles
-it doesn’t work to plan or even want to be trouble free
But, if there were ever a person who could cheer you up,
-or help you with your trouble - who would that be?
If you had to choose one person in the world that you could go to for help,
-who would that be?
-father, mother, brother or sister - or spouse - best friend?
-those are all good choices
-but let me broaden it a bit - choose one person or source for help
-who would that be?
GOD! Right?
If you could choose one source of help in trouble - it would be God
A lot of people, at least some time, feel God is too distant or too uninvolved
But for the most part, most will turn to God in times of trouble
-even people who usually don’t give God the time of the day, otherwise
-will call out to God for help when they are in trouble
When God tells you He’ll help you, that’s real important!
Today, we’re here to have a meal with Jesus
So, imagine sitting there with Jesus, for a close time of fellowship
-like the original disciples
-everyone’s kind of troubled - all the disciples are troubled
-you’re troubled, because you’re sensing something bad is going to happen
-Jesus has been getting much of the world upset with Him
-& you’re sensing it’s going to come to a head now
Jesus tells you:
John 14:1 "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me."
Don’t let your heart be troubled - but my heart is troubled!
-might you agree with that?
-is your heart is troubled?
-or maybe, thinking back on this week - in what way was your heart troubled?
-each of us, are likely to be troubled in some way
-or have been troubled in some way,
-or certainly will be troubled in some way
I don’t think Jesus is saying you won’t have troubles
-in fact, later in the evening He said they would have trouble - guaranteed
John 16:33
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
You’re going to have trouble
-but somehow - someway - Jesus is offering to give you peace
-in the midst of trouble
Now, let’s get back to the most important person, or source of help
-that you’d go to in the face of trouble - God
-think about what Jesus just said to you - “Trust in God, trust also in me!”
-you can trust in God - right?
-of all the sources or persons you can go to in trouble
-God would be way on top of the list
-well, just like trusting in God - you can trust in Jesus!
-that’s a whale of a statement
So, consider that - can you trust in Jesus like trusting in God?
-you’re sitting around a table with this man - Jesus who just said,
“Trust me, like you can trust God”
-there’s no-one who can say something like that other than this man
-& back it up
If you were one of the original disciples,
-you would have been with Him for a few years
-think back
-you’ve seen Him do things only God could do
-you’ve seen Him understand things, only God could understand
-He claimed He was the Son of God & proved it many times
-that He had all the power & capabilities of God!
-He claimed to be God - He is God the Son!
-think about it - you can trust Jesus, like you can trust God!
And, what’s Jesus about to do?
-you’re not quite sure yet - but He’s talking about going somewhere
14:1-2
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.”
How is it that Jesus is going to help you in your trouble?
Think about your troubles
-is Jesus going to pay your rent or mortgage?
-will Jesus heal your arthritis or cancer or anxiety disorder?
-maybe - & He can do things like that,
-but it seems more often than not, He doesn’t take away the trouble we have
-but, He will help you as you go through that trouble
-He’s going to somehow comfort your heart in the trouble
-Jesus tells you, He’s going some place to prepare a place for you
-& it’s in God the Father’s house
-& sometime, you can be sure as sure ever gets,
-He’s coming back to take you with Him
14:1-4
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going."
Jesus gives you a future - a successful future
-call it heaven with eternal life
-you always have something to look forward to
-& victory lies ahead for you - success is in your future!
-He later concludes:
John 16:33
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
It was like Jesus was going to the finish line
-& He would win this whole challenge of life in this world
-& He would then come back in the race & cheer you on
-& run the rest of the race with you
-& even pick you up & carry you if you needed it
-with Jesus - you will reach the finish line & you will win this thing!
Doesn’t that help you to have peace in the midst of troubles?
e.g. think of times where you’re facing something that’s sort of scary
-I can think of many times on a river kayaking & we’ll come up to a scary rapid
-maybe a big waterfall
-& I look at that & I’m scared - I’m afraid to run that rapid
-but then, someone goes ahead & runs it & now it looks like it’s able to be run
-someone went ahead of me & showed how it’s done - they conquer it
-so to speak
-& now, I can do it - now, I’m not so afraid
-my heart isn’t so troubled
-it’s still a difficult rapid to go through - but I can do it
-that’s how it is in life
-someone goes ahead of us - then helps walk us through the trouble
-that’s a great help
Jesus goes ahead of us - He conquers life - even conquers death
-& now He lives to go with us
-so that now, our hearts don’t need to be troubled
-even when we are going through troubles
-& to top everything off - you know ultimately, there’s this wonderful place
-that Jesus has prepared for you
It doesn’t matter what any trouble will do to you in this lifetime
-you still have your home in heaven waiting for you
-it’s like you’re taking this test - & it’s a hard test - & it’s an important test
-it’s giving you a headache - a brain overload, stressed out headache
This test is trouble!
-but, the teacher, or proctor suddenly chimes in
“If you follow my formula, you will get an A+ on this test!”
“Wow! What’s the formula? What do I follow?”
Jesus is saying, when you’re done with this life
-with it’s troubles & testings - you’ll have passed the test
How? Show me the way!
You’re really wanting to go somewhere - but the way is complicated
-& confusing
How do you get there?
-you look to someone who knows how to get there
-& you say, “How do I get there?”
-answer: “You’re looking at the way! I’m the way - follow me!”
Jesus talks about this place where He’s going - His Father’s house - Heaven
-He tells the disciples, “You know the way!”
“What? Wait a minute, I’ve never been there.
“I don’t think I know how to get there! To heaven? God’s home?
“How am I suppose to know the way!”
Jesus says, “Yes, you do know the way!”
-but you’re confused - “How can I know the way to God’s house?”
4 You know the way to the place where I am going."
5 Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?"
Jesus said, “You’re looking at the way!”
vv.6-7
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him."
Jesus is the one & only way to God
Jesus is the embodiment of what’s true
Jesus is the source of life beyond this life
He is the way, the truth & the life
You are sitting with Him around supper - you are right there with Him
-savor the moment!
-this is special!
Think now about your troubles - who will you turn to?
God - Jesus - they’re one in the same!
Jesus goes before you in the tests of life
Jesus has conquered life
Jesus goes with you in the troubles of life
Jesus brings peace & purpose & perspective to your life!
Will you still have troubles?
Yes - sometimes even more because you follow Jesus
Can your heart be at peace through troubles - yes!
-Jesus is the way, the truth & the life - follow Him!
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