“Let not your heart be troubled.” (John 14.1)

New Testament Challenge, Day 18 - John 11-16

How many times we sit in our car stuck in traffic when we realized that we forgot to pray! How many times we toss and turn in our beds at night wondering how we’re going to make it through another day! How many times we wonder if God’s is really listening to us!
I sometimes think about that the Apostles must have had thoughts similar to these in those days just before the crucifixion of Christ. (I hear camel jams were really bad in those days ) In today’s readings Jesus gives great detail to His Disciples about the coming passion and death. He also, as John 14.1 indicates spends a great deal of energy trying to comfort them in their anxiety which is why I believe they shared the same worries we do.

The difference between the Disciples and us is not that they lived with Jesus. The difference is that we know now while our anxiety is taking place that Christ has already conquered death for us. We already know that we will live with Him forever in heaven. We already know that we will become partakers of divine nature. (2 Peter 1.4) We already know we have nothing to fear….so why do we still fear?

Jesus said, “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 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.” (John 14.1-2) I’m pretty sure THAT is a reason not to fear. After all, the Apostles had all that fear BEFORE the crucifixion. Once they learned of the resurrection and received the Holy Spirit, which we already have received, they no longer feared but had courage and faith.