March 22, 2002

TRUST IN GOD ALWAYS

"Set your troubled hearts at rest. Trust in God always; trust also in Me" (John 14:1, NEB).

Jesus had just told His disciples that one of them was going to betray Him and that He would be leaving them and they could not come with Him (John 13:21, 33). Judas had already left to betray Jesus, and Jesus had just revealed to Peter that Peter would deny Him before morning (John 13:30, 38). The disciples were bewildered and perplexed.

The disciples could not rejoice when they heard this. To Him they had looked for help in all their difficulties. Now He was to leave them? This was far from their expectations. Fear fell on them.

Jesus immediately pointed them away from the dark forebodings that filled their hearts. "Set your troubled hearts at rest" He said. "Trust in God always; trust also in Me. There are many dwelling places in My Father's house; if it were not so I would have told you; for I am going there on purpose to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself, so that where I am you may be also" (John 14:1-3).

"The object of Christ's departure was the opposite of what the disciples feared. It did not mean a final separation. He was going to prepare a place for them that He might come again, and receive them to Himself" (Desire Of Ages, p. 388). He told them that He would send the Holy Spirit to be with them and that He would not leave them as orphans (John 14:17, 18).

The Disciples were being prepared for life without the physical presence of Jesus. However, Jesus was assuring them He was not abandoning them and that God the Father would send to them a "Helper" (John 14:16, NKJV) that would be with them "forever."

Jesus reinforced this message after His resurrection. He told His disciples, that includes you and me when we accept Him as our Saviour, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.-- and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:18, 20).

"Set your troubled hearts at rest. Trust in God always trust also in Me!"