Troubled
Being led into battle by a strong leader can mean the difference between victory or defeat. The military leader begins by training his soldiers. In the military, most branches dedicate 8-12 weeks for basic training. This conditions, prepares and educates the recruit on the basics of weapons and warfare. During this time, leader must test and evaluate skill levels on a regular basis to ensure that when and if the day of battle comes, the soldier will be ready. The soldier then anticipates combat. He stands ready and expectant that the moment he leaves training, he may be called to enter into a real fight with his leader present.
Although Jesus had been leading and training His disciples, they had the wrong idea about how their training would play out. Little did Jesus' disciples know, that when Jesus began His farewell discourse, His physical earthly leadership which He gave to His disciples for the previous 3 years was about to come to an abrupt halt. They were about to enter a battle alone. Or so they thought.
They had no idea their Teacher, Trainer and Lord would leave them and be killed at the hands of their enemies. When they finally got the point that He was leaving and they could not follow, they began to panic. They knew He was training and teaching them but they never thought they would have to enter the battle without His physical presence.
Imagine, giving up everything and dedicating three years of your life to follow who you believe to be the new King about to take office, and right when you think He's about to take the helm, He tells you He's leaving and will be killed!
In John 14:1 the word John uses is 'troubled'. This means the disciples were agitated, disturbed and restless. Jesus had began a revolution of sorts, and He and His disciples were ostracized by the religious people as revolutionaries. What would the disciples do without Jesus? How would they continue if their Leader was leaving them? Their life would be ruined. Their hopes of the redemption of Israel are down the drain. Or at least that's what they were thinking - until Jesus gives them some extremely encouraging words about what would happen as a result of Him leaving.
The disciples begin to realize that their Leader's physical 'presence' may go, but that did not mean He wouldn't be with them. They had no idea that they would be used of their Leader to launch the largest 'training' movement the world would ever see - taking the message of the gospel to the world and making disciples of the nations.
Our text in this sermon is John 14:1-6 but we will be referring to the entire chapter so you may want to take a look at all of John 14. As usual in John, you'll find some cryptic language but also some major promises to the disciples about Jesus' departure. He recruited them, trained them and equipped them for this very moment and purpose. Without His leaving, the mission could not be accomplished.
Have you ever been 'troubled' because you don't understand where Jesus is going with your life and why? I look forward to unpacking these verses with you and I anticipate gaining great encouragement from Jesus as we discover how His promises apply to us, as we continue His worldwide 'training' mission in our time and place without His physical presence.
Listen to the sermon on John 13:14:1 below
