John 14:1-4 Let not your heart be troubled: you believe in God, believe also in me.… I. THE HEROIC ATTITUDE CHRIST ASSUMES. He had just dismissed Judas, knew what was transpiring outside, and what would follow. And yet He sat amongst His disciples perfectly composed, and was able to counsel deliberate composure in the prospect of affliction. This was not from any insensibility to pain, nor superiority to it (John 11:33; John 12:27; John 13:21). It was a wonderful manifestation of spiritual strength, and as an example was more forcible than even His counsel for the production of a like spirit. II. THE HEROIC SPIRIT CHRIST COMMANDS HIS DISCIPLES TO CULTIVATE. They were in a grievous plight. They had been drawn into fellowship with Christ. He had led them step by step, and they had learned to lean upon Him utterly. And now He was about to be taken from them by a cruel death, and leave them exposed to persecution for His sake. An hour ago there had been a strife among them which of them should be greatest. How vain all these ambitions seemed now! And yet our Lord counsels calmness. Then — 1. It is possible to overmaster trouble, however hard the lot in life may be. 2. It is important to overmaster it; a troubled heart is our agitated medium and cannot see things clearly, and our enfeebled agent impotent to do them adequately. III. THE SECRET OF A HEROIC SPIRIT WHICH CHRIST COMMUNICATED TO THEM. 1. Faith in God. The Old Testament saints found in this a panacea for all their cares. "Thou wilt keep Him in perfect peace," etc., There were resources in Omnipotence which they felt to be equal to all human exigency (Isaiah 26:3, 4). Something of this the disciples knew. 2. Our Lord argues from the Father to Himself, and particularly recommends them to have such faith in Him as they have in God. 3. The advantage of this two-fold trust. Although the disciples had a certain faith in God, it left them far from satisfied with it. Hence Philip's request. God was more or less remote from and incomprehensible to them; but Christ brought them near. "He that hath seen Me," etc. This sufficed. (W. Roberts.) Parallel Verses KJV: Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.WEB: "Don't let your heart be troubled. Believe in God. Believe also in me. |
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