Peace in Times of Trouble

THIS WEEK’S GOSPEL: JOHN 14: 1-14 (NIV)

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God. Trust in me also. There are many rooms in my Father's house. If this were not true, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. If I go and do that, I will come back. And I will take you to be with me. Then you will also be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going."

Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going. So how can we know the way?" Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father also. From now on, you do know him. And you have seen him." Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father. That will be enough for us. Jesus answered, "Don't you know me, Philip? I have been among you such a long time! Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. So how can you say, 'Show us the Father'? Don't you believe that I am in the Father? Don't you believe that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. The Father lives in me. He is the One who is doing his work. Believe me when I say I am in the Father. Also believe that the Father is in me. Or at least believe what the miracles show about me. What I'm about to tell you is true. Anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. In fact, he will do even greater things. That is because I am going to the Father. And I will do anything you ask in my name. Then the Son will bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name. I will do it.

This discourse immediately follows Jesus washing the disciples’ feet, giving them a new commandment to love one another. He reminds his closest friends that some of them will betray and deny him. Then Jesus asks for trust. Trust? What an amazing request! What a request in light of the week we have experienced here at Christ Church! Trust.

This passage is often read during a funeral service as words of comfort and assurance that in life, in death, in life beyond death, God is with us. We are being asked to trust that we are not alone. Trust.

When we are grieving, it is hard to trust. When we are struggling, it is hard to trust. When our lives feel like they are spinning out of control, it is hard to trust. But today, Jesus is challenging us toward … trust.

Join us this Sunday, May 22 at Christ Church at 9:45am as Jesus reminds us to trust that we can experience peace in times of turmoil and struggle even when we don’t feel it.