[0:01] Seeking the Lord's blessing, let us turn back to the portion of scripture that we read together, the Gospel of John and chapter 14.
[0:12] And we'll read from the beginning. Let not your heart be troubled. We believe in God. Believe also in me.
[0:25] In preparation for us coming soon to partake of the Lord's Supper, we have at the prayer meetings recently began to look at some of the events and discussions that took place in the Upper Room, which is often referred to as the farewell discourse of our Lord.
[0:49] We have already looked at the event of Jesus washing the disciples' feet and the discourse that followed, which we have in chapter 13.
[1:01] There's always a question asked, when does this final discourse begin? Some say that it begins in chapter 13 at verse 31.
[1:14] Judas Iscariot, who was to betray the Lord, was not present, for he had gone out into the night to fulfill that deed.
[1:27] And at that point, Jesus began to address the rest of the disciples who, in the long term, would remain faithful to him. That he immersed himself in a very personal ministry to the eleven men that were left.
[1:47] Now we're in the Upper Room, and the question is, did this discourse take place before the institution of the Lord's Supper?
[2:03] Or did this discourse take place after the supper? In other words, in our own tradition, was it a pre-table address or a post-table address?
[2:19] Well, I would take it like this, that up to chapter 13, verse 31, that it was a pre-table address. And after that, that it was a post-table address.
[2:35] That he had instituted the Lord's Supper. That the disciples who were left had partaken of the Lord's Supper.
[2:46] And that now he is addressing them. He was consumed, really, at this point, with the task of strengthening and reassuring and preparing them for the trial and ministry that would follow.
[3:07] However, this is not a typical farewell discourse in the true sense of these words. For Jesus, in this discourse, speaks of his continuing fellowship with his own after he goes back to the Father.
[3:25] We notice here in this chapter, in verse 27, that it repeats this command. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
[3:38] Let it be afraid.
[4:08] Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. Let not your heart be troubled. The disciples were in deep distress.
[4:22] And there are a number of issues, I think, that would leave their hearts to be troubled. A number of issues that would cause their hearts to be troubled at this hour.
[4:36] Jesus had indicated that he was about to be taken from them. In chapter 13 and verse 33 we read, Little children, yet a little while I am with you.
[4:51] You shall seek me, and as I said unto the Jews, whether I go ye cannot come. So now I say to you. Their beloved master, for whom they had left all things, and followed him, was going to leave them.
[5:10] Their world was beginning to collapse around them. They were undoubtedly bewildered, perplexed, confused, and filled with fear and anxiety.
[5:24] Their expectation of the messianic kingdom was shattered. Their expectation was a messiah who would be a conqueror, a kind of superhero, who would set up his kingdom, and who would rule from Jerusalem.
[5:42] Maybe their hopes had risen for a few days before, when Jesus rode into Jerusalem. The crowds had thrown palm branches down, and worshipped him.
[5:53] However, Jesus was now talking to them about his leaving them, and they didn't expect him to leave them.
[6:05] The very thought of him leaving them troubled their heart. They couldn't envisage their life without Jesus.
[6:16] They couldn't think of living apart from Jesus. We can have some empathy with them.
[6:26] How do you feel yourself at times when it seems as though the presence of the Lord is withdrawn? Jesus says to them, let not your heart be troubled.
[6:44] Perhaps Jesus was seeing the concern on their faces. And because he loved them, he proceeds to comfort them.
[6:56] In the midst of the turmoil, he wanted them to have peace. Jesus coming to the end of his discourse with his disciples, he says, These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace.
[7:13] In the world ye shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer. I have overcome the world. He speaks of his triumph as an accomplished fact.
[7:27] He was leaving them, but this was no cause for discouragement, because the conquest was already certain.
[7:38] His victory was already certain. Here is Jesus, and he is wholly absorbed with the needs of the 11 disciples.
[7:50] Martin Luther called this passage The best and most comforting sermon preached by Christ while on this earth.
[8:02] A jewel and treasure, not purchasable, with the world's goods. These verses have become the foundation for comfort.
[8:15] Not only for the 11 disciples, but they have come as a foundation of comfort for me and you. How often we are worried.
[8:29] How often we are anxious. How often we are bewildered, perplexed and confused. And in such situations, what are we to do? In the midst of the uncertainty about the future, what are we to do?
[8:47] Well, how could not the hearts of the disciples not be troubled? He was going to leave them, and they could not envisage their life without his physical presence being with them.
[9:02] They had come to depend upon his physical presence among them so much. We find this later on, after he had risen from the dead, when Mary tried to hold on to him.
[9:24] During this discourse, she is going to teach them that he is not leaving them to be orphans. He is coming to them in a much more permanent way.
[9:40] I will not leave you comfortless, or I will not leave you as orphans. I will come to you. One of the most precious promises that we have, which comes from the Old Testament, but in the book of Hebrews, is attributed to Jesus, is this promise, I will never leave you, nor forsake you.
[10:05] Often, when we feel alone, when we may feel isolated, when we may feel defeated, when we may feel unworthy, where do we go?
[10:21] We retreat back to this great promise, I will never leave you, and I will never forsake you.
[10:34] Thomas Watson, one of the Puritans, said that all of God's promises is as the water of life to renew fainting souls.
[10:47] All God's promises are as the water of life to renew fainting souls.
[10:57] So this issue caused them heart trouble. Jesus telling them that he was going to leave them, that they would no longer have his physical presence.
[11:17] But he was going to give them something that was greater, that is, he was going to come and dwell in their hearts through the Spirit.
[11:31] Another issue that troubled them was that Jesus had just announced to them that one of them was going to betray him.
[11:44] Now, try and visualize the scene. Here they are, 12 disciples disciples and Jesus. He has told them, I am going to leave you.
[11:59] And then he announces that one of them is going to betray him. Verily, verily, I say unto you that one of you shall betray me.
[12:21] The thought of one of them betraying Jesus caused them to look at one another with uncertainty. When Jesus announced this in, as we have it in chapter 13 and verse 21, in what I would call his pre-table address, but this must have troubled their hearts.
[12:49] and you notice here, they began to look at one another, doubting of whom he spake. Andrew looking at John, James looking at Peter.
[13:08] I wonder if it's him that he is talking about. And this caused them troubled heart. our proneness is always to look and focus our attention on what others will do.
[13:25] Who is going to betray him? And they were looking around at each other. But you see, Matthew records for us, and they were exceeding sorrowful and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I?
[13:48] First of all, they looked around and said, I wonder which one of us is going to betray him? But then they came to this point where each one of them asked, Lord, is it I?
[14:02] and that is the proper attitude that we must have instead of focusing our attention upon others, the focus should be upon ourselves and our own spiritual attitude.
[14:20] How often have you asked, Lord, am I the one who will hinder your work? am I the Judas of our fellowship?
[14:34] Am I the Achan of the camp? This thought that tripled the heart of the disciples can also triple my heart and your heart.
[14:46] Is my attitude improper? Do I compromise on my devotions? Do I focus on the wrong things? Am I a hindrance to the work of the Lord? And the worst response actually came from Judas himself.
[15:03] He said, after the rest, Master is a die. He didn't want to be left out. Judas knew very well that he was the one.
[15:18] Of all the disciples, Judas is the one character that makes us feel uncomfortable and even makes us tremble. And how can we explain Judas?
[15:33] Well, a full explanation is impossible. Judas had chosen to follow Jesus and he was called and chosen by Jesus as one of the disciples.
[15:45] However, his rule of betrayal was something that was prophesied in the Old Testament. In Psalm 41, verse 9, we read, Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.
[16:05] And Jesus cited that verse in John 13 and verse 18, as he washed the disciples' feet. He said, I speak not of you all, I know whom I have chosen, but that the scripture may be fulfilled, he that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me.
[16:24] There were many signs along the way that reveals to us that there was something wrong in the life of Judas.
[16:37] When Judas witnessed the anointing of Jesus by Mary of Bethany, which was an act of immense devotion and love to the Lord Jesus, see how Judas responded.
[16:50] Then saith one of his disciples Judas Iscariot Simon's son, which should betray him, why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence and given to the poor?
[17:04] And John explains the root of his reaction. This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief and had the bag and bear what was put therein.
[17:16] John tells us that Judas reacted in this way because he was a thief. Judas was never drawn with any devotion, with any love to Jesus Christ.
[17:28] He never embraced Jesus by faith. His heart remained unchanged. How unlike Peter he was in the event of the washing of the feet, he felt ashamed and said, thou shall never wash my feet.
[17:48] To which Jesus replied, if I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. And Peter responded by saying, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.
[18:01] But then Jesus said, he that is washed needeth not to wash his feet, but is clean every wood, and ye are clean, but not all. For he should betray him.
[18:12] Therefore he said, ye are not all clean. At that point Jesus was saying that one of the disciples was not clean, and yet Judas remained unmoved and untouched.
[18:27] See, this is a sure token for you today, that you are not a betrayer. if the very mention of Judas and his steed moves you and touches you and leaves you troubled, because it never troubled Judas.
[18:43] He never lost a wink of sleep over it. He never had a troubled heart when Jesus said, one of you shall betray me.
[18:54] But the other disciples were all troubled, and they were troubled in their heart. So, Jesus leaving them caused troubled heart.
[19:10] That one of them was going to betray him caused them troubled heart. And another cause of their troubled heart was that the Lord said directly to one of them, namely Peter, that he was going to deny him.
[19:31] Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whether thou goest, Jesus answered him, whether I go, thou canst not follow me now, but thou shall follow me afterwards.
[19:45] Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake. And Jesus answered to him, will thou lay down thy life for my sake? Verily, verily, I said to thee, the cock shall not crow till thou hast denied me thrice.
[20:03] Now there's something very ironic there that Peter says, I will lay down my life for your sake to the very person who was going to lay down his life for the sake of Peter.
[20:18] Now when we think of Judas and Peter, they had many things in common. They both had spent the last three years in the company of Jesus and they saw his miracles and they heard his teachings.
[20:35] They both had served the Lord. However, in spite of the things that they had in common, the differences are more important. We can put it basically one of them was saved and the other was unsaved.
[20:51] But let us just say something more than that. Judas sinned with a deceitful and unfaithful heart. Peter sinned with a boastful heart, a heart that was full of self confidence, but it was led by love for Jesus.
[21:12] This is how A.W. Pink puts it. Peter knew and really loved the Lord, but how little he as yet knew himself.
[21:26] Peter knew and really loved the Lord, but how little he as yet knew himself. who can hold up their hand and say that they have never denied the Lord.
[21:45] Perhaps not to the degree that Peter went, but nevertheless a denial of the Lord. How often have we stayed silent when we should have spoken?
[21:57] How often are we embarrassed to witness for the Lord. How often we have stayed silent because we are embarrassed to profess that we are a Christian, that we belong to Christ, that we are a follower of Christ.
[22:19] How often we have remained silent in an embarrassment to own the Lord as our Saviour, as our Lord, as our master.
[22:34] What are we doing? We are denying the Lord. Now the fall of Peter, the denial, was something that didn't happen suddenly.
[22:48] And among many of the steps that we can trace in his fall, there is the step of not listening to the Lord. He wouldn't listen to the Lord.
[22:58] He very often cut across the Lord. When for instance he spoke of his death, Peter would cut a cross and as most say that will not happen to you, I will defend you.
[23:12] He was not listening to the Lord. And the step of overconfidence, he was always relying on his own strength.
[23:26] But also the step of prayer. Peter failed to make use of the spiritual resource that was given to him.
[23:43] This mistake occurred not days, but on the same evening when Jesus, after leaving the upper room, took Peter along with the other disciples to the garden of Gethsemane.
[23:54] Jesus advised the disciples I think three times, pray that ye enter not into temptation. He told them to pray that they would enter not into temptation.
[24:11] Yet when the Lord returned from his own prayers, he found Peter and the others not praying, but sleeping. I think one of the Gospels brings that to us, that he spoke directly to Peter and said, Peter, could you not watch with me one hour?
[24:31] This is the man who was so full of confidence, whoever will forsake you, I will not forsake you.
[24:46] I will let down my life for your sake. Peter, as Pink says, you don't know yourself. Yes, you have a love to the Lord Jesus, but you don't know yourself.
[25:03] You don't know your own weakness, Peter. When the test comes, Peter, you're going to fail. You're going to fail.
[25:14] And you're failing because you're not listening to the Lord. And you are failing because you are relying on your own strength instead of depending on the Lord.
[25:25] And you're failing because you haven't made use of that resource that the Lord has given to you, the resource of prayer. A neglect of spiritual resources of God's word and of prayer and of the fellowship of the church will weaken us when we are confronted with temptation.
[25:56] Peter's consolation was, whether I go, Peter, thou canst not follow me now, but listen, but thou shalt follow me afterwards.
[26:10] Jesus made a declaration concerning Peter's salvation and the same for everyone who believes in him and who trusts him and who follows him. Peter will not ultimately be lost in spite of his failings.
[26:27] He will be brought to repentance and he will be brought to restoration. The gospel is full of statements that brings before us how secure our salvation is.
[26:42] We read in John 6, and this is the father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
[26:57] And this is the will of him that sent me, that everyone which seeth a son and believeth on him may have everlasting life, and I will raise him up at the last day.
[27:09] John 10, my sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me, and I will give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
[27:22] If you are a believer in Christ today, despite all your failings which may trouble your heart today, he has declared to you that your salvation, just as he declared that Peter would follow him into heaven.
[27:42] There is also of course the prayer of Jesus for Peter. Simon, Simon, behold Satan I desire to have you, that he may sift you as wheat, but I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not.
[27:56] And how we must take both parts of that saying of Jesus to Peter. Simeon, Simeon, behold Satan, Simon, Simon, behold Satan hath desired to have you.
[28:13] Simon, Simon, behold Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat.
[28:25] Peter says later on in his own letter, be not surprised, be not shocked, be not amazed at the fiery trial that shall come upon you.
[28:39] But Jesus said, I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not. You see, Satan might be able to overcome Peter, and he might be able to overcome me and you, but he could not defeat the intercession of Jesus.
[29:00] I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not. We are shielded by the priestly intercession of Jesus Christ.
[29:16] Been confident, says Paul, of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.
[29:32] They were to be alone like me and you in a hostile environment, open to all temptations. We would have, as they did, we will have our failings, our falling into temptation.
[29:49] However, Jesus teaches them, and I and you, that although there may be reasons to excite fear in our hearts, to leave us with troubled hearts, there was a greater reason for them and for me and you not to be troubled.
[30:16] Our salvation is secure in Jesus Christ. Yes, Simon, Simon, Satan may desire to sift you, but I have prayed for you.
[30:34] You are secure within my prayer. You are secure within my intercession. So, these three issues would have caused them heart trouble.
[30:50] people. The fact that Jesus was leaving them, the fact that one of them was going to betray him, the fact that Peter, their spokesperson, was going to deny him.
[31:08] But Jesus says, let not your heart be troubled. child. He says, ye believe in God, believe also in me.
[31:23] Now, the time has gone and I can't say too much about that. However, I will say this, the cure for a troubled heart is belief or faith.
[31:39] The cure for a troubled heart is faith. David wrestled with his troubles and he said in Psalm 42 as we've sung, why art thou cast down O my soul and why art thou disquired it within me.
[31:57] Hope thou in God for I shall yet praise him who is the health of my countenance and my God.
[32:09] What is the cure for my troubled heart today? It is faith, a trusting in God through the Lord Jesus Christ.
[32:22] That is what will bring peace to a troubled heart. That is what shall cause a calmness to come upon the troubled waters.
[32:38] Faith that is the cure for a troubled heart. Faith in God through his Son the Lord Jesus Christ.
[32:50] That is why he says let not your heart be troubled. He believed in God believe also in me. Now there is a lot within these words which God willing we may look at it some other time.
[33:09] But just to remember this that faith is the cure for a troubled heart. A trust in God and all his promises.
[33:22] A trust in all his word. A trust in God through his Son Jesus Christ. May the Lord bless our thoughts with his prayer.