John 14:1


Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me ~ John 14:1

In the calendar year, we are drawing closer to Ascension Sunday, the day when Jesus left His disciples and this earth for the heavenly kingdom, where He would stand at the right hand of the Father. It is His disciples He is addressing now, to give them hope, and to not lose courage. They had not yet received His Holy Spirit, so the men spoken to here were still weak in their own confidence and power. Jesus is asking them to expect the utmost from God, through their confidence in God as Father, and through Jesus, who would stand as their mediator and protector. These men had seen Him suffer, die, and now, as the Resurrected Christ they will witness His leaving them, though promising them a spiritual and heavenly inheritance. Their hopes for a secular kingdom had been lost to them only to find there was a better kingdom waiting for them. They experience sadness and fear and joy all mixed together. But do not be troubled that I am leaving you, Jesus said to them. These words come to us as well. When everything about us is confusion, the affirmation that Jesus and God are one, the comfort that Jesus stands beside the Father as our mediator, that He as the Son of God is the object to which we direct our faith, all make it possible for us to ward off any assault which may come at us. Heaven waits for us as well. What a comfort that is to know, as we walk a path of difficulties in this life.
Devotion by Pastor Julia

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