Sermon Tone Analysis

Comfort Comes

The disciples stood on the precipice of the darkest night of their lives and our Lord knowing that their hearts would be greatly troubled — spoke these love charged words:

Do not let your heart be troubled.

But how were they to do this the night before the Lord was betrayed, abused, tortured, and ultimately — crucified.

How were they to be comforted when their whole world was going to collapse?

Their beloved Master was going away.

Their sun was about to set at midday.

It was already a very perplexing night.

The Master was doing and saying strange things.

He had done the unthinkable and took the place of a slave and washed their feet.

He talked about one of them betraying Him.

He no doubt filled them with great anxiety when He said He was going somewhere they could not go.

He bewildered them when He predicted Peter would deny Him 3 times!

It was all so confusing.

And now, He tells them:

Do not let your heart be troubled.

Can you imagine?

Of course you can because most of you have been through something that troubles you greatly.

How do we ever get Comfort in times of trouble?

Well, our Lord gives us the answer:

Believe in God.

That is the Secret to Comfort.

That is the basis of True Comfort — simple, trusting, childlike Faith in God.

If you’re discontented, worried, anxious, bewildered, perplexed, confused, agitate — if you’re in need of comfort the only answer is trusting God.

This is the only thing that makes sense.

Because God is the King.

You understand that all of this is His kingdom and He rules.

The Bible says, God is the King of Righteousness

He’s the King of Ages

He’s the King of glory

He’s the King of kings and He’s the Lord of lords.

And listen to me — that’s my King!

Is that your king?

Listen, No means of measure can define His limitless love.

No far seeing telescope can bring into visibility the coastline of His shoreless supplies.

No barriers can hinder Him from pouring out His blessing.

His enduringly strong, He’s entirely sincere, He’s eternally steadfast, He’s immortally graceful, He’s imperially powerful, He’s impartially merciful.

He stands alone in Himself, He’s august, He’s unique, He’s unparalleled, He’s unprecedented, He’s supreme, He’s preeminent, He’s the supplier of strength for the weak, He’s available for the tempted, He sympathizes and saves, He guards and He guides, He heals the sick, He forgives sinners, He delivers captives, He defends the feeble, He blesses the young, He regards the aged, He rewards the diligent, and He beautifies the meek.

Do you know Him?

That’s my King!

Can you see why that simple instruction is the Key to Comfort?

You can trust Him.

You can believe God.

And when you believe God — You have no trouble in your heart.

Our Lord is saying 3 things about Trusting Him.

I.

You can trust His Presence.

Believe in God; Believe also in Me.

Jesus puts Himself on an equal plane with God.

In the Greek the statement is either imperative or indicative.

That is it’s either a command or a statement of fact.

From the context, the statement makes the most sense if the first half is indicative and the second as imperative.

You believe in God — That’s indicative.

Believe also in Me — That’s imperative.

In fact the grammatical structure is something like —

You believe in God; keep believing in Me.

Your faith in Me must not diminish even though You will not see me.

I will still be present.

Some have misinterpreted as a summons to saving faith.

But Jesus is not calling the 11 to saving faith.

They already believe in Him.

It’s a linear verb form, meaning — “Keep trusting Me, even though I will no longer be physically present with you.

Keep trusting Me just as you are trusting God.”

The message is to walk by faith and not by sight.

We all need this.

We all need this, because like the disciples, we all live with conflict, with disappointment, with pain.

Whatever your trouble, whatever your difficulty, whatever anxiety or perplexity you’re struggling with, Remember this — the Lord Himself self is there.

Being physically present Jesus was hindered by the limitations of a physical body.

But now, in heaven, He is with each and every believer everywhere.

You can trust His Presence.

In addition to the reassurance of His constant presence, Christ gave His disciples wonderful promises.

II.

You can trust His Promises.

John 14:2-

It’s important to notice first that He calls heaven — “My Father’s house.”

This is His favorite way of referring to God — My Father.

What an expression — My Father’s House.

Father’s house was home, it’s where the family gathered.

It is good and gives feelings of goodness to come home to my father’s house.

It was always good to come home.

It was good to go to my grandparents.

I was always welcomed and was free to just go right in, take my shoes off and get something to eat.

I got to watch cable TV!

This is what heaven is — our heavenly Father’s house.

The KJV has given the wrong idea —

John 14:2