John 13:33-37
Intro:
As believers, the cares of this world should be left in this world, not carried around with us.
When I talk about cares of this world I am not talking about the caring for the salvation of others.
I am talking about the troubles of this world that cause pain, affliction, burdens that bring us to a state of oppression or depression.
We too often walk around thinking about what will happen next. Our mind is filled with everyday things - what we will do next- where we will go after work - what will we fix for dinner - what are the kids into now.
We sometimes forget that there is a spiritual world that needs our attention. Someone that needs prayer, a kind word, letting them know we are there for them.
Spreading, talking, living the word of Yahveh. Talking to the Father and His Son, giving praise and even singing.
This brings us closer to the spiritual awareness and puts our mind in a different realm.
When Yahshua walked among us in the flesh, His disciples were with him every where He went and when He spoke to them He most often had to explain what was said.
His disciples minds were still on the things of this world even though they were listening to Yahshua and his parabels that He used.
Yahshua knew of what would happen to Him before the Passover supper that evening, the hour was near when He would leave this world to be with His Father in Heaven.
After Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, the one that was to betray Yahshua had gone out. Yahshua spoke to those that remained.
John 13:33-37
33Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you.
34A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
35By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
36Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Yahshua answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards.
37Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake.
KJV
I. Yahshua knew his disciples would not understand what He ment when He said I must leave you and you shall seek me, but you will not be able to go with me now.
1. Peter was troubled.
a. He just heard his Master, the one he loved and tursted, the one he followed and was so close to, tell him He was about to go away.
b. Peter needed to know where Yahshua was going.
c. Peter was wondering why he could not go with Him. Why, after all this time and all the places they went together, why was he being left out. He must have felt a sense of rejection.
d. Peter was only thinking in a physical fashion and knew that no matter where Yahshua went he would be able to go with Him even if it cost him his life.
B. Yahshua said that where I go you can not follow me at this time.
a. He knew that Peter was troubled.
b. So Yahshua assured Peter he would be able to follow him afterwards.
c. This was not enough for Peter, I’m sure he still felt the pain of being separated from Yahshua. What was the meaning of His words " You can not go with me now but you will follow Me afterwards".
We sometimes part from loved ones, because we move away or they leave and we find that a separation exists and a piece of ourselves is missing. A void that is within us that is not easily filled.
We try to fill that void with other things of this world, but somehow it is never the same.
I’m sure Peter felt his life would be meaningless if he could not be with Yahshua.
John 14:4-5
Peter was not the only one that was troubled from what Yahshua had said.
John 14:4-5
4And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
5Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?
KJV
II. Thomas was also troubled.
A. Where Peter felt separation, Thomas felt a doubt that they could not find the way.
1. The vision of the future was so dim to Thomas that he felt a loss of direction.
2. If we don’t know where you are going how could we possibly know the way?
3. It was important for Thomas to see in order to believe, rather than to hear and believe .
4. Why after all this time spent with Yahshua, seeing miracle after miracle and being involved in the ministry could Thomas find it so hard to believe without seeing it himself.
B. Thomas could not understand what was taking place for he relied on solely on the physical aspect.
1. In Thomas’ mind his future was totally in pleasing Yahshua and he would not be able to find the way if Yahshua were not physical there to guide him.
2. Thomas could not invision anything beyond the physical world. So in John 14:6-7 When Yahshua saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. I’m sure this puzzled Thomas even more.
How many of us walk with that vision, become part of that vision?
How many of us live with that vision in our hearts and our minds?
How many of us know what the vision is?
Or, how many of us even know that there is a vision set forth at all.
John 14:7-8
We have no problem seeing ourselves driving down the street in and brand new automobile or owning a home or having a great job or even being endowed with lots of money, why is it so hard for us to see the vision that Yahveh, the creator of all the universe, has given to us.
If we can’t touch it or see it we have a tendency to regard it as not possible even though we are told these things are true.
John 14:7-8
7If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
8Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us
KJV
III. Philip, like Peter and Thomas, was troubled.
A. Philip said show us the Father and it will be enough for us to believe.
1. Philip also reveals doubt but too a lack of insight.
2. He could not see his God. His inability to preceive that Yahshua was the exact replication of Father Yahveh made flesh caused him to falter and ask to see the Father.
3. Philip was given a word from Yahshua in John 14:9 Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?
KJV
4. Why is it Philip that you have been with me all this time and heard the teachings and seen the life I have lived and still not know that I am like the Father for the Father is in me and I in the Father.
John 14:1-3
Among the doubts of the disciples and the apprehension of His leaving them Yahshua spoke these words of faith:
John 14:1-3
1Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
2In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
KJV
IV. Yahshua said "Let not your heart be troubled.
A. The disciples were troubled and Yahshua gave them the answer to all their questions. You believe in God .
1. I have told you of Yahveh, His precepts and concepts now believe me when I tell you do not be troubled.
2. We as believers have faith in Yahveh and that is the answer to the questions that trouble us today.
3. The problems of alienation - separation one from another in our families, in our church, and in our community.
4. The problem of direction - loss of goals and the vision.
5. The problems of purpose and meaning in life. Knowing God and knowing that God exists.
B. If you believe in Yahveh then it follows that we should believe in His Son Yahshua also.
1. If your faith is strong enough to believe in Yahveh then you should have no problem believeing Yahveh is and He is the rewarder of those who diligently seek Him and we should believe Yahshua is His Son and we should love Him as we love the Father.
2. In Yahshua’s time every jew believed in Father Yahveh and this was the foundation of the jewish religion, Yahshua is now affirming that He is the Word made flesh.
C. Yahshua was leaving to go and prepare a place for us.
1. Yahshua is preparing us by giving a vision of what to expect - a view of a high and heavenly home.
2. He promises to go ahead and prepare a way before us, just as he did for his disciples while He was on earth.
3. He goes to prepare a resting place for us.
4. Yahshua is the builder, the perfecter and revealer of it and the guide to it.
5. He the builder of life, the perfecter and revealer of truth and is the guide to show us the way.
D. His promise is I will come again.
1. This statement may refer to His resurrection or to the constant presence of the holy spirit but it undoubtedly confirms His return of the second comming.
2. He will receive the true believers unto himself. A complete union of us to His spiritual presence.
3. That where I am there you will also be. Yahshua will be with us in this life and He will continue to be with in death and we will be with him in the completeness of His second comming.
Conclusion:
When we find ourselves troubled and we beginning worrying about the things of this world, we now have the answer to all of questions - Yahshua - His life, His walk, the Words He spoke and the vision He has given us.
These should be our way for they were His way. He gave His life that we might have everlasting life and have it more abundantly.
Sometimes we get into situations that are way over our heads and we look around wondering what to do. If we were to first take the time to ask for God’s guidance before we venture into the unknown we will undoubtly miss those over the head situations.
Are you troubled?
Are the burdens of this world getting you down ?
Do you find yourself thinking more of what is going on in this world than what is going on in Spiritual world?
Have you spent time before the Father and listened to His wisdom?
If not, then do it now for the Father is there and there is still time. But hurry, don’t delay, for the veil is about close and where we are with the Father at that point will determine our permanent address.
May Father Yahveh bless you, and keep you in the plam of his hand.
