In our gospel today Jesus says to His disciples, “Let not your heart be troubled”What is really amazing about these words is the context in which they are spoken. Because Jesus has just told the disciples several things that would trouble anyone’s heart.
Not only has he revealed that in 24 hours, he will be dead and buried. Their time together as master and disciples, almost three years, will abruptly end. Furthermore Jesus has told his closest friends that they will be responsible for his death. One of them will betray him to their enemies, all of them will run away, and Peter will deny knowing Jesus, not once but three times.
And yet, having heard all this, the disciples then hear Jesus tell them, “Let not your heart be troubled”
And yet, having heard all this, the disciples then hear Jesus tell them, “Let not your heart be troubled”
In truth, Jesus words “Let not your heart be troubled” shows us the inside of the Heart of our Lord Jesus Christ. For, unbelievably, he himself is not troubled by these things. How likely would you and I be untroubled knowing what our friends were about to do to us. I am sure I would rather be alone than spend time eating dinner with those who would soon betray and deny me. And yet the words “Let not your hearts be troubled, demonstrate that Jesus has already forgiven his friends.
Jesus follows up these words of mercy and forgiveness with something else. He says “Believe in God, Believe also in me. These are not words of command, but of comfort.. Twice Jesus invites us to trust. To trust Jesus that his Word of grace “Let not your heart be troubled” is true, and that he speaks not only for himself, but for his Father as well.
This is confirmation Sunday. It is a day when Sarah and Miriam will be confirmed in the Christian faith. For some, confirmation has become something of a graduation day. It is a day when confirmands are supposed to show how much information they have memorized.
I would rather that we understand confirmation Sunday as the day that Sarah and Miriam affirm that they believe that they are now beginning the lifetime journey of learning to trust God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, is a forgiving and gracious God, and , believing that, they will forgive themselves and forgive others in times when their hearts would otherwise be troubled.
Sometimes our hearts need encouragement because of the disappointing actions or failures of others. Sometimes, our own sinfulness may discourage us. Faith, says Jesus, strengthens hearts in such times of trouble.
What did Jesus mean when he said “Believe in God , believe also in me” We see an example of this sort of belief in Stephen, the first martyr.
You see, Stephens faith was not just a faith about God, or Jesus. It was a living faith,. It was faith in God the Father and in His Son, Jesus Christ. It was a kind of believing that empowered Stephen to forgive those who were about to stone him, because had Jesus first forgave Steven his own sins.
Jesus goes on to say that in his Father’s house there are many rooms, or mansions. Most of you are familiar with the TV show, Extreme makeover, Home edition. Families in need receive their “dream home”, based on their families needs and situation.
. When Jesus said “It is finished” from the cross (John 19:30”, he announced that your home, your place with God , was complete, and ready for you to move in. Jesus words in our Gospel are words of promise, that your mansion will be far greater than any house ever built on that show
But in spite of these gracious, forgiving and wonderful words of Jesus, we still see that the hearts of the disciples are still troubled. This is revealed in the words of Thomas and Phillip.“
First Thomas says to Jesus
“Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?”
Right after Jesus has said that he is about to die, and that he is about to return to the Father, Thomas reveals that he doesn’t want to hear any of this death talk. He is in denial
This is the attitude of everyone who resents and hates the cross. Here is the fear of everyone who would desperately cling to their life rather than lose it. It is what Luther called the theology of glory. Such people want to be the center of the universe. Those who have this attitude would rather be on American Idol rather than Extreme Makeover.
This same attitude is reflected in the request of Philip . Phillip says “Show us the Father”.
Phillip no more believes in the Father, or in Jesus, than did Thomas. He wants to see wants to see the miracle, not be the miracle.
According to Heb 1:3, Jesus “is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature,” To see Jesus is to see the Father. He is the way, the truth and the life. And no one comes to the Father except by me.
And that is why so many hate Christ.
To believe in God is to believe that God is hidden in the person of the poor carpenter from Galilee To believe in God is to believe his glory is hidden in the cross where Jesus died. And to believe in Jesus is to believe that he died and was raised for the forgiveness of your sins, and that because of his forgiveness, there is no reason for you to have troubled hearts Amen.
