Can you imagine being one of the disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ and hearing Him talk freely about His upcoming crucifixion and resurrection? I’m sure they were perplexed at His words because they did not understand completely what He meant mainly because they were locked into their personal interpretation of what Messiah should be and do. You can say as the time grew closer, they were filled with a great deal of uncertainty. Hence, Jesus brings them a series of certainties to face their uncertainties.
John 14:1–3 (ESV) — 1 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.
Notice how the Lord Jesus Christ addressed the uncertainty in their hearts being troubled. Going right to the problem Jesus simply says, “believe in God and believe also in me.” That counsel is good for our uncertainties as well.
Secondly, Jesus goes directly to the certainty of heaven and him preparing a place for His people. This is the follow-up to the believe in God, believe also in me.
Thirdly, Jesus makes it known that if He goes away to prepare a place for his people, He will come again for them so that they may be with Him. It’s all a certainty to face their uncertainty based on the believability of Him and His word. Since they had expressed their belief of Him by following Him closely for three years, Jesus is giving them the certainty of things in letting them know what He is doing.
That scenario is good for us to consider and add certainty to our times of uncertainty. God gave us something that is certain, namely the Lord Jesus Christ and His teaching.
John 14:4–6 (ESV) — 4 And you know the way to where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
When Jesus brought up the certainty of knowing the way to where He is going, Thomas thought this was a word of uncertainty, but Jesus brought it back as certainty stating that He is the way, the truth, and the life, and He is the only way to the Father.
John 14:7–11 (ESV) — 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” 8 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.
When Philip was disturbed by the uncertainty of what Jesus said about the Father and wanted physical proof that could be seen with the natural eye, Jesus turned his uncertainty to certainty pointing to Himself as giving a perfect glimpse of the Father.
John 1:18 (ESV) — 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.
As we are bombarded by a host of uncertainties, we can get overwhelmed and discouraged, as no doubt were the disciples. Jesus, however, the Master teacher and shepherd, just gave them certainties to overcome the uncertainties.
Do you need some certainties to overcome your uncertainties?
Romans 8:32–39 (ESV) — 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
If you are being overwhelmed about facing the future and not knowing whether God can be trusted to provide for you, consider how He did not spare the best but sent the Lord Jesus Christ to save you from your sins.
If you are being filled with anxiety as Satan brings accusations against you, consider the fact that God justified you by the work of the Lord Jesus Christ, and He, Jesus, makes intercession for you.
If you are feeling separated from God as you face troubles in life, consider how He makes you more than a conqueror in the midst of trouble.
Finally, as you consider anything else in life you feel is adding to cause a troubled spirit because of the uncertainty of the times, take up Romans 8:38-39 and read it aloud with emphasis. Certainty for uncertain times.
Godspeed,
Bob Brubaker, Pastor
Christ Community Presbyterian Church
Clearwater
