Reflection:
Most of us are probably guilty of self-preoccupation, at any given moment. Given the events surrounding this passage, one could imagine that Jesus may have been a bit self-consumed and caught up in himself and his situation…yet that is not what we see here.
Jesus’ concern is for his bewildered companions. ‘Do not let your hearts be troubled’, he says (verse 1). The disciples are anxious because Jesus has predicted his imminent departure from them; Judas has left; and a prediction of Peter’s significant stumble has been made (see 13:38).
For the disciples, things appear to be falling apart, so Jesus appeals to them to ‘Trust in God, trust also in me’ (verse 1). We’re familiar with the maxim ‘Just trust me’ and can often feel cynical about that. Here, Jesus – who spoke God’s words and performed the acts of God – asks his disciples to trust him. To rely upon him.
The reason for that trust is now spelt out. Jesus’ departure is for the disciples’ benefit. He will leave them, but he will return and take them to be with him, to the place where he has gone. Jesus has in mind his second coming. After his death, resurrection and ascension, he will return to his Father and prepare a place for us, his followers.
What an amazing idea! Jesus, the Lord of the universe, is at work preparing our future eternal home. In his Father’s presence (house) and we will dwell together with him and Christ. Jesus concludes with the statement ‘You know the way to the place where I am going’ (verse 4). The disciples know Jesus and because they know him, they know the way to the place where Jesus is going.
This short passage is one of the most cherished in the whole of John’s Gospel. The comfort of knowing that our future (beyond death) is secure with Christ is one of the great blessings of being a Christian. The key to being confident, in the midst of life’s many twists and turns, is to trust in God and to trust in Jesus. The key to being assured of our eternal future is to trust God and to trust in Jesus. Our confidence is in him, who goes before us to prepare the way.
Prayer:
Give thanks for these words of assurance and promise. Pray for trust in Jesus today, in whatever you’re going through, as well as in his eternal future which he is preparing for you.