Jesus Comforts The Apostles (J53)

“Let not your hearts be troubled;” Christ said
To the apostles; “trust in God and me;
There is room for all who to me are led;
I would have told you, if it’s not to be!
I go to prepare ev’ryone a place,
And I will return! Mine will come to me;
You will be where I am, and see my face;
We’ll be together for eternity!
You know the Way to where I am going,
For you have truly believed on my name;
I would that all men knew what you’re knowing;
That is the reason to the earth I came!
To comfort them, these promises were said,
For Jesus knew what trials lay ahead!

Commentary on: John 14:1-4 (NIV)
Jesus knew that His remaining eleven apostles were shocked and disturbed after learning that one of their number would betray Him. He also knew the grim events that were about to envelop them. To comfort them, He made some beautiful and astounding promises.

In spiritual language, which usually meant that they would not correctly grasp His meaning, He tried to assuage their apprehensions about His leaving them. He told them they knew the way to where He was going, meaning they knew the “good news” of the gospel and for that reason, would also go to be with Him. They had heard Him tell the Jews repeatedly that they needed to believe that He had been sent from God—that He was the Messiah, meaning the Christ. Knowing and believing this was the Way to heaven for all people on earth, and the apostles certainly knew it. Further, He said there were rooms enough in His Father’s “house” (heaven) for all, and He was going to “prepare” them a place, where they could be together always.

Most importantly, He told them He was coming back to the earth for them. He was referring to His Second Coming, which will signal the end of the age (but not necessarily the end of the world). At this time He will resurrect every believer that has died, and give each an imperishable body (See 1 Corinthians 15:42-43 and the following verses). The believers still living will be “raptured” (levitated) up to meet Him in the sky; their bodies will be changed in the “twinkling of an eye” to undying spiritual bodies. All the saved will be with Him for eternity!

Jesus knew that Judas was en route to the Sanhedrin to lead the guards to Him. The little group was still at their Passover meal in the upper room. They would remain there for a few more hours while Jesus continued to teach them. Later they would leave the upper room and walk to the garden of Gethsemane. There Jesus would go off alone to pray to His Father. The arresting delegation would arrive there after midnight. He would be tried and sentenced to death in an illegal trial before daylight.

"For God so loved the world that he sent his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him will not die, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

"That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord", and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." (Romans 10:9)