"Believe in me"

"May your heart not be troubled ... I will return." Read John 14. 1-3

The Lord has gathered His disciples in an upper room for the last vigil he will spend with them before the cross. He then measures the intensity of the disorder that invades his disciples. Already Peter, probably expressing what they all feel, had asked the Master : "Lord, where are you going ?" (John 13:36). But the Lord feels that his answer has not dispelled their anxiety ; he takes the trouble to show them that he understands their fear : "let not your heart be troubled". Then he appeals to their faith : "you believe in God, believe also in me", before revealing to them one of the reasons of his absence : "I will prepare you a place". He ends with a promise : "I'll come back". The Lord does not omit anything that can reassure them, for the present as for the future.

The tenderness of the Lord and his solicitude are infinitely touching, but the discomfort of the disciples persists. After Peter, it is Thomas, Philip and Jude who express their anxiety (John 14. 5, 7, 22).

Shall we blame the disciples ? They have the impression that their future is falling apart; their master speaks to them of his death, of his sufferings; he tells them that he will be betrayed, that he will leave them. They see themselves as disciples without a master, like a little flock without a shepherd. What will become of them if their Lord is no longer there to protect them from the hatred of the Pharisees ? They can not imagine that a few days later, fearful in a locked room, they will see him appear in the midst of them, and will be filled with joy by his presence ; that soon they will boldly announce it to repentant crowds. Will they remember his consolations and his promise ?

These encouragements are today of topicality for Christians. The number of conflicts, miseries, shortages and growing insecurity are serious reasons for concern for the present as well as for the future. One of our resources is the very words of the Lord : "I ... I will keep you from the hour of trial that will come on the whole earth, to test those who dwell on the earth" (Rev. 10), "I do not ask that you remove them from the world, but that you keep them from harm", "I want ... that where I am, they will be there with me too" (John 17. 15, 24 ).

Source (Pleasing the Lord)