Jesus speaks to his troubled disciples of all ages in this week’s Gospel, “Do not let your heart be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions. If it were not so, I would have told you. I am going to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to be with me, so that you may also be where I am. You know where I am going, and you know the way” (John 14:1-4).
Jesus tells us to stop being troubled. The Greek word for “trouble” has the picture of water that is churning or seething, as in a rough surf on Lake Michigan. The news of the betrayal, denial, and departure of Jesus have caused the disciples’ hearts to churn with fear and apprehension.
How often don’t you notice that your heart is churning with fear and seething with apprehension? We Americans are becoming increasingly anxious, depressed, and isolated. Jesus doesn’t simply pat his disciples on the head and say, “There, there, everything will be all right.” He tells why they have no reason to be troubled. He points us to his home he won for us through his death and resurrection. Our hymn points us to the same confidence.
He is arisen! Glorious Word! Now reconciled is God, my Lord; the gates of heav’n are open. My Jesus did triumphant die, and Satan’s arrows broken lie, destroyed hell’s fiercest weapon. O hear what cheer! Christ victorious, rising glorious, life is giving. He was dead but now is living!
Jesus doesn’t promise to remove our troubles from us. Rather, he promises to remove us from our troubles. He promises to remove our troubles eventually and eternally in heaven. The gates of heaven are open for those who believe in Jesus. Heaven opened because of what happened to Jesus on the cross and out of the grave.
It appeared as if Jesus was defeated when he died on Calvary’s cross. The opposite was true. “My Jesus did triumphant die.” With his sacrificial death, Jesus "destroyed hell's fiercest weapon" – death itself. “Satan’s arrows” – the ones he shot into Adam and Eve and their countless children – have all fallen broken at the foot of the cross. Jesus endured the hellish agony and his Father’s just wrath for humanity’s sins. Through his sacrificial death and triumphant resurrection, Christ is victorious, rising glorious. He was dead but now is living. When we die, we will rise to go on living in the Father’s heavenly mansions that Jesus has ascended to prepare for us. Let this knowledge calm your troubled, churning hearts.