Jesus, I Will Anchor My Trust in You (Because You Promise First)

“Let not your heart be troubled. You are trusting God, now trust in me. There are many homes up there where my Father lives, and I am going to prepare them for your coming. When everything is ready, then I will come and get you, so that you can always be with me where I am. If this weren’t so, I would tell you plainly”
(John 14:-3, The Living Bible)

After shocking hearing what Lord Jesus said about Judas’s betrayal, Peter’s future denial, and His own imminent death, the disciples must have been confused and troubled (read John 13:28). So Jesus told them to anchor their trust in Him. Jesus said that He and the Father would prepare a place for the disciples while He was gone and that – He would return for them.

Jesus knew He would be taken forcefully from them, falsely accused, tortured and crucified. He knew the disciples would scatter and hide, their faith will be strongly tested. So He encouraged them to anchor on to their trust in God and to trust in Him. Later, Jesus told the disciples why He had given them glimpses of the future: “I have told you these things before they happen so that when they do, you’ll believe in me” (John 14:29). When Judas’s betrayal and Peter’s denial happened, they would believe that Jesus was who He said He was. After all, He had predicted those very events. Thus the disciples could be confident that everything (all!) that Jesus had predicted and promised would come true.

Jesus had said that He would “prepare” homes for them (for us) – in His Father’s house – and He reaffirmed that promise over and over again, adding that eventually they would “always be with [Jesus]”, reunited forever with the Father in heaven.

Jesus’ promises to the disciples really encourage me personally and I hope to you too. Throughout His time with His followers, Jesus had warned them about opposition ahead of them. He had always told them the truth, even the predictions of pain, separation, rejection and persecution. And everything happened just as He said! So we can believe His words about the future too. What a glorious future that will be! Together with Jesus forever! In the meantime, during our struggles and sorrows, we anchor our trust in Him. When we feel lonely and abandoned, we anchor in Him. When we don’t know what to do or which way to turn, we anchor in Him. Remember, Jesus is preparing a place, our place now. “If this weren’t so, I would tell you plainly.”

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.