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Chapter 73—“Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled”
This chapter is based on
John 13:31-38
;
14-17
.
Judas had left the upper chamber, and Christ was alone with
the eleven. He was about to speak of His approaching separation
from them; but before this He pointed to the great object of His
mission. He kept ever before Him His joy that all His humiliation
and suffering would glorify the Father’s name. To this He first
directed the thoughts of His disciples.
Their Master and Lord, their beloved Teacher and Friend, was
dearer to them than life. Now He was to leave them. Dark were the
forebodings that filled their hearts.
But the Saviour’s words were full of hope. He knew that Satan’s
craft is most successful against those who are depressed by diffi-
culties. Therefore He turned their thoughts to the heavenly home:
“Let not your hearts be troubled... . In My Father’s house are many
mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a
place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come
again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may
be also.” When I go away, I shall still work earnestly for you. I go
to the Father to cooperate with Him in your behalf.
Christ’s departure was the opposite of what the disciples feared—
it did not mean a final separation. He was going to prepare a place
for them, that He might receive them to Himself. While He was
building mansions for them, they were to build characters after the
divine similitude.
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Thomas, troubled by doubts, said, “Lord, we know not whither
Thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I
am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father,
but by Me. If ye had known Me, ye should have known My Father
also: and from henceforth ye know Him, and have seen Him.”
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