Click this link to hear an audio version of the below text narrated by SOTH member Jerry Rhinehart:
John 14:1-6 (NIV)
Jesus Comforts His Disciples
14 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”
Jesus the Way to the Father
5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
What image do you have of the place Jesus is preparing for you? Share with someone what you feel about Jesus coming to get you.
Precious Jesus, You were returning to the Father, but the disciples could only see that they were losing You and their hearts were breaking. That is how it is so often in life, where I cannot see beyond my portion of pain, uncomfortableness, or trouble when my heart is breaking. But Your words of comfort to the disciples have provided encouragement and hope for Christians for all ages. Broken hearts are comforted with the promise that this world is not the end. The hurt and disappointment of today will disappear when You come back to take us to our new home to be with You for eternity. That hope gives me the strength to keep going because what I am experiencing here is not all there is. Help me to keep my focus on living with You in heaven instead of on problems here on earth. Whatever it is that You are preparing for me, I know it will be perfect and it will be everything that I could ever want or need. I rest in the confidence that You are the Only Way, the Truth and the Life and that I will be with You forever. Amen