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In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

            We’re five Sundays in to Easter, but John 14 takes us back before Jesus’ death and resurrection, to the night when He was betrayed. He gave His disciples His own body and blood as the fulfillment of the Passover meal; He washed their feet; He, their Lord, became their servant, and gave them to each other as servants. And He taught them, for the last time in this way. He spent time telling them what was going to happen. He gave them comfort before the trouble. They had had Him with them for these years, but now He said that He was going away from them. That they would not see Him, and then they would see Him again. He told them that He would send them the Holy Spirit, who would lead them further up and further in to what He had said, opening up His words to them. And He gave them comfort and consolation for what was going to come.

            But if someone gives you something to use later, for a particular purpose, it’s hard to imagine that circumstance when you will need it. If everything is going well now, it’s hard to imagine the difficulty that might make the comfort necessary. And perhaps it was like that for the disciples. They could not see or understand, at least not fully, what would happen so they did not fully understand the comfort Jesus was giving them. It’s worse in the world. When something good happens in the world, people think that this is how it’s always going to be. It’s all going up and up and up, and progress is inevitable, and it will all be great. But then something bad happens and people think that’s all it’s ever going to be, down and down and down forever. It will never get better, only worse.

            That’s how it is for unbelief. It can only see what’s happening immediately, right in front of it. When it’s good, that’s all it is, and when it’s bad, that’s all it is. There is only now. It’s like the dog who’s either having a treat or being kicked. Nothing in between. But Christians know better, because Jesus has told us. In spite of what some people think, Christians are not always happy. Not everything that happens is great, happy, the best. Christians who hear the word of Jesus know that this world is not all gumdrops and rainbows and puppies after you become a Christian. All the apostles, except John—who was exiled to an island to live alone—were, at least by tradition, killed for believing Jesus. Jesus tells them that they will have trouble. Jesus tells them that the world hated Him, so it will hate those who belong to Him. It persecuted Him, so it will persecute those who belong to Him—and not just by saying mean things on the internet. Actual persecution, prison, suffering, death. The devil is still active, and he never gets tired of trying to drive you from Jesus. Anything at all that he can use, he will use it. Your own sinful heart is still trying to drive you from the God who has made and redeemed you, and to make yourself your own god, dependent on no one but whatever you feel in the moment. The world is still the world. So Christians know that life is not all just smiles and happy times.

            But Christians also know that this is still God’s good creation. Jesus is Lord, not just of the Church, but of the whole creation He made. Whether people know it or not, Jesus is Lord, and He still gives us good things to gladden our hearts. He doesn’t want us to think those are the point of it all, but He still provides. He still gives us family, friends, food, drink, house, home, and everything else we need to support this body and life. Even though the devil, the world, and your flesh are still after you, that doesn’t stop God from giving you good things. Christians give thanks for all things, knowing that all good things come down to us from our heavenly Father. This is His creation, and we are His creatures.

            But whether good or bad, Jesus gives you a comfort that does not depend on either. So when things are bad, should we have a kind of eternal optimism that doesn’t take pain and suffering seriously? When things are going well, should we be ducking, cowering, afraid of what might come around the next corner? There was a television show around the time I graduated from high school—yeah, it’s been a while—called Becker. And there was one episode where the main character had some good things happen to him. He got a check in the mail. Other good things were happening. Things were going well. But he wasn’t happy. Because he had this theory that what happens to you is like a rubber band. And every time a good thing happens, it’s like the universe is pulling the rubber band back a little bit more. And if too many good things happen, well, eventually the rubber band is going to snap back and hurt you. So he doesn’t enjoy anything that’s happening, because he’s always afraid of when the rubber band will snap. The episode goes on, and nothing bad happens, so he starts to loosen up, get a little comfortable. Maybe he was wrong. Maybe good things can just keep happening. And then, at the end, when the credits are rolling, he drops the check in a puddle, and a car comes by and splashes muddy water all over him. See? That’s how it is.

            Is that how Christians should be? No. Because we are not cynical about life, as if the universe is just messing with us. It’s not fate. We simply know that God is good and He is making all things new, but we are not there yet. So Jesus gives to His disciples and to us comfort ahead of time, before the difficulties, and burdens, and struggles, and suffering of this life come to us. He says, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me. In the house of My Father are many rooms, many dwelling places. If it were not so, I would not have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you.” A place for you. But where? We often think that this means that Jesus is going to heaven, and God’s house is like a big mansion, with lots of guest rooms, and Jesus is going there like the maid, to make sure it’s all ready for us. He changes the sheets and blankets, makes the bed, puts a mint on the pillow, makes sure the shampoo and conditioner and soap are all full, cleans the sink and the tub. He goes to heaven to prepare a place for you!

But that’s not where Jesus is going in John 14, at least not immediately. This is the night before He was betrayed. He is going to heaven, to the Father, but not yet. Before that, He is going to the cross. His hour has come, for Him to be glorified, and that hour is the hour of His suffering and death. He’s going to be lifted up, like Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, and whoever looks at Jesus and believes Him will not die, but will live. Of all the bad things that can happen to us, the one we often fear the most is that we will die, or that those we love will die. And that is the worst thing that can happen, in this world at least. Eternal death is worse, but the separation now is what we fear. So that’s where Jesus goes, right into the middle of death. And He goes there, into the death that surrounds us all, to make a place for you: not a place of death, but a place of life in the midst of death. He spreads His arms wide, like a hen gathering her little chickens, and He makes a refuge for you there, right in the middle of death. The thief comes to steal and kill and destroy, but He has come that you might have abundant life. That’s what He makes for you there, where He takes all your sins on Himself so that there is no more death for you. There is no more condemnation for those who are in Christ’s life. I am, He says, the way, and the truth, and the life. There is no other refuge, but I am showing you where it is. I have come so that you wouldn’t have to search and search. Here it is, the way to the Father, by My words of eternal life. This is the place where you dwell with Me. And not only that. The word for “rooms” here is only used twice in the whole New Testament: here, and in verse 23 of this chapter. Where Jesus’ word is, so that you love Him and keep His word, He promises not that you will go away, but that both He and the Father will come to you here and make their dwelling place with you. Believe the Father and believe the Son. Trust Him, because He is trust-worthy. He never lies or breaks His promises. You have a refuge there with Him, in His word to you. Hear it, learn it, memorize it, because it is how you learn to know the voice of your Good Shepherd, who knows you. And when the difficulty comes, when the suffering comes, when the bad things come, when the storms come, you know where your refuge is: in Christ, who has made a place of life for you within death. Do not let your hearts be troubled; neither let them be afraid. I give you peace, but not as the world gives, where it only works if bad things never happen. I give you peace where I am, where My words are, until the day when I see you, and My place of refuge covers all creation. Blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him.

In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7, ESV). Amen.

– Pr. Timothy Winterstein, 5/1/26