The Blue Church

One of the more comforting sayings of Jesus is, “Let not your hearts be troubled.” It is the first half of John 14:1, which concludes with the idea that if we trust God, we should trust Jesus in the same way.

But in our haste to memorize this verse and follow it’s command, we may be missing its all important context. Why did Jesus say that, to whom, and when? The answers may surprise you after all.

It was on the heels of the disciples’ claim of absolute devotion to Jesus, recorded in the final verses of John 13: “Peter asked, ‘Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.’ Then Jesus answered, ‘Will you really lay down your life for me? I tell you the truth, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.'”

We know that Peter indeed did deny the Lord. Adding insult to injury, no doubt his boast and the Lord’s prediction hung over him like a dark cloud. Matthew tells us that he wept bitterly. In fact, all the disciples first boasted, then failed (Mark 14:31; 14:50).

Hopefully Peter and the others also remembered what Jesus said next: “Let not your hearts be troubled.” For at that point, Jesus’ prophesy of betrayal turns out to be an amazing affirmation of His love.

“Look, Peter, you don’t know what you are saying. The truth is that you all will run like frightened children. But don’t let that trouble you. I knew it from the beginning, and I’ve always loved you, and still do. Don’t let this distress you. Don’t fall into the pit of despair.”

This is the difference between life and death, light and darkness, productive sorrow and hopeless desperation. Judas hanged himself, and Peter was restored. The former did not believe Jesus, the latter did. Jesus was headed to the Cross to die for our failures.

Paul applies this very principle in dealing with the Corinthians. He had rebuked them, but was not sorry they had been saddened. Why? “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leads to no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.” 2 Corinthians 7:10

We all fail, and sometimes fail miserably. But that failure can be redeemed, and the resulting sorrow can lead us to repentance. Let it. And then, let Jesus dry your tears, and bask in His forgiveness. Like His Father (Luke 15), He delights to welcome returning wanderers.

“For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion on his children,
so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;
for he knows how we are formed,
he remembers that we are dust.
Psalm 103:11-14