A Remedy for Troubled Hearts
by Wayne Jackson
In those gloomy hours preceding Calvary, Jesus reflected upon the
dreaded appointment, which, in the eternal scheme of things, he had with
the cross – that instrument by which he would bear the penalty for human
sin. Remarkably, however, in
spite of his own ordeal, more often that not, his thoughts were riveted
upon the welfare of others – particularly the disciples, who did not
appreciate the difficulties that lay before them.
In one of the most precious passages of Holy Writ – “Let
not your heart be troubled…” (Jn. 14:1) – the Lord sought to assuage the turbulent souls of his weary
followers. That the
disciples were disturbed in the upper room on that evening prior to the
crucifixion is beyond doubt.
When Jesus said, “Let not your
heart be troubled,” he employed a construction in the Greek text
that literally says: “Do not
keep on being troubled,” thus revealing their agitated disposition.
THE
PROBLEMS
What were their concerns?
Several factors robbed the disciples of tranquility.
First, the Lord had informed them on several occasions that he
would be delivered up to the chief priests and elders of the Jewish
community, and be put to death ultimately.
They could not bring themselves to accept that. Surely, the
long-awaited Messiah would not die at the hands of his enemies.
Peter had even rebuked the Lord for daring to suggest such a thin
(cf.
Mt. 16:21-23). And so the
thought of the Master’s death was troubling.
Too, during the Passover supper that very evening Christ had
indicated that one of the apostolic band would betray him (Jn.
13:21).
How disheartening that must have been.
Finally, to compound the matter, Jesus declared that Peter, a
leading apostle, would deny him in the following, early-morning hours (13:36-38). These
circumstances were enough to shake the disciples to their very core.
But the Lord understands that.
He looked at them and loved them. He knew there was merely a
remedy for their heartache.
THE
SOLUTION
Jesus thus declared:
“Believe in God, believe also in me” (ASV).
The KJV gives the first clause a declaration rendition; the
second, an imperative.
But, as
Robertson observes, “[p] probably both are imperatives” [commands] (p.
248). Moreover, in both
instances the verb “believe” is in a present tense form in the original
text-“keep on believing in God; keep on believing in me also.”
The Lord thus affirmed that it was faith that would carry them
through.
But what was the character of the faith he envisioned?
Genuine faith--the kind that saves—consists of several
components. First, it
involves being exposed to the will of God and learning essential, sacred
truth (Rom.
10:17; Jn. 6:44-47).
Second, faith entails a soul disposition that trusts the Savior
and commits to his care.
Some in the first century were intellectually persuaded regarding the
divine nature of Christ, but for various reasons they would not trust
themselves to him (cf.
Jn. 8:30ff;
12:42-43). Third, true belief submits to the will of the Lord.
He who believes on the Son has eternal life, but he who obeys not
the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him (see
Jn. 3:34 ASV). Jesus is
the author of eternal salvation only to such as obey him (Heb.
5:9).
The noted Greek lexicographer, J.H. Thayer, observed that the
faith which embraces Christ is characterized by a conviction regarding
the facts about Jesus, a willingness to trust him, and an obedience to
the Messiah’s will (p. 510).
Admittedly, there are numerous occasions when our hearts are
troubled. How are we to deal
with such crises?
Unquestionably, there are things we cannot change.
We can, however, learn to survive by immersing ourselves in a
deep and sustained biblical faith.
May the Lord grant us the strength to pursue this remedy.
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