Being Assured of our Rest in Christ: RRE 33
Religion Ruins Everything Daily 10.13.16 from One Life Network on Vimeo.
[1] “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. [2] In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? [3] And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. [4] And you know the way to where I am going.” [5] Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” [6] Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. [7] If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
[8] Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” [9] Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? [10] Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. [11] Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.
[12] “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. [13] Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. [14] If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.
[15] “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
(John 14:1–15 ESV)
Jesus is comforting His disciples as He is about to go through His trial, crucifixion, death, burial, and resurrection. He wants them to rest and have confidence in Him through the coming difficulties. There are three things He gives them to strengthen their rest:
1. Rest in His promise:He will pray for them, He is preparing a place for them to be with Him forever, and He will come back and get them to take them there.
2. Rest in His identity: Jesus told Phillip, “I and the Father are one” so we can be confident that when we talk to Jesus, and follow Jesus, we are talking to and following the one true God.
3. Rest in His works: We will continue the miraculous work that Jesus started. Whatever we ask Him to help with, He will. He wants to continue to bring glory to the Father, and now He is going to do it through us.
As we rest in Jesus, we will see and appreciate ways in which His promises, His identity, and His works show up in our everyday lives.