No-One

“Let not your hearts be troubled” (John 14:1).

Harrowing of Hell (Jacob van Swanenburg)

There is no way to get to heaven except through Christ.

How do I know this?  Simply because Christ Himself – God the Son – told me…

“Let not your hearts be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. 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? And when 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. And you know the way where I am going. Thomas said to Him, ‘Lord, we do not know where You are going; how can we know the way?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by Me.’” (John 14:1-6).

This was a tender moment between a Master and His students.  I can imagine the scene.  How much love there would have been in that room.  How much the disciples must have longed to be close to God.  And yet – there they were – troubled by the idea that Christ would leave them.  They did not want Him to go.  I can imagine Thomas’ panic – How can I follow You, Lord?  I want to follow You, but I do not understand where You are going or where You are leading me?  How could I ever get there if I am not able to find the place?  How will I stop myself loosing You?

And I can imagine the infinite compassion of the Master, who looked at His disciples and loved them for their ignorance.  And loved them for their love of Him.  How He loved them as little children…

He did not tell them that they would not experience troubles, but He told them that those troubles should not trouble them.  And knowing that there would be troubles did not make the troubles less.  After all, nobody had more troubles than those early followers of Christ.  They were persecuted for CENTURIES without remorse.  They were tortured and killed.  Their loved ones were tortured and killed.  And even today – followers of Christ, Christians – are persecuted and killed around the world.

And so, there are troubles – and terrible troubles for so many of us followers of Christ.  Some of us lose children, others are plagued by addiction, still others experience poor health.  Whatever the troubles, Christ was clear and definite – “Let not your hearts be troubled” (John 14:1).  And He said this because He knew that bad times would come but He did not want us to despair.  Instead, He wants us to rejoice in HIS GOODNESS and know that He will turn all things to the GOOD.  All He is asking of us is a little patience and a little faith, and He will surely do the rest…

For with prayer, I stand on Holy Ground where everything is clear. Here. At the Foot of the Cross.