We’re facing a world which is turning upside down. Everything we thought was right is wrong, and what we thought was wrong is right. Incredible, disturbing changes are taking place. BUT ‘let not your heart be troubled!’ What a challenge!
These were the words of Jesus – to us – at the end of His ministry. It was the feast of Passover. And Jesus – John 13.1 – knowing that His Hour was come that He would depart from this world to the Father begins to speak to His disciples powerfully. He says, “NOW is the judgment of this world!” John 12.31. He said clearly: two thousand years ago, the judgment of the world began! And, He adds, “The prince of this world WILL be cast out!” When Jesus is talking about ‘the prince of this world’ He’s talking about Satan.
Jesus says, in John 14.30, “Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world comes – and has nothing in Me.” The devil has no hold over Him! This is such a strong statement! No hold over Jesus – and for those of us ‘in’ Jesus, the devil has no power over us!
Satan tried! Let’s go back to Matthew 4. Immediately after Jesus was baptised by John in the Jordan and received the Holy Spirit, He went out into the wilderness and fasted for 40 days. At the end of the fasting, Satan comes to Him to tempt Him, to get a hold over Him. He tempts Jesus to turn stone into bread, saying, “You’re hungry, you haven’t eaten for 40 days – turn these stones into bread!” Jesus rebukes him, “Man shall not live by bread alone but by every Word that proceeds from the Mouth of God.” Then Satan takes Him to the highest point of the Temple and says, “If You throw Yourself down here, what will happen? Angels will come and pick You up!” I find it incredible, not only Jesus quotes Scripture, but when the devil tempts Him – he quotes Scripture too! I sometimes think the devil knows Scripture better than many Christians! Then Satan takes Jesus up a high mountain and shows Him all the kingdoms of this world.
And so, we come again to Chapter 14, where Jesus said, “Let not your heart be troubled. You believe in God – believe in Me!” And then talking about Heaven, He goes on to say, “In My Father’s House are many mansions. If it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for YOU!” Jesus is forever talking about the Kingdom. When He was tempted by the devil, the devil took Him up a high mountain saying, “You see all the kingdoms of this world and all their glory? If You will bow down and worship me, I’ll give it all to You!” Jesus did not rebuke the devil and say, “You don’t have those to give” – because He recognised, the devil IS the prince of this world.
But Jesus said. “What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, but loses his own soul?
Jesus has promised to those who serve Him, “I go to My Father to prepare a place for YOU, and if I go, I will come back and receive you to Myself, THAT WHERE I AM, YOU MAY BE ALSO.”
Let not your heart be troubled! Today in this troubled world, if you believe in Him, don’t let your heart be troubled. He will give the Victory. God bless you!