As good as the news of Jesus’ resurrection is, the reality of life in a troubled world challenges us.
“Let not your hearts be troubled.”
Easier said than done. There are so many reasons to have troubled hearts. We have troubles at work, troubles at home, and troubles at school. We face troubles with our health, troubles with our friends, and troubles with our families. There are troubles throughout the Church, troubles throughout the country, and troubles throughout the world. Some troubles come and go as quickly as the weather changes in St. Louis. Other troubles last longer... weeks, months, years. Life in a fallen world is full of trouble.
But Jesus tells His disciples, “Let not your hearts be troubled.”
We are in the season of Easter. Easter gives us reason to rejoice no matter the circumstances. The Psalm for this week reminds us: “I will praise the LORD all my life. I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.” But those praises are harder to muster when troubles arise. It is hard to sing when doubt, despair, fear, or anger rise up. As good as the news of Jesus’ resurrection is, the reality of life in a troubled world challenges us.
Jesus words in this first verse from John 14 invite you to spend some time with your congregation considering how they handle the troubles they face in life. The world around us offers a variety of suggestions. You might spend your sermon acknowledging and evaluating various options through this sermon.[1] The goal would be to lead your hearers to deal with troubles faithfully as Christians whose life is hidden in the one who rose from the dead (also refer to Colossians 3:3).[2]
The Stoic Way
One way to deal with trouble resembles the ancient Greek philosophy that began three centuries before the birth of Jesus. The Stoics were convinced that trouble could be managed by willing away unhappy and painful emotions. Resilience and self-control were the tools to make it happen. Marcus Aurelius, Roman emperor and Stoic philosopher, suggested that we with enough determination, are capable of bringing the ship of our soul into “the untroubled peacefulness of a waveless bay.”
There is something impressive about this approach to dealing with trouble. The stern resignation practiced by the Stoic has a certain kind of nobility and integrity about it. It is strong. It is tough. It is undeterred.
But it does not work. Why not? It costs too much. Removing all emotion from life may lessen the sting of pain and sorrow, but in doing so, it removes something essential to our humanity. We are emotional creatures who are made to feel a range of experiences. A waveless bay is fine for ships. But for humans it is more like a stagnant pond.
A waveless bay is fine for ships. But for humans it is more like a stagnant pond.
The Pleasure Way
A second approach to dealing with trouble is the opposite of the Way of the Stoic. Instead of repressing emotion and ignoring feeling, those who take this approach dive headfirst into whatever makes them feel better. The way to overcome pain is to fill your life and your heart and your calendar with whatever pleases. Drown yourself in self-gratification, says the Way of Pleasure.
The upside to this approach is that it often works. A couple I know told me about their strategy to avoid serious marital fights. This couple struggled with frequent arguments. The trouble would usually start small; a little annoyance here, a minor frustration there. But quickly things would erupt into knock-down, drag-out battles. To address the pattern, this couple learned they could prevent major blow-ups by making a simple suggestion to do something enjoyable. So, they would go out for dinner and a movie or make a trip to the local ice cream joint or go out for a drink. After doing something enjoyable, the slight annoyance would often fade away.
It is not a bad plan. The Way of Pleasure works for minor grievances. But when troubles get serious, a little pleasure can only serve to distract. It does not address the trouble in any meaningful way. It is like trying to fix a leak in a boat with silly puddy. It simply will not hold when the pressure mounts.
The Work Way
There is another way to seek distractions. Rather than pleasure, some try immersing themselves in work. Like the Way of the Stoic, the Way of Work has a sense of nobility about it, especially in a society which places such a high value on productivity and output. It is not uncommon for those who have troubles at home to work longer and longer hours. It can often seem easier to work than to face the struggles at home.
Which suggests that the Way of Work is not as noble as it first appears. Rather than doing the harder work of addressing the trouble, this is another attempt at escape. Far from dealing with the trouble, this approach compounds it.
The Trust Way
But there is another way. It is the only way to deal with the troubles we face in life. This way pays close attention to Jesus’ words in our text. “Do not let your hearts be troubled,” He said. Then He went on: “Trust in God; trust also in Me.”
At first glance, the Trust Way seems like a cop-out, as if simply placing your trust in Jesus will make all the trouble go away. So, it is understandable to be a little skeptical of the Trust Way.
But the key to this Way is not the one who pursues it. It is the one who is followed. Jesus knows trouble firsthand. He is the man of sorrows, the one rejected by His own. He suffered trouble to the point of death, even death on a cross. Trouble was not the end of Him, however. On the third day He rose again from the dead, defeating sin and death and trouble of every kind. In rising on the third day, He vindicated everything He said, including the words in our text.
The Trust Way is honest about the trouble. It faces the tragic reality of trouble in a sinful world and clings to the resurrection of Jesus. The risen one promises to see His people through their trouble and restore them and all things in the end. Stephen, whose witness is recorded in the reading from Acts for this week, is a great example of one who faced trouble according to the Trust Way. His trouble ended his life. But even at the end, Jesus sustained him. And Jesus promised to raise his broken body from the dead.
Jesus promises the same to your hearers today. And that is enough to see them through any trouble that comes their way.
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Additional Resources:
Craft of Preaching-Check out 1517’s resources on John 14:1-14.
Concordia Theology-Various helps from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, MO to assist you in preaching John 14:1-14.
Lectionary Kick-Start-Check out this fantastic podcast from Craft of Preaching authors Peter Nafzger and David Schmitt as they dig into the texts for this Sunday!
The Pastor’s Workshop-Check out all the great preaching resources from our friends at the Pastor’s Workshop!
[1] You might consider following the “Question Answered” structure to organize the sermon. See https://concordiatheology.org/sermon-structs/thematic/question-answered/.
[2] The following four approaches to dealing with trouble are based on ideas from: E. Hastings. The Speakers Bible—St. John Volume 2. Aberdeen, Scotland:1931. 64-65.
