Peter said, “Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me?” Very truly, I tell you, before the cock crows, you will have denied me three times. Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me.”
John 13-37-14:1

Has your world ever fallen apart? Have you ever felt like the rug was pulled out from under your feet? I have, and Peter must have in today’s scripture. Peter, along with the rest of the disciples surely thought that everything they thought nailed down was coming loose. After all, Jesus has just announced that He was leaving them! On top of that He has just told Peter and the other disciples that Peter, the “Rock”, would deny Him.

But then, to such a beleaguered and bewildered rag tag group, Jesus speaks some of Scripture’s most comforting and beloved words: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me.”   

Because of an unfortunate human chapter division made in our Bibles, we often do not connect Jesus’ sobering words at the end of John 13 to His comforting words beginning chapter 14. Note that as Jesus speaks, He goes immediately from talking about His departure, Judas’ betrayal, and Peter’s denial, to giving reassurance: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me.”  Don’t let what you have just heard unsettle you or make you afraid. Keep trusting in the Father and in me. Or, as The Message wonderfully translates

Jesus’ words: “Don’t let this throw you. You trust in God, don’t you? Trust in me.”   Perhaps you have received news today that troubles you. Perhaps you are anxious about the news on the television or radio. Jesus says to you and me today: “Don’t let any of this news throw you! Do not be afraid, but keep trusting in the Father and in me.”

A fellow traveler,
Tim