Chapter 13: LET NOT YOUR HEART BE TROUBLED
Chapter 13: LET NOT YOUR HEART BE TROUBLED
Matt. xxvi. 21-25, 31-35; Luke xx. 21-23; John xiii. 21-38, xiv. i, 2
"Heart, heart, awake! The love that loveth all
Maketh a deeper calm than Horeb's cave: —
God in thee — can His children's folly gall?
Love may be hurt, but shall not love be brave?"
— Mac Donald.
ON THE APPEARANCE of the first three stars, a blast from the silver trumpets of the temple gave the signal for the Passover-supper to begin in all parts of the city. On the table were the bread, wine, water and herbs; on the side-table the roasted lamb. The swinging lamps were aglow above, and below, around the table, were the thirteen couches.
Everything bespoke the preparation of the two Apostles. For hundreds of years the same customs had been followed, the same explanations given, the same psalms sung, the same blessings and thanksgivings pronounced. But the Apostles were conscious that a heavy cloud was upon the Master's soul, to which He presently gave the clue when He said: "Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray Me." And again: "One of you that eateth with Me shall betray Me." And yet again: "It is one of you who dippeth his hand with Me in the dish. ... It were better for him that he had never been born."
Each disciple, except Judas, seems to have suspected himself more than any of his fellows, and said distrustfully: "Master, is it I?" But Peter, impatient of the uncertainty, and perhaps anxious to be sure that he at least was not intended, made a secret sign to John to ascertain to whom the Lord referred. In a whisper, as he leant back on the Saviour's bosom, John asked who the traitor would be. Jesus did not wish to utter his name, and replied, again, in an undertone, which probably only Peter, John, and Judas caught: "It is he to whom I shall give the sop when I have dipped it." Then placing some bitter herbs between slices of bread. He dipped the morsel into a special bowl of mixed fruits called "Charosheth," and passed it to Judas. The traitor then knew that the Master knew; but with brazen effrontery, he said: "Master, is it I?" Under His breath our Lord replied: "It is as thou hast said "; and then louder, so that every one around the table heard Him, "That thou doest, do quickly."
The traitor could no longer bear the white light of Christ's holy presence. Perhaps remorse had already begun to gnaw at his vitals. Hastily wrapping his cloak around him, he went out into the night; but the revealing words had been spoken so gently that only Peter and John were in the secret. Even they did not suppose that matters had gone so far, and that the thirty pieces of silver — "the price of blood" — were already in Judas's purse. So well had he played his part, that the rest supposed that the Lord had commissioned him to buy some additional article for the feast, or that he had gone out to make some offering to the poor.
His absence was a great relief to Jesus. What He must have suffered for all those later months from the presence of Judas, amongst his intimates, can only be appreciated by such as can say with the Psalmist:
"Woe is me that I sojourn in Mesech, and dwell in the tents of Kedar! My soul hath long dwelt with him that hateth peace." "Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said. . ." And He poured forth a volume of golden speech for the warning and comfort of the immediate circle of "His own," and through them of the Universal Church. We must specially concentrate on the words addressed to Peter: —
I. "LET NOT YOUR HEART BE TROUBLED!" "I HAVE PRAYED FOR THEE." — In after years Peter compared the Tempter to a lion, roaring around the fold, and seeking an unguarded opening or a stray sheep.
As he wrote the words, he must have had in mind the Master's warning to them all, and especially himself: "Simon, Simon, Satan hath sought and obtained permission that he may sift all of you as wheat, but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith may not fail in the ordeal."
There is no fear for the wheat, when the husbandman, in Oriental fashion, throws up the grain which he has threshed against the evening breeze. Its weight brings it back to the floor, and only the chaff disappears. It is a distinct advantage to be rid of the encumbering chaff, as it is for the Church to be freed from the presence of those who are not truly one with it. When persecution arises because of the Word, and many are offended, when iniquity abounds and the love of many waxes cold, when a controversy arises like that led by Athanasius on the behalf of evangelical truth, there is no reasonable ground for regret. It was good for Arius to leave the Church in the fourth century and Judas in the first.
It seems more than probable that the professing Church of to-day is on the edge of one of the greatest hours of purgation that has ever been experienced. The tempest will roar through the forests, snapping
off all boughs not vitally connected with the trunk. A fire will be lit which only the gold, silver, and precious stones can outlast. To use the words of the Baptist: "His fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly purge His floor." But do not fear for the wheat!
As a matter of fact, none of the Apostles were lost save Judas. They were proved to be wheat. Though they forsook the Master at first, they were all assembled in the Upper-room on the Resurrection-night, although the doors were shut for fear of the Jews. They all gathered around the Master on the Mount of Ascension. It is said that each, excepting John, went to Heaven in a martyr's chariot of fire. And the name of each is inscribed on the Foundations of the Holy City, the Bride of the Lamb.
In the meanwhile the Saviour's phrasing is full of comfort. Satan has to obtain permission before he sifts, and there is a limit beyond which he may not go. "God is faithful," says the Apostle, "who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able." Before the enemy could touch Job's property or flesh, he must needs ask and obtain permission, and in each case a limit was imposed beyond which he might not go. It would almost seem as though a facsimile of Zachariah's vision of the desperate condition of the Priesthood, with Satan standing to resist, were presented to our Saviour's vision, and that He, as Intercessor and Friend, interposed with the remonstrance: "The Lord, who hath chosen these, rebuke thee; they shall be as brands plucked from the burning."
The virulent hatred of wicked spirits that infest the Heavenlies — i.e., the regions of spiritual existence — is a heavy addition to the difficulties which we are called to encounter in our earthly pilgrimage and warfare. The fight with Apollyon in the Valley of the Shadow of Death is a fearsome but inevitable experience. Hosts of unclean and evil spirits hover around our path awaiting the favourable moment for inveigling us to sin. They hate us because evil necessarily hates goodness, and because in our failure they can cause grief and loss to the Captain of our Salvation. But greater is He that is for us than all that be against us, and the Great High Priest, who is pledged to present us before the Father's Presence with exceeding joy, is on the watch, measuring the fiery ordeal to our strength and praying that our faith may not fail. Is it not well that we have been tempted? Temptation reveals our own weakness and drives us in penitence and faith to Christ. It reveals aspects of His saving help of which otherwise we should be ignorant. We cannot help being tempted. There is no sin in being attacked by the Evil One. Our Lord Himself suffered being tempted. We cannot but be aware of a lower nature, to which the tempter addresses himself, and which is very sensitive to his appeals. But we can resist steadfast in the faith. We can reckon that we are dead in Christ to the rule and behests of the god of this world. We can appropriate the opposite grace in Christ, so that we actually gain in the hour of trial and become more than conquerors. From every battlefield we carry off the spoil; and all through the conflict we are conscious of our Saviour's intercessions. "Thanks be unto God which giveth the Victory through Jesus Christ our Lord!"
II. " LET NOT YOUR HEARTS BE TROUBLED!" "I GO TO PREPARE A PLACE." — The unfortunate division of chapters in A. V. has hindered the full appreciation of Christ's special reference in the memorable words with which John xiv opens. We love them, learn them, repeat them beside the dying, and write them on our memorials; but we fail to connect them with the words immediately preceding: "Peter said unto Him, Lord, why cannot I follow Thee now? I will lay down my life for Thy sake. Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for My sake? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow till thou hast denied Me thrice." Then He said, "Let not your heart be troubled. ... In my Father's House are many mansions. . . . I go to prepare a place for you."
Our Lord's ideal of the Father's House is briefly summarized in the Parable of the Two Sons. Its principal windows look earthwards. It is the place where broken lives are received to be remade and refitted. There love is undisguised and prodigal in its welcome, and life becomes rhythmic to the music of eternity, and joy has no bounds. They that live there are ever face to face with God, and all that He has is theirs. Only there are no elder brothers to stand without; and even the menial servants rejoice with the sons and daughters as they are gathered home, one by one.
There also are "many mansions," which suggest not only spaciousness, but room for each character and individual to develop on its own particular lines. The Apostles, when following our Lord, were overshadowed by the Boanerges; there was the constant fret of overcrowding, and the possibilities for self-realization were few. But there each of the redeemed shall be able to attain to a full development. This is apparently taught us in the comparison of the Apostles to the twelve precious stones of Rev. xxi., each of which is distinct from all the rest, and each a necessary part of the foundations of the New Jerusalem. As the gardener "beds out" the crowded plants of his hothouse, so will the saints have room to be themselves, and each will have love enough, joy enough, space enough, opportunity enough, together with his own share of the Fulness and Service of Christ. Peter will still be Peter, and John John. Each star will differ from all the rest. There will be many mansions, and no need to scramble or contend for room.
But they require preparing, as Peter and John were sent to prepare for the Master's coming, with the rest. The same Greek word is employed in each case. "Master, where shall we prepare the Passover?" — "I go to prepare a place for you." Our Lord desired to eat that Passover, but how much more to eat as in Mark xiv. 25? In the meanwhile He is as busy in preparing as Peter and John were all that afternoon. As they thought for Him, so He is thinking for us. No Angel could do for us what He can, because He has lived amongst us in our homes, and knows exactly what makes Home. Peter on the Holy Mount proposed three slight booths, but that is an everlasting habitation. As they prepared the sacrificial lamb, in memory of the Passover in Egypt, there will be yonder in the midst of the Throne a Lamb as it had been slain. He will once more drink of the new wine of the Feast, once more gird himself and come forth to serve, once more join in singing Psalms of Rejoicing, like the great Hallel which always mingled with and closed the Feast.
But the significance of our Lord's Promise is clearly defined when we remember that He had predicted, only a few minutes before, that one should deny and all forsake. "I go to prepare a place for you" — for thee, my beloved John; for thee, Peter, when the memory of thy denial shall be as waters that pass away; for thee, Thomas, though given to doubt and pessimism; for thee, Philip, longing to be shown the Father. Not one of you shall be overlooked, not one shall miss his share. "Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." Surely we may take courage, if only we are trusting Him for His justifying grace. In spite of our sins and failures, our sorrows and temptations. He will bring us through. Whom He called, them He also justified: and whom He justified, them He also glorified. "What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?" "I know whom I have believed!"
III. "LET NOT YOUR HEART BE TROUBLED!" "I WILL RECEIVE YOU TO MYSELF." — Again the idea of the afternoon is repeated. When the two Apostles had finished their preparations, they went to the city gate, or the end of the street, or at least to the door-step, to receive their expected guests. In this sense our Lord's words must be understood, and they are confirmed by the fact that the martyr Stephen saw the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God, as though He had risen up to receive and welcome him.
It was as though the Master particularized each as He spoke: "James! thou wilt be the first of the noble army of martyrs. Herod will slay thee with the sword, but thou shalt have a royal reception. Thomas! thou wilt be sawn asunder, but I will receive thee, and an abundant entrance will be given. John! thou wilt linger on till all of thy generation shall have passed away, but I will be waiting for thee, and thou shalt see again the dear faces which thou hast loved and lost awhile. Peter! thou shalt stretch forth thine hands and be borne to a cross, but as My Father will receive My spirit into His hands, so My hands shall receive thine. Each of you will find Me waiting for him on the doorstep of the Father's House."
"You are too dear for Me to allow you to be misled by false illusions. If Immortality and Eternal Life had been a mirage of the desert or a fond dream of the poet, I would have put you on your guard against being deceived. You believe that you are sons of God, that you shall enter into His Presence, that you shall sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob — continue to believe. If it were not so, I would have told you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid!"