Troubled Hearts

According to John’s gospel, just after the events that we think of as the “Palm Sunday triumphal entry,” some Greeks came to Philip asking for access to Jesus, saying, “We want to see Jesus!” I’ve often thought that in this short appeal, these obscure unnamed Greeks utter the most profound request ever made. It should be the cry of all our hearts – “We want to see Jesus!” Jesus speaks to them and all who are listening, (then and now) telling them a parable about a seed: “Unless a seed falls to the ground and dies, it remains to itself, alone. But if it dies, it will produce many seeds! Whoever loves his life will lose it, but the man who does not love his life in this world, will keep it for all eternity!” (John 12:23-26) It is interesting to me that this is what was on Jesus heart and mind immediately after the cheering crowds joyfully proclaimed him their Messiah and King. He knew what lay ahead. He knew the supreme sacrifice that was waiting to be fulfilled. He knew the cheering crowd would turn against Him and become a jeering mob blindly shouting, “Crucify!” just five days hence. And while Jesus had moved unflinchingly forward towards his goal - setting his face like a flint towards Jerusalem - the Son of Man now expressed emotions that we can easily relate to: “and now my heart is troubled…” (John 12:7) Jesus lets us into his humanity. He shows us that he knows how it feels to be emotionally overwhelmed. Those feelings would only grow stronger during his prayers in the garden of Gethsemane. Yet, His human emotions never deterred his obedience - his commitment to His father … and all of us.

How often have I, and probably each of us, allowed our “troubled hearts” to become the driving force in our behavior? Troubled hearts can come from a varitey of emotions as varied as humans themselves: fear, anger, hurt, betrayal, humiliation, frustration, insecurity, and pride, to name but a few. Jesus overcomes His emotions and pushes through them to obedience by keeping His goal in the forefront – His eye on the prize! After relating, “And now my heart is troubled, “He asks himself a question and then answers it. “What shall I Say? Father, save me from this hour? No! It was for this very reason that I came to this hour!” Father glorify Your name! (John 12:27-28) What an example of Spirit-led purpose-driven living! Emotions come as reactions to temporary circumstances. Sometimes they are extremely “troubling!” (Although, I dare say, none of us has ever faced imminent crucifixion!) Still, we daily face things that are indeed troubling. The Bible doesn’t discount these things. Jesus promises suffering, hardship and persecution. The Apostles confirm, both in their writings and with their experiences, that “all those who seek to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (2Tim. 3:12) and that we should not be surprised at painful trials and suffering as though “something strange is happening to us.” (1Pet. 4:12) Rather, we should expect things that, in this world, are troubling! (John 16:33)

Our attitude should be the same as Christ Jesus. (Phil. 2:5) Jesus looked past the cross, through the empty tomb to a day when we would be united with Him forever. The Bible calls this reality “the joy set before Him.” For this joyful reason, (us!) He “endured the cross.” (Heb. 12:2) We were His motivation . . . and now He is ours! We need to look past our present troubling circumstance, which, according to Rom. 8:18 are “not even worth mentioning compared to the surpassing glory that will be revealed in us,” to that day when all will be made right and we will be with Him forever! Because He was faithful, we can be too. Because He endured, so can we. “So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.” (1Pet. 4:19)

My dear readers, my heart is troubled - it is troubled by numerous things going on right now in this world and the gathering dark clouds of potential trouble ahead. I am sure many of your hearts are as well. But what should we say? Father, save us from this hour? No! It was for this very hour that we were placed on this earth and into the body of Christ! Let’s not allow our emotions – anger, fear, or any other- to deter us from obedience. Let us commit ourselves to our faithful Creator and continue to do good! Do not be overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good!