[2026. 7. 19.] Do Not Let Your Hearts Be Troubled (John 14:1–14)

[2026. 7. 19.] Do Not Let Your Hearts Be Troubled (John 14:1–14) 

Sermon by Rev. Jinkook (Danny) Sohn (Hope of Heaven Baptist Chuch) 

 

2026. 7. 19. 주일예배 설교- 요한복음 강해 40
본문: 요한복음 14:1–14
제목: 너희는 마음에 근심하지 말라

설교자: 손진국 목사 (하늘소망교회)

 

Today’s passage describes what happened just a few hours before Jesus was arrested. At this moment, the disciples’ hearts must have been heavy. Jesus had said that one of them would betray Him, that He was going to a place where they could not follow now, and that Peter would deny Him three times before the rooster crowed.

Among all these words, the most difficult for them must have been the announcement that Jesus, who had lived with them daily for three years—teaching them about the life of the kingdom and ministering with them—was leaving them. Hearing that their Teacher was departing, they must have felt worry, fear, and uncertainty about what they should do without Him. At that moment Jesus said, “Do not let your hearts be troubled.”

Through the reason and purpose for which Jesus gave this word, may we learn what kind of life we must live.

 

1. Jesus prepares a heavenly home for us.

Jesus knew that there was a troubled heart within the disciples. Because of His words about leaving them, they felt fear and concern, and Jesus read their hearts precisely.

To them Jesus said: [Verse 1] “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. This word teaches us what we must examine first when our hearts are troubled: faith. Jesus tells the disciples how they can overcome their troubled hearts—by believing in God and believing in Him. If we believe, we can overcome trouble; if we do not believe, trouble will rule our hearts.

What trouble is in your heart today? Is it a concern about your children? Your future? Anxiety about exam results? Worry because your business is not going well? Financial difficulty? A strained relationship?

I also have concerns these days. What if the church goes in a direction the Lord does not desire? What if preaching and Bible study have no impact on the congregation? We decided to hold a garage sale—what if this causes relational discomfort among members? I worry that my children must meet godly spouses and build godly homes… these concerns also exist.

To you and me, who have troubled hearts, the Lord now says: “Believe in God; believe also in Me.” He tells us to entrust the solution of the problem to God. To believe means to acknowledge that God knows and leads every part of our lives and to entrust the outcome to Him.

When trouble rises in your heart, declare with your mouth: “Lord, I believe. Be glorified through this problem.”

In today’s passage, what was the particular trouble the disciples felt? They had left everything to follow Jesus when He said, “Follow Me,” and they had lived with Him for three years. Now Jesus said He was leaving them, and they worried about where and how they would live without Him. But Jesus tells them something far greater than their earthly concern about where they will live—He tells them that an eternal heavenly home is prepared for them.

[Verses 2–3] My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

Jesus says, “My Father’s house has many rooms.” He promises us an eternal home, eternal rest, and eternal safety.

Jesus also says He is not simply leaving but going to prepare something for us. What is He preparing? Our eternal dwelling—a heavenly home—and He will lead us there and we will dwell with Him forever.

Beloved saints, do you have hope for the eternal heavenly home?

I bought a house in 2022. After immigrating in 1995, I lived in Kiwi homestays, flats, and after marriage, rented for 24 years. Then mortgage rates dropped to around 2%, and while running a car-wash business, I had income proof and bought a small house through a bank loan. I was so thankful… The house is small—five adults living in a home suitable for newlyweds can feel cramped—but it is still a different satisfaction from renting. I confess that being able to buy a house and plant a church without worrying about housing is grace and God’s guidance. Then I thought: If having a small house on earth brings this much joy, how great will the joy be when the Lord prepares a home for me in heaven? I began to look forward to it.

Expect it. Someone once said, “Even the smallest and least impressive home in heaven is incomparably better than the largest and most beautiful home on earth.” Believe that in heaven you will receive the perfect home—without lack, without frustration, fully satisfying. Why? Because the Lord who knows you better than you know yourself is preparing it for you.

[Application] Am I entrusting the trouble of my heart to Jesus? How does the fact that Jesus prepares a heavenly home for me affect my life?

 

2. Jesus is the true way we must walk.

In verse 4 Jesus says the disciples know the way to where He is going. [Verse 4] You know the way to the place where I am going.”

Thomas responds, “Lord, we do not know where You are going.” [Verse 5] Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

Thomas’s fear is our fear. Often we do not know which path is best for us today. So we pray, “Lord, show us the way we must go.” Many young people today wander because they do not know which way to go.

To us Jesus says: [Verse 6] Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” This is the sixth of the seven “I am” declarations in the Gospel of John. Jesus declares that He Himself is the way, the truth, and the life.

Korea was influenced by Buddhism for a long time. Buddhism entered Korea around the 4th century and has influenced the nation for about 1600 years. Today Protestant Christianity is the largest religion (though 51% say they have no religion), about 20% of the population, and Buddhism is second at about 16%. Before I believed in Jesus, I was not exactly a Buddhist, but I was heavily influenced by Buddhism. In Christianity, the object of faith is God/Jesus. In Buddhism, who is it? Buddha. Do you know what “Buddha” means? It comes from the Sanskrit Buddha, meaning “the one who has awakened to the truth.” Before dying, Siddhartha Gautama, the first Buddha, called his disciple Ananda and said his final words: 自歸依 法歸依 自燈明 法燈明 Meaning: “Rely on yourself and rely on the truth. Make yourself a lamp of truth and live by that truth.” In other words, Siddhartha said he is not God, so do not believe in him—believe in yourself and awaken to truth.

But Jesus says something completely different: “I am the truth.” Jesus is not one who awakened to truth or discovered truth—He Himself is truth.

To disciples who did not know how to live or which path to walk, Jesus said He is the way. He is the way to the Father, so walk upon Him. To people heading toward death, He said He is life, so believe and receive Him. Many people seek a way. But remember: the way is not something you find—it is someone you follow.

Among the four great figures of history (Siddhartha, Confucius, Socrates, Jesus) or five (+Muhammad), what makes Jesus different? None of the others claimed to be God or truth. They all tried to discover truth and told people to pursue truth. Only Jesus said He is God, commanded people to believe in Him, and declared that He Himself is truth.

Therefore, we must conclude one of two things about Jesus: Either He was insane, or He is truly God, truth, and the way.

I once believed the first—that Jesus was insane. But now I believe the second. Because I met the risen Lord who overcame suffering and death. James, who wrote the book of James, was Jesus’ brother. He also thought Jesus was insane. But after seeing the risen Jesus, he followed Him and became the leader of the Jerusalem church.

Do you believe? Do you believe that Jesus truly is the way, the truth, and the life? If you truly believe, respond with “Amen” as I proclaim Jesus’ identity: “Jesus is the only way of salvation to God.” “Jesus is the unchanging truth itself.” “Jesus is the eternal life who conquered death and rose again.”

[Application] Am I trying to find a way, or am I following Jesus, the Way? Am I holding onto something false because I do not trust Jesus, the Truth?

 

3. Jesus promises the power of prayer.

In verse 8 Philip wanted to see God. [Verse 8] Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”

Philip wanted visible certainty. But Jesus said: [Verse 9] Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

Jesus fully reveals the character, love, and power of God. Then He promises the power of prayer to those who believe in Him: [Verse 13] And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

He says He will do whatever we ask in His name. And He explains the reason: so that God may be glorified through the Son.

Is this not amazing? We want to glorify God. We want to live lives that bring glory to Him. And here Jesus tells us how God receives glory—when we pray in Jesus’ name.

Are you praying in Jesus’ name? Does this simply mean saying “In Jesus’ name I pray” at the end of a prayer? We say that because Jesus told us to pray in His name, but it must not become a mere formula.

To ask in Jesus’ name means to rely fully on His character, His will, and His redemptive work (the cross and resurrection), and to ask in alignment with His purpose. To pray in Jesus’ name means to ask for the work that God entrusted to Jesus—the work of redemption. Therefore Jesus accomplishes that work, and through it God is glorified.

Because praying in Jesus’ name is so important, Jesus emphasizes it again in verse 14: [Verse 14] You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

Beloved saints, when we pray, let us examine whether our prayers align with Jesus’ character, His will, and the work of saving souls, making disciples, building the church, and advancing God’s kingdom.

I once heard a story from missionary Jang Gyudae. He pastored in the U.S., then went to Russia to establish a seminary, then boldly preached the gospel in China—even opening a Bible in Tiananmen Square. Later God sent him to Israel to plant a church. He often said he had never pastored fewer than 400 people. But in Israel, after six months of planting a church, not a single person came. He repented of his pride and prayed, “Lord, if You entrust even one soul to me, I will believe that person is sent by You and serve him as I would serve You.” God sent one person—who had an incurable disease. He worshiped with that one person and prayed for healing, laying hands on him. He prayed briefly using today’s verse, John 14:14: “I ask in Jesus’ name. Jesus, please do it.” Six months later, the man was healed. He brought another person—and that person brought a friend. Both had incurable diseases. After worship, missionary Jang prayed for one, and the first healed believer prayed for the other: “I ask in Jesus’ name. Jesus, please do it.” And Jesus did it. Both were healed, and the church experienced remarkable revival.

Memorize verse 14. Let’s read it together: [Verse 14] You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

Beloved saints, believe that the Lord has given us amazing power, and ask in Jesus’ name, giving glory to God.

[Application] Do I believe in the power of prayer in Jesus’ name? Through my prayers, is God receiving glory?

 

 

하늘소망교회(담임 손진국 목사)는 뉴질랜드 오클랜드 북부 실버데일에 세워진 한인교회로 '하나님의 마음으로 사람을 살리는 교회'입니다.

Hope of Heaven Baptist Church (Senior Pastor: Rev. Jinkook Sohn) is a Korean church established in Silverdale, Auckland, New Zealand. It is a church that saves people with the heart of God.