“Jesus answered him, “Will you lay down your life for My sake? Most assuredly, I say to you, the rooster shall not crow till you have denied Me three times. Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me” (John 13:38 – 14:1). Jesus had something for Peter, and it didn’t matter that Peter denied Jesus three times. It wasn’t about Peter’s short comings, but God ability to forgive. God’s preparation for us is not based on our actions and mindsets. Peter, you are going to deny me three times but don’t let it trouble your heart because, “I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:2b). Peter, you believe in God, let that belief extend to Me.
Love doesn’t stop being love because the object of the love makes a mistake. Forgiveness is God’s preparation for our mistakes in our relationships. Not only did God prepare, God completed by covering our sins with His life. The perfect walk of Christ Jesus allows us to join Him in His walk wherever we are when we receive Him, because He prepared a place for us so we can be where He is in every situation in our life – even when we deny Him. “Love one another as I have loved you,” has a meaning beyond our ability to love, unless we have Him in us, and His love pouring from us. Only then can we be where He is in our relationships.
A friend called me yesterday and told me that a Pastor friend of his told him negative things about our relationship. The Pastor doesn’t know me; we have never met – she was speaking out of fear. God has put in on my heart to pray for her and, when I am able geographically, to pray with her. Let not your heart be troubled. Fear of the unknown is a powerful fear – it stops us in our tracks because the results of the next step are unknown. Jesus tells us; even when you deny me let not your heat be troubled, because I go to prepare. Jesus already prepared the forgiveness. Jesus already died on the cross for us so we can let not our hearts be troubled and we can love one another.
We can love one another without troubled hearts. Because of Jesus and the walk He was willing to walk, we can love one another without troubled hearts. Did you say something that hurt my feelings? Jesus has prepared a place for me, a place of love and forgiveness. Did you break my heart? Jesus prepared a place of healing for me. Did you deny Jesus in my life? Let not your heart be troubled. Do not ponder on the things you did, but on what Jesus did and is doing – preparing a place for you.
Jesus was telling His followers that He was going to die. To paraphrase: “I am going to a place where you cannot come, and I am giving you a new commandment to love one another; but do not let your heart be troubled because I am preparing a place for you, so you can be with me. I am going to the cross and the tomb to prepare a place for you. Then I will be taken back to the glory I had with our Father, and you will be able to be where I am.” God told Moses to tell the children of Israel I am sent you. Jesus prepared a place for us and He sends us out from the place He has prepared for us, and where He is we will be also.
© 2010, Tim D. Coulter Sr.