“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God ; believe also in me. 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. You know the way to the place where I am going.”
—John 14:1-4

~~~~~

Four Questions, One Savior
By Jennifer Kane

In the still hush of the upper room,
the air grew thick with dread.
The Teacher—our Friend—
spoke of leaving,
and the floor of our hearts gave way.

Peter asked first,
bold voice cracking,
“Lord, where are You going?”
He couldn’t bear the thought
of footsteps no longer heard beside his own.

But Jesus,
calm as sunrise breaking shadow,
said,
“I go to prepare a place.”
Not an ending—
a beginning.
Not abandonment—
but invitation
to a home
with many rooms
and a door left open.

Then Thomas,
eyes clouded with honest doubt,
spoke the cry of every soul
lost in a fog of questions:
“How can we know the way?”

Jesus didn’t hand him a map—
He stood firm and answered,
“I am the Way.”
Not one road among many,
but the road itself,
truth breathing,
life walking.

Philip, the practical one,
whose faith longed for the tangible,
pleaded:
“Show us the Father, and that will be enough.”

And Jesus,
with patient love, replied,
“Have I been with you so long,
and still you do not see?”
Every miracle, every word,
was the Father’s voice echoing
in the upper room.

Then Jude—gentle, perplexed—
wondered aloud:
“Why us? Why not the world?”

And Jesus, in quiet mystery,
promised more than sight.
He promised presence.
A Spirit to dwell,
to teach,
to remind,
to comfort.
A God who makes His home
not just around us—
but within.

Four questions.
Four men.
Four needs
woven through all of us—
fear,
doubt,
hunger for understanding,
longing for belonging.

And one Savior,
answering each
not with disdain,
but with peace:
“Let not your hearts be troubled.”

In Him,
we find
the road to eternity,
the mirror of the Father,
the truth that grounds us,
the Spirit who stays
when all else falls away.

He goes ahead—
but He never leaves.

~~~~~

Scripture: John 14:1-31

Jesus was hours away from the cross when He gathered His disciples in the upper room. He knew their world was about to be shaken. Their leader—Messiah, Teacher, Friend—would soon be betrayed, arrested, and crucified. They didn’t fully understand what was coming, but Jesus did. And in John 14, He gently prepares them by answering four heartfelt questions—each one revealing a different need of the human heart.

1. Peter’s Question: “Lord, where are You going?” (John 13:36)

Jesus’ Answer: “I am going home to the Father.”

Peter, bold yet often impulsive, asked what many were wondering. Why was Jesus leaving—and where was He going? Jesus answered with eternity in view: “In my Father’s house are many rooms… I go to prepare a place for you.” (John 14:2)

When life feels uncertain or lonely, Jesus reminds us that His departure had purpose. Heaven is real, and He is making space for us there. His temporary absence is preparation for our permanent reunion.

2. Thomas’ Question: “How can we know the way?” (John 14:5)

Jesus’ Answer: “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”

Thomas, ever the realist, voiced his doubt. He didn’t pretend to understand when he didn’t. In response, Jesus didn’t give him a map—He gave Himself.

When we are unsure of the path ahead, Jesus offers more than direction. He is the way. In Him we find truth that does not shift, and life that never ends. Following Jesus isn’t about knowing every step—it’s about knowing the Savior.

3. Philip’s Question: “Show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” (John 14:8)

Jesus’ Answer: “Whoever has seen Me has seen the Father.”

Philip longed for clarity. After years of walking with Jesus, he still didn’t grasp that God’s fullness was standing before him. Jesus answered patiently but firmly:

“I am in the Father and the Father is in Me.”

“The words I say are not just my own.”

“Believe because of the works I’ve done.”

Jesus revealed the heart of God by His actions, His compassion, His power, and His promises. He also promised another Helper—the Holy Spirit—who would continue this revelation in the hearts of believers. In Christ, the invisible God becomes visible.

4. Jude’s (Judas, not Iscariot) Question: “Why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?” (John 14:22)

Jesus’ Answer: “If anyone loves Me… My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.”

This final question touches the mystery of spiritual revelation. Jesus explains that His presence is no longer limited to the physical. He will dwell within believers through the Spirit. The world may not see Him, but His disciples would feel His peace, experience His teaching, and walk in His love.

Each disciple asked something different. Each question arose from fear, confusion, or longing—and each one was met with grace and truth.

When you’re scared about the future, remember Jesus is preparing a place for you.

When you’re uncertain or doubting, remember Jesus is the way.

When you’re struggling to understand God, remember Jesus shows you the Father.

When you feel alone in your faith, remember Jesus lives in you through His Spirit.

~~~~~

Lord Jesus, when my heart is troubled, help me remember Your words in John 14. Thank You for going to the Father, for being the way, for revealing God to me, and for sending Your Spirit to live within me. Comfort me, guide me, and help me to trust You fully. Amen.

July 9 2025