A place prepared for you

(This is an abridged version of the sermon that was preached on May 25, 2025.)

“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." (John 14:1-3)

In John 14, Jesus speaks to His disciples just before His crucifixion. He knows their hearts are troubled, so He gives them hope and clarity about their final destination—God’s house. These words offer comfort not only to the disciples, but also to us today as we face the uncertainties of life and death.

The Upper Room Discourse (John 13–16) contains some of the richest teachings of Jesus, given to His disciples in their most vulnerable moment. If we want to navigate life faithfully, it's important to know our final destination. What lies beyond death? I asked this question to a group of first-year university students. Their answers varied: “I don’t know,” “Nothing happens,” “Heaven or hell,” “You disappear,” and one even answered “Cars will be flying.” Most answers were vague and uncertain—expressing a deep sense of confusion about what comes next.

A few said, “I’m going to heaven,” but without a relationship with Jesus, that hope is ungrounded. Even Christians can have troubled hearts when facing loss, illness, or uncertainty. Jesus’ words in verse 1 speak directly to this: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.”

A Troubled Heart

The disciples were distraught. Jesus, their beloved leader and friend, had just told them He was going away. They feared losing His power, presence, and guidance. We often feel the same kind of anxiety—about family, health, finances, or people causing us distress. Sometimes even small things latch onto our minds, replaying in our thoughts and stealing our peace.

Jesus responds with a call to trust: “Do not let your hearts be troubled.” Replace your troubled heart with a believing heart.

A Believing Heart

Jesus continues: “You believe in God; believe also in me.” Many people find it easier to believe in a distant, abstract God than in Jesus Himself. One professor told me she believed in God because nature is beautiful, and she feels watched over. While this may reflect a general belief in a creator, it lacks the personal connection that Jesus offers.

Some people believe in what’s called the “Watchmaker God”—a deity who created the world and then stepped back. But Jesus shatters that idea. He is God incarnate, who entered our world, became human, and walked among us. He faced suffering, misunderstanding, and death. He knows what it means to be us. And He tells us: “Believe in me.”

When we trust in Jesus—not just as a concept but as a living Savior—our hearts find rest. His presence changes everything.

A Heart That’s at Home

Jesus assures His disciples, “My Father’s house has many rooms … I am going there to prepare a place for you.” Heaven is not a vague or impersonal place—it is a home. A home designed by Jesus Himself, for you.

When asking students what happens after death, one answered: “The soul goes to another world that feels like this one.” That’s not far from the truth. For believers, death leads to another place—a better home, prepared by Christ.

Jesus goes on to say: “I will come back and take you to be with me.” He doesn’t say, “Try your best and maybe you’ll make it.” No—He promises to come back for us. If salvation depended on our own efforts, none of us would arrive. But Jesus will personally bring us home.

There is a place designed specifically for you. A place no one else can fill. In the same way that God set the sun and stars in place, He has prepared a place for every one of His children.

One student wrote, “Only someone who has died knows what comes after death.” That’s true—and Jesus is that someone. He died, saw beyond the grave, and returned. He’s the only one who truly knows, and He tells us: “I will come back and take you to be with me.”

This promise is why Jesus can say, with full authority: “Do not let your hearts be troubled.” A place has been prepared. He will bring you there. You will be home—with Him.