And I'm thankful to be here with you all. And let me also say that the folk in Houston are delighted that I'm here also. And, you know, we're asking me when I'd be going, and they'll be in prayer for this time that we're here. And that's a blessing also.

And as Jim said, Robin's disappointed. We'd planned on her coming, but circumstances just didn't work out that way. So anyway, I'm thankful to be here.

And let's look tonight at just some beginning words of Christ here in John 14. And the reason I want to do that is I was thinking about what it is that might be a blessing to you. as I was thinking about what to prepare on.

And, you know, I've been troubled. There's been difficulties and anxious about many things, anxious about the future, fearful about things. And, you know, I thought, well, I'll preach on Christ's words where he says, let not your heart be troubled. because I figured you're probably familiar with what I'm talking about. I think most of you have a few years on me. I mean, I'm getting up there, but most of you have a few years on me, and you've had a whole lifetime of this.

But you also, from the time the Lord saved you, have had a whole lifetime of seeing him meet every need and care for you with the love that we just heard Susanna sing of. love that is so deep.

And, you know, he spoke to his disciples at a time that they were distressed, they were concerned. And let's just read the first five verses here of John 14.

And as I was preparing this message, the Lord, you know, I think every single person here knows this passage. I would be amazed if there was one that didn't. And I preached from it many times. But as I prepared, the Lord gave me understanding to see things that I hadn't ever seen before. And so I'd like to look at some of these things here.

But let me read. Jesus says, let not your heart be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many dwellings. If it were not so, I would have told you. 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.

And where I go, you know, and the way you know." Thomas said to him, Lord, we do not know where you are going, and how can we know the way? Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

Now, the words that I want us to consider tonight are these words, I go to prepare a place for you. These simple words, like all the words of Jesus, are packed with profound truth.

What prompted these words? What was Christ revealing to his disciples when he says, I go to prepare a place for you? And what do these words mean? The questions that come to mind are, where is Jesus going? What is the preparation he'll make when he goes there? And what is this place that he will go and prepare for his disciples?

Well, may the Lord give grace tonight to open up the mind of Christ with regard to these things. That's what we need. He says, I go to prepare a place for you.

Well, what were the circumstances that led Jesus to say these words? Jesus had said, and we'll look at this in a moment, Jesus had said to them, Little children, I will be with you a little while longer." And upon hearing this, the disciples were troubled. They were deeply distressed. Think about this. Every day with Jesus. To be his friend and his companion, to be taught by him, to hear him preach the gospel. What glory that must have been. You read of the unregenerate sitting there for hours listening to him. To see his compassion for lost sinners, to witness and experience his love, his mercy, his grace, and his kindness. Imagine, if you can, what it must have been like to be with this man. Every word he spoke, every action he made was pure and right and true. Every thought of his heart was only righteous continually. Every desire and affection was holy and good. Every movement of his will was full of grace, full of truth, full of kindness, full of goodness, full of mercy, and full of love.

And his disciples saw the fullness of his wisdom. You know, we lack wisdom, don't we? All the time. He did never lack. He was full of wisdom. They saw the purity of his righteousness and the beauty of his holiness. Every day. Every day.

Later, the Apostle John would write what Drew referred to earlier. We beheld his glory. the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." This is what he's talking about every day. And at the beginning of his epistle, John writes again of these things, and you can hear the wonder of this experience in his words as he impresses this truth upon us. That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon and our hands have handled concerning the word of life. The life was manifest, and we have seen and bear witness and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us.

If there was ever to be heaven on earth, this would be it, wouldn't it? to be with Jesus, to have the presence of God dwelling with you every day. And then he tells his disciples he'll be leaving them. And they're very troubled. And you would be too, wouldn't you? Think of the confusion and the uncertainty and the fear that would have come upon the disciples when they heard this. And Jesus knows this. He understands. He loves them. He loves them with that deep, deep love. He cares for them with that unfathomable love and care. He also knows that in a little while, a little while, they'll face a trial of the soul which will come upon them suddenly and unexpectedly, and they would be shattered, and their hearts would be filled with grief.

Look back in John 13. In John 13, in the first verse there, in the first verse we read, Now, before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come, and that he should depart from this world and go to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. Isn't that wonderful to read? I'm always so blessed when I read that truth. And he speaks to them, and he says, let not your heart be troubled. Their hearts are troubled by the thought that Jesus would no longer be with them. You know, many times the disciples were just like you and me. Foolish and ignorant and doing and saying stupid things. But this is one time when they're not. What's their concern? Their concern here is a genuine concern. they're concerned about the presence of Christ with them.

But Jesus reveals to them, beginning with this statement, and unfolding over the course of the next four chapters, that his going away for a little while would bring about a more full and more glorious and more lasting presence of himself than they could have ever imagined or comprehended. He says back there in 14, he says, I go, I go. I go to prepare a place. Where is he going? He's going to the cross. It is vital that we see and understand this. You know, I've many times, and there's truth here too, we'll see, many times I've preached this, he's going to heaven. Well, that's true, but that's not what Christ is talking about here. Jesus is going to the cross.

You know, if you think back, and you don't need to turn there, but Jesus had already spoken to the disciples about this, beginning specifically in John 12, when he said, now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour? But for this purpose, I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name." What is this hour that he's speaking of? Well, it's the hour in which he goes to make him be made a sacrifice for sin. We know that. He's speaking about the cross.

The last supper had ended. Well, back in chapter 13, yeah, go back there, go back there. I'm getting ahead of myself. The last supper had ended. And Jesus had told his disciples that one of them would betray him, and then he revealed that that would be Judas. And then in verse 30, Judas went out immediately. Now look in 31 there. So when he had gone out, Jesus said, now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and glorify him immediately. What's he speaking of? He's speaking of going to the cross.

And then he says, little children, I shall be with you a little while longer. You will seek me, and as I said to the Jews, where I am going, you cannot come. His hour had come, see? His hour had come. His departure from his disciples was his departure from this world to go to his Father in the death of the cross. It is for this reason that Jesus says, little children, I will be with you a little while longer. Look down in verse 36. Simon Peter said to him, Lord, where are you going? Jesus answered him, where I am going, you cannot follow me now, but you shall follow me afterward. Peter said to him, Lord, why can we not follow you now? I will lay down my life for your sake. Jesus answered, 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.

You know that the entire context of all that is occurring here is the imminent sufferings of Christ upon the cross of Calvary. When Christ says, I go to prepare a place for you, he is not speaking about going to prepare a place for them in heaven for his disciples. He's speaking about going to the cross to prepare a place for them.

Look over in chapter 16, chapter 16 of John. Chapter 16 of John, verse 16. See, he's continuing to speak about these things all through these chapters. Now here he says, verse 16, a little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me because I go to my father. Do you see that? It seems odd phrasing, doesn't it? But it's not odd at all when you understand what he's speaking about. He's, how is it that a little while you will not see me, but again you will see me? And why will you see me? Because I go to my father.

Then some of his, and of course the disciples are confused. Then some of his disciples said among themselves, what is this that he says to us, a little while and you will not see me, and again, a little while and you will see me? And, because I go to the Father, they said, therefore, what is this that he says, a little while? We do not know what he is saying. Now Jesus knew that they desired to ask him, and he said to them, are you inquiring among yourselves about what I said, a little while and you will not see me, and again, a little while and you will a little while and you will see me.

" Now, Jesus understands they're confused, like we are so often, and so he's gonna explain to them. I know you don't understand this. And so he makes it very clear that he's speaking about his death upon the cross. That's when the disciples will be filled with sorrow. Look there in verse 20. Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. And you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy." And he gives that illustration of a woman in labor. A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because why? Her hour has come. But as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish for joy that a human being has been born into the world. Therefore, you now have sorrow, yes, but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice. Now listen, and your joy no one will take from you.

Isn't that true? Disciples saw their risen Lord again. What joy that must have been. A joy that will never be taken away. The disciples would experience an utter anguish of soul at the death of their Lord. But their sorrow would be turned into joy. Why? Because in a little while, the disciples would see the sun of God declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, right before their eyes. They would see something that was incomprehensible, that he would rise again from the dead, And he would rise again from the dead and come to them. And come to them again. And their hearts would rejoice. And their hearts would rejoice with a joy which is an everlasting joy. A joy which is forever. A joy which no one could take from them. A joy that they would write about as the apostles of the Lord Jesus. that we would have the blessing of reading, even now.

In John 17, you don't need to turn there, but you remember, this is how Jesus begins his high priestly prayer. Jesus spoke these words, lifted up his eyes to heaven and said, Father, the hour has come. Glorify your son that your son may also glorify you. Well, I'm pounding this nail home, you'll gather. He's going to the cross. That's the hour. What hour has come? The hour in which Christ would go to the cross for what reason? To prepare a place for his people. It is at the cross that the Lord Jesus accomplished all that was necessary for his disciples to be with him in his Father's house forever. Yes. As I said, the blessed promise of a place in heaven is certainly included in these words of Jesus. And for so long, that's really all I saw. I'm slow. I'm slow. But this alone doesn't even begin to touch the surface of the depths of the riches of God's grace and purpose for his people found in these words of Christ when he says, I go to prepare a place for you.

Remember. He's purposing to comfort the hearts of his disciples. They're concerned. They're distressed. Would this be a comfort? I think it would. This would be a comfort. It's a comfort to me. It's something that, when I'm troubled, it is for every believer to think of Christ and what he's done for you and I. I go to prepare a place. The Lord is going to prepare a place for all those given to him by the Father. That's what he prays. He said to his disciples, little children, I shall be with you a little while longer. You will seek me. And as I said to the Jews, where I am going, you cannot come. Where he's going, no man could go. If you could look throughout the whole world, In every nation, among every people, among every tribe, from the beginning of time to the end of time, you will not find any man, any man, who could go where Jesus is going. No, no. There's only one man, the God-man, the Lord Jesus Christ, who could go to the cross and prepare a place for his disciples and for his people. prepare a place for you and I.

Well, what preparation is necessary for a guilty sinner, listen now, what did he have to go to do? What preparation is necessary for a guilty sinner to enter into the presence of him who dwells in unapproachable light? That's some preparation, isn't it? What preparation is necessary for a sinner to enter into the house of God? How can we enter the most holy place?

We'll turn over to Hebrews chapter 10, if you would. Hebrews chapter 10. And we're so blessed with the word of God that goes into great detail about exactly what is necessary. Hebrews 10 and verse 19, and it begins this way, having boldness to enter the holiest. Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the holiest. Well, remember who this writer's writing to. He's writing to the Jews. He's writing to Hebrews. Well, what a shocking statement that would have been to the ears of a first century Jew. For over a thousand years of Jewish history, there had never been a single Israelite who had ever entered into the holiest, into the tabernacle in the temple, with the exception of the high priest, and only once a year.

But even more startling is that this statement was not speaking about the temple in Jerusalem, which was only typical of the true, but entrance into the tabernacle not in Hebrews 9, you know, the entrance into the tabernacle, not made with hands, not of this creation, but into heaven itself. The writer of the Hebrews speaks about this marvelous privilege of everyone who believes to enter into the dwelling place of God, into the very presence of God himself without fear. Christ and Christ alone has opened the way into the presence of God. This way was opened into the holiest, not by the old way, not by the blood of bulls and goats, but by a new and a living way. Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which he consecrated for us through the veil that is his flesh."

If there was one thing that every Israelite knew, it was that entrance into the holiest was by blood. Without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sins. But the law was just a shadow, anticipating the reality which was yet to be revealed. Look back to verse 1 of Hebrews 10. Let's just look at these quickly so we're reminded of these things. For the law, verse 1 of chapter 10 of Hebrews, for the law Having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never, with these same sacrifices which they offer continually, year by year, make those who approach perfect. In this verse, the offering of sin, referred to year by year, we know is an allusion to what was really the most significant day in the worship of Israel, the Day of Atonement. No man could enter the holy place except on this one day. God had told Moses, you remember, he said, tell Aaron, your brother, the high priest, tell Aaron, your brother, not to come in at just any time into the holy place, inside the veil, before the mercy seat, which is on the ark, lest he die. Well, why? Why would he die? Because God was there. For I will appear in the cloud above the mercy seat." Above the mercy seat, between the cherubim, appeared this strange light, the Shekinah glory, signifying the presence of the Holy One of Israel. This is where He dwelt with His people.

On this day, the High Priest alone would go through all that rigorous ritual cleansing, wear special holy linen garments, make offering for sin, for himself, for the iniquities of the children of Israel, and perform a whole series of religious services given to him by God. And then look there in verse 15. No, actually this is just referring to Leviticus, just reminding you. Then he shall kill the goat of the sin offering, which is for the people, bring its blood inside the veil, do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bull, and sprinkle it on the mercy seat and before the mercy seat. For what reason? So he shall make atonement for the holy place because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions for all their sins."

But we know that this form of worship was never intended to justify the sinner in the sight of God, was it? Because it couldn't. It was not appointed for that purpose. The law wasn't given to Israel for them to keep and be justified. The law was given to show them that they could never keep the law, and therefore could never be justified by the law. You know the Jews didn't understand that? And there's still multitudes of religious people who still don't understand this.

The continual offerings of sacrifices for sin year after year in itself demonstrated this. Verse two, what does he say? For then would they have not ceased to be offered. For the worshipers, once purified, would have no more consciousness of sins. That is, if they accomplished the removal of their sins, their conscience would have testified we no longer have any sin before God. But that wasn't the case, was it? No, no. Verse 3, but in those sacrifices was the exact opposite. In those sacrifices was a reminder of sins every year. Sins remained. If these sacrifices had been effectual to make those who approach perfect, they would have ceased to be offered, wouldn't they? Yes. But these sacrifices, It never ended. Year after year, think of this, generation after generation, these same sacrifices were offered continually. The worshippers knew that they stood as guilty sinners before God. And the continual offerings, year after year, never ending, continually reminded them of that fact. You're guilty before the Holy God.

So rather than the law making those who approach perfect and purifying their consciences, it was the very opposite. In these sacrifices offered year by year, there was this reminder of sins. We could say the offerings continuously proclaimed, you are a sinner. Or as the epistle to the Romans tells us, for by the law is the knowledge of sin. In these sacrifices, too, the curse of the law was continually represented before their eyes. What did they see? What did the Israelites see in all these sacrifices? Death. Death and bloody sacrifices continually. Rivers of blood. The sacrifices were proclaiming, the soul that sinneth shall surely die. The law was to show them that they could never be made perfect by their own efforts. They could never approach into the very presence of the infinitely holy God who dwells in unapproachable light. What a powerful and striking picture. Think of this, is given to us in the temple worship of the sinfulness of man. We're no different. Of the utter impossibility for man to approach God, to enter into his presence where there is life forevermore.

Look down at verse 11. Verse 11. Every priest stands ministering daily, still continuing to speak about the worship of the Old Testament sacrifice, ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. There were many priests, not just at that time, but as I said, over generation after generation, there were many priests and many sacrifices. They ministered daily, offering repeatedly The same sacrifices year after year, generation after generation. And the priest stood. Stood, why? Signifying that the work was never done. There was no place for the priest to sit in the temple, because the work was never done. The priest stood, signifying the work was never finished. These sacrifices could never take away sin, could never make those who approach perfect.

Verse 12, and I know that this is another one of those texts that every believer just rejoices in. But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins, forever sat down at the right hand of God. But this man, not many, this man offered not many sacrifices, but one sacrifice for sin. and sat down. Why? Because the work was finished. The epistle to the Hebrews, as you know, begins with this statement. He by himself purged our sins and sat down at the right hand of the majesty on high. Purged our sins forever. Christ entered not the holy place made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself he entered with his own blood into the presence of God for us. And in that moment, the way into the holy place was opened forever.

Why? Verse 14, for by one offering, he has perfected forever those who are sanctified. Now look, quickly, let me show you something I think is just great. Look in verse 15. Verse 15, the Holy Spirit witnesses to us, but the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us. For after he had said before, and he's making reference to the prophecy of the new covenant given in Jeremiah, he says, this is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord. I will put my laws into their hearts. And in their minds I will write them. And here's what the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us. Listen, and he adds, their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more. You see, there's no longer reminder of sins. Why? Because they're gone forever.

Verse 19, therefore, Brethren, having boldness to enter the holiest. Well, how could we not have boldness to enter? Our sins have been purged. We've been perfected forever. We have no fear. As incomprehensible as this is, can you imagine entering into the presence of an infinitely holy, eternal God? Well, we do. We can't understand it, we can't comprehend it, but the word tells us that we do, in Christ. We have no fear to enter into the presence of the living God. Think of this. Here are not copies, but the spiritual reality of the covenant promises of God fulfilled. All of the types and all of the shadows meeting in this one man, the Lord Jesus Christ. He's the temple. He's the most holy place in which God dwells. He's the high priest. He's the altar. He's the sacrifice to take away sins. He enters with his own blood. And so much more, so much more.

And who enters in with him? His people. And the glory of his presence fills the temple. Jesus said to his disciples, I go to prepare a place for you. And what a glorious preparation it was. It is, I should say. Amen.