Many times we have focused on the thoughts of Christ prior to His walk up Calvary’s hill and His impending crucifixion, and rightfully so. However, it is also worth looking at the thoughts of the Apostles during that same period. Even though the Lord Jesus Christ was about to suffer the penalty of our sins by laying down His life on the cruel cross, He was still thinking about the welfare of individuals (His children). In this case, it was His apostles in particular and all of His children in general.

The apostles did not fully understand the difficulties that lay not only before Christ, but also before them as His followers. This makes the passage in John 14:1 even more precious, “Let not your heart be troubled...” Jesus was thinking of what they would be facing, even in the midst of knowing the full extent of being nailed to a cross.

What could possibly be the the concerns of these men who had been with Him for some 3 1/2 years? There are several things which caused great concern among them to bring about the never to be forgotten statement of, “Let not your heart be troubled.”

The Lord had told them several times that He would be delivered up to the chief priests and elders and scribes and that He would be put to death. He even told them He would “be raised again the third day” (Matthew 16:21). Yet, they still did not fully understand or grasp the reality of it. It is hard to imagine that Peter would rebuke the Lord for what He had said would come to pass (Matthew 16:22). We find then that the very thought of the death of their Master was highly troubling to them.