Tidings for Tuesday
But that the world may know that I love the Father, and that the Father gave Me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence. John 14:31
A Christian who was fighting cancer had a frank chat with his doctor, who was also a Christian. Aware that his condition was likely terminal, the patient expressed his fears of dying, and wondered if the doctor could give him some words of support to face the ordeal. The doctor held up his hand and said, ‘Listen!’ They heard a scratching and sniffing at the door, obviously a dog that wanted to enter the room. The doctor went to the door and opened it. Immediately, a large dog leaped into the room and into the doctor’s arms. After petting the dog briefly, the doctor turned to the patient, and said, ‘That dog has never been in this room before. He had no idea what it was like in here, except he knew that I was here, and that was good enough for him. Death is also a door that we have to go through. But because we know Who is on the other side, we can enter that door with no fear or concern.’
In our text, the Lord Jesus is reminding His disciples that He is about to obey His father’s commandment, which included His death on the cross. When He said, ‘Let us go hence,’ He was undoubtedly referring to Calvary. This little expression also takes in the ultimate destination of Heaven. After His death and resurrection, the Lord Jesus returned to Heaven. So when it comes time to consider our death, we do not fear the door of death, because we know Who is on the other side. We can’t know or understand what Heaven is like, just like the doctor’s dog that had never been in his office before but had no fear of entering.
The little expression, ‘Let us go hence’ carries with it a wonderful promise and comfort for the child of God. It reminds us that we cannot go anywhere that the Lord Jesus does not understand or care about. He has gone hence; He has been there before, and will be with us in the experience. Just as the doctor’s dog would accompany the doctor anywhere without hesitation, we can boldly venture wherever our Lord takes us, appreciating His presence.
So as we stand on the threshold of a new year, with all of its opportunities and problems, we do so with confidence. We have never been through 2019 before; we do not know what it holds for us, what pains or pleasures, what blessings or trials. Looking back, we appreciate that our Lord has come with us through the year that is gone. Looking forward, we can appreciate that He has gone hence, so we follow with the assurance that He is there. – Jim MacIntosh