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“And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to myself that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.” John 14:3-4 (ESV)

Nothing worse than feeling left alone. We’ve probably all experienced moments when someone failed to tell us they were leaving and we’re left behind. Did they simply forget? Perhaps we miscommunicated about how we were getting home. Would they come back to get us? As those crazy thoughts run wild in our minds, abandonment takes center stage – they simply left without us.

Being left doesn’t just regulate itself to rides home or failed pickups. Relationships we value and cherish often come in and out of our lives. People move. Jobs change. Schedules alter our social plans. Difficult conflicts destroy even the closet of friends. Illness sidelines us. Separation and divorce screams “we’re left alone.” And the loss of a loved one we thought would always be present in our lives leaves us overcome with grief.

Wonder if these were thoughts the disciples felt as Jesus prepared them for His departure? This group of men had abandoned everything to follow the Savior. They left jobs, families – whatever it took to walk with Jesus for three amazing years. And now, they found themselves hearing the difficult words, “Where I am going you cannot follow me now.” Words uttered from One who had just washed their feet and shared a meal with them. Words following the abrupt departure of one of the twelve. Life was changing. Jesus was leaving, and they would be left behind.

But sweet friends He was not abandoning them – Jesus was going ahead so He could prepare a place for those who believe in Him. They were not forgotten, overlooked or dismissed. Right in the midst of His darkest hours, Jesus makes sure they know He is not leaving them as orphans (John 14:18). His words echo the assurance of His love and the promise of the Holy Spirit who would come to comfort, lead and guide them. “Let not your heart be troubled,” resounds from His lips. “Don’t be afraid,” fills the silence. Jesus was leaving, but one day He would return and take all those who put their faith and trust in Him to live forever in the very presence of God.

So what was so difficult and hard to imagine was God’s perfect plan unfolding right before their eyes. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”

“Father, abandonment was never on Your mind – extravagant love flowed from the lips of Your Son reminding us we are never alone.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life